Kawaiahaʻo Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kawaiahaʻo Church |
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Kawaiahaʻo Church is known as the "Westminster Abbey of Hawaiʻi": site of royal weddings, inaugurations, installations, christenings, funerals and tombs.
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| Location | 957 Punchbowl Street Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi |
| Country | United States |
| Language(s) | English and Hawaiian |
| Denomination | United Church of Christ |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Neoclassical Mediterranean Revival |
| Years built | 1836–1842 |
| Administration | |
| Division | Hawaii Conference UCC |
Kawaiahaʻo Church is a very old and important church in Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaii. It is known as the "Westminster Abbey of Hawaiʻi." This means it was a special place for the Hawaiian royal family. Many important events happened here. These included royal weddings, coronations, and funerals.
The church is part of the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site. This site was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1962. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The name Kawaiahaʻo comes from the Hawaiian words ka wai a Haʻo. This means "the water of Haʻo." The church was built near a spring and freshwater pool. This pool belonged to a High Chiefess named Haʻo. People also called it the "Great Stone Church" or the "King's Church."
Today, Kawaiahaʻo Church still uses the Hawaiian language in its services. It is the oldest church on Oʻahu. It is one of the oldest Christian places of worship in Hawaiʻi. The church is part of the United Church of Christ.
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Building a Royal Church
The idea for Kawaiahaʻo Church began in 1820. The stone church building was ordered by Queen Kaʻahumanu. This happened during the reigns of King Kamehameha II and King Kamehameha III.
The church was designed by Rev. Hiram Bingham. He designed it in the style of churches from New England. Construction took place between 1836 and 1842. Workers used about 14,000 large pieces of coral rock. These rocks weighed thousands of pounds each.
Hawaiian divers collected the coral blocks. They dove deep into the ocean to chisel them out. Then, the blocks were brought to shore. This was a huge effort!
Another big church, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, was being built at the same time. That church was finished in 1843. Kawaiahaʻo Church was finished just one year before. The name Kawaiahaʻo was officially given to the church in 1853.
A Special Place for Royalty
Kawaiahaʻo Church was a favorite place for Hawaiian chiefs and royalty. Kings like Kamehameha III, Kamehameha IV, Kamehameha V, and Kalakaua took their oaths of office here. These oaths were promises to follow the Hawaiian constitution.
Important royal funerals were also held at the church. Many royal family members were baptized here. Some of them later joined other Christian groups.
Today, the church's upper balcony has 20 portraits of Hawaiian royalty. King Lunalilo is buried in a special tomb near the front courtyard. He chose to be buried here instead of the royal mausoleum.
Other Royal Churches
Kawaiahaʻo Church was not the only royal church. King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma were members of the Church of England. They started the Church of Hawaii. This church is now known as the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii.
The royal couple ordered the building of the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew. This cathedral later became the main church for the royal family. Kings Kamehameha V and Kalākaua preferred to use the cathedral. Queen Liliʻuokalani also used it after the kingdom was overthrown.
Even though she preferred the cathedral later, Princess Liliʻuokalani once led the choir at Kawaiahaʻo Church. When Queen Liliʻuokalani passed away in 1917, her body rested at Kawaiahaʻo Church for a week. Her funeral was then held at Iolani Palace.
Important People Connected to Kawaiahaʻo
Many famous people were connected to Kawaiahaʻo Church:
- Kīnaʻu: She was a powerful leader in the Hawaiian Kingdom.
- Timoteo Richard Haʻalilio: He helped Hawaiʻi become an independent nation.
- John (Ioane) Iʻi: He was an advisor to King Kamehameha III. He also taught at the Chief's Children School.
- Emma Kaʻili Metcalf Beckley Nakuina: She was a historian. She was also the first female judge in Hawaiʻi.
- Levi Haʻalelea: An advisor to King Kamehameha III.
- John Thomas Gulick: A missionary who worked in Micronesia.
- Daniel Opunui: One of the first Protestant missionaries in Micronesia.
- David Kinimaka: The adopted brother of King Kalakaua. He was an officer in the Royal Guards.
- Henry Berger: He was the bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band. He is buried at the church.
- Agnes Baldwin Alexander: She was from important missionary families. She brought the Baháʼí Faith to Hawaiʻi.
- Abraham Akaka: A pastor of Kawaiahaʻo Church. He was known for his work in the US Civil Rights Movement.
Nā Kahu (Senior Pastors)
Here are the senior pastors who have led Kawaiahaʻo Church:
- Hiram Bingham (1820–1840)
- Richard Armstrong (1840–1848)
- Ephraim Weston Clark (1848–1863)
- Henry Hodges Parker (1863–1917)
- Akaiko Akana (1918–1933)
- William Kamau (1934–1940)
- Edward Kahale (1940–1957)
- Abraham Akaka (1957–1984)
- William H. Kaina (1984–1997)
- James Fung (2000–2002)
- Curtis P. Kekuna (2004–2017)
- Kenneth Makuakāne (2018–present)
Interim Pastors
Sometimes, a church has a temporary pastor. Here are the interim pastors for Kawaiahaʻo:
- Ronald F.K. Ching (1998)
- James Kimo Mersberg (2017-2018)
See also
- List of the oldest buildings in Hawaii
