Waiakea Mission Station-Hilo Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Haili Church |
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| Haili Congregational Church | |
Ua La’a No Iehova (Dedicated To God)
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| Location | 211 Haili Street Hilo, Hawaiʻi |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | United Church of Christ |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 1824 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Greek Revival |
| Years built | 1854-1859 (current building) |
| Administration | |
| Division | Hawaii Conference |
Haili Church is a very old and important church located in Hilo, on the eastern side of the Island of Hawaiʻi. It was originally known as the Waiākea Mission Station or the Hilo Station. This church has a long history, starting almost 200 years ago.
Contents
Starting the First Mission
In 1823, several missionaries from America and England visited the island of Hawaiʻi. They wanted to set up Christian missions across the island. The first two missions were Mokuaikaua Church on the west coast and the Waiākea Mission on the east coast.
Early Buildings and Leaders
On May 19, 1824, a simple hut made of grass became the first church building. Joseph Goodrich was the preacher, and Samuel Ruggles was the teacher. The village where the mission was built was called Waiākea. Its name means "broad waters" in the Hawaiian language.
In December 1824, Joseph Goodrich met Chiefess Kapiʻolani at the Kīlauea volcano. She showed that the new Christian faith was accepted. In June 1825, a ship called HMS Blonde arrived, and Goodrich helped a group explore Mauna Kea.
A larger grass church was built in 1825 where Kalakaua Park is today. Joseph Goodrich also brought some coffee trees to this area. Later, in 1828, Samuel Ruggles took coffee trees to the other side of the island, starting what is now famous Kona coffee.
A School and New Pastors
In 1832, David Belden Lyman and his wife, Sarah Joiner Lyman, arrived. They started a new boarding school for children. Over the next few years, more buildings were added, including a bigger church. This area is now the town square in Hilo.
In 1835, Reverend Titus Coan and his wife Fidelia joined the mission. Reverend Coan learned the Hawaiian language. This helped him travel through the areas of Puna and Kaʻū to share the Christian message. He wrote about his journeys through the thick tropical rainforests and his observations of the Kīlauea volcano.
Building the Current Church
By 1840, the church community had grown a lot. A new building with a wood frame was built on a stone foundation. It was very hard to get the wood because there were no horses or oxen to help. People had to drag the wood by hand from the slopes of Mauna Loa. The Royal Governor, John Adams Kuakini, supported this effort.
A Stronger Structure
Previous church buildings had been damaged by the heavy tropical rains in Hilo. So, the community decided to build a much stronger church. The construction of the current church building began in 1854. It was finished and dedicated on April 8, 1859, by Reverend Coan.
The church is named Haili because the ʻōhiʻa (Metrosideros polymorpha) wood used to build it came from the Haili forest. The main part of the church has a high ceiling, about 20 feet tall, and is 50 feet wide. The building's style is called Greek Revival. This style was popular for churches in New England at that time.
Reverend Coan was the pastor, but he often traveled to share his faith or guide visitors to the volcano. When he was away, David Lyman would lead the church services. The church building was made of flexible wood, which helped it survive a big earthquake in 1868. Many other stone buildings were damaged, but Haili Church stood strong. In 1900, beautiful pews made from koa (Acacia koa) wood were added.
Updates and Challenges
In 1902, Harry K. Naope Sr. started the Haili Church Choir. This choir sang without instruments, using only their voices, in the Hawaiian language. In 1908, two stained glass windows from Tiffany Galleries in New York City were installed. A pipe organ was added in 1929, and the church's tower and roof were rebuilt.
In July 1979, a fire damaged part of the tower and the inside of the church. The original bell from 1859 was cracked in the fire. It is now on display inside the church.
Hilo has faced threats from Mauna Loa volcano eruptions, like the one in 1984. However, the lava flows stopped before reaching the city. Tsunamis also hit the coast, especially in 1946 and 1960. But the church's location was far enough inland to be safe from these giant waves.
Haili Church Today
Haili Church is still an active church today. It holds both in-person and online services. The church also runs another chapel in Hilo called Kuhio Chapel and a primary school called Haili Christian School. Many families have been part of the Haili Church Choir for generations. In 2001, the choir was honored by the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.
The church is located at 211 Haili Street. Its current pastor is Kahu Pono Daniel Kawaha.
Haili Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 23, 2002. This means it is recognized as an important historical site. Across the street from the church, the old home of some of the early missionaries is now the Lyman House Memorial Museum.
