Kahikolu Church
Encyclopedia
Kahikolu Church is one of only two stone churches from the 19th century on the island of Hawaii
. It was built from 1852–1855 on the site of an earlier building known as Kealakekua Church that was built around 1833 in the Kona district
.
as one of the first sites for a church.
In February 1824 High Chiefess Kapiolani
built a thatched house in the village of Kaawaloa for use as a Christian church by Rev. James Ely (1798–1890) and his family. Ely left Kaawaloa in 1828, replaced by Rev. Samuel Ruggles (1795–1871), who brought some coffee trees with him from the Hilo mission
. Ruggles was replaced due to ill health in June 1833 by Rev. Cochran Forbes (1805–1880). Forbes built a house at a cooler elevation, at a site called Kuapehu which had been used to grow taro
. In 1839, under the direction of Kapiolani, Forbes moved the mission to the south side of Kealakekua Bay, in an area called Kepulu, just inland from the village now called Nāpoopoo. Another house was built here, and a church which was 120 feet (36.6 m) by 57 feet (17.4 m) of stone and coral lime. In 1841 the Kealakekua Church was finished, and used until June 1845, when Forbes resigned because of his wife's ill health.
After six years with no pastor, Rev. John Davis Paris
(1809–1892) arrived in 1852. His family had been at Waiōhinu for several years, returned to the United States, and then came back to the island and were posted to the Kealakekua congregation. He found the large old church in ruins.
He set about building a more solid but smaller stone church called Kahikolu on the site of the old one. Kahikolu means "three in one" in the Hawaiian language
, which refers both to the Holy Trinity
of the Christian faith, but also that it was the third attempt to build a church here. The width of the old church became the length of the new one, resulting in a building about 57 feet (17.4 m) by 62 feet (18.9 m), with walls 35 inches (88.9 cm) thick.
Kahikolu took three years to build, and included a bell donated by William E. Dodge
of New York. It could hold a total of about 1200 people. Paris went on to build eight more churches (including Hale Halawai O Holualoa
), and died in the area in 1892.
There are grave sites located on both sides of the church, some of which are unmarked. Several bear the name of "Kamakau", probably descendants of a chief Kelou Kamakau, born about 1773 who was mentioned in Ellis' journal as a good source of history.
In 1929, an earthquake caused one of the gable ends to tumble into the church. They were replaced with horizontal wood strips. Once the largest church on the west side of the island, its influence declined as population moved to other areas.
On August 21, 1951, an earthquake with magnitude 6.9 was centered almost under the church. The roof collapsed after more earthquakes in 1952 and 1953. The stone church was abandoned in 1953 due to the damage.
Kahikolu church was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings on the island of Hawaii
on November 15, 1982 as site 82000148, and the state list as site 10-47-7215 on July 30, 1982. The only other stone church from this era on the island is Mokuaikaua Church
, about 12 miles (19.3 km) to the north.
P
A rebuilding effort lasted through the 1980s.
On July 13, 1993 the Hawaiian who inspired the first missionaries, Henry Ōpūkahaia, known as Obookiah during his lifetime, (c. 1792–1818) was re-interred in the Kahikolu cemetery, at the request of his descendants.
The church was finally restored and opened again for use in 1999. A historical marker was added in 2003.
The address of the congregation is 82-6013 Puuhonua Road, Captain Cook, coordinates 19°28′10"N 155°54′55"W. Sunday services are held at 9:30 AM with Sunday School at 8:30. The pastor (as of July 2011) is Wendell Davis. In November 2003, under the urging of pastor Davis, Kahikolu Congregational Church voted to disaffiliate from the United Church of Christ
because of the UCC "open and affirming" ordination of practising gay and lesbian pastors.
The variety of coffee Ruggles brought in 1828 thrived in the part of the island around Kealakekua, called the Kona District. Because it was the first coffee grown on the western side of the island, it is often referred to as the first Kona coffee
, still popular today.
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
. It was built from 1852–1855 on the site of an earlier building known as Kealakekua Church that was built around 1833 in the Kona district
Kona District, Hawaii
Kona is the name of a moku or district on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii. In the current system of administration of Hawaii County, the moku of Kona is divided into North Kona District and South Kona District . The term "Kona" is sometimes used to refer to its largest town,...
.
History
English missionary William Ellis (1794–1872) toured the island in the summer of 1823 to determine locations for mission stations and suggested the village of Kaawaloa at the north end of Kealakekua BayKealakekua Bay
Kealakekua Bay is located on the Kona coast of the island of Hawaii about south of Kailua-Kona.Settled over a thousand years ago, the surrounding area contains many archeological and historical sites such as religious temples, and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places listings on...
as one of the first sites for a church.
In February 1824 High Chiefess Kapiolani
Chiefess Kapiolani
High Chiefess Kapiolani was an important member of the Hawaiian nobility at the time of the founding of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the arrival of Christian missionaries...
built a thatched house in the village of Kaawaloa for use as a Christian church by Rev. James Ely (1798–1890) and his family. Ely left Kaawaloa in 1828, replaced by Rev. Samuel Ruggles (1795–1871), who brought some coffee trees with him from the Hilo mission
Waiakea Mission Station-Hilo Station
The Waiākea Mission Station was the first Christian mission on the eastern side of the Island of Hawaii. Also known as the Hilo Station, the latest structure is now called Haili Church.-The first mission:...
. Ruggles was replaced due to ill health in June 1833 by Rev. Cochran Forbes (1805–1880). Forbes built a house at a cooler elevation, at a site called Kuapehu which had been used to grow taro
Taro
Taro is a common name for the corms and tubers of several plants in the family Araceae . Of these, Colocasia esculenta is the most widely cultivated, and is the subject of this article. More specifically, this article describes the 'dasheen' form of taro; another variety is called eddoe.Taro is...
. In 1839, under the direction of Kapiolani, Forbes moved the mission to the south side of Kealakekua Bay, in an area called Kepulu, just inland from the village now called Nāpoopoo. Another house was built here, and a church which was 120 feet (36.6 m) by 57 feet (17.4 m) of stone and coral lime. In 1841 the Kealakekua Church was finished, and used until June 1845, when Forbes resigned because of his wife's ill health.
After six years with no pastor, Rev. John Davis Paris
John Davis Paris
John Davis Paris was an American Christian missionary to the island of Hawaii. Coming to the island by accident, he supervised construction of several historic churches, some of which survive today.-Life:...
(1809–1892) arrived in 1852. His family had been at Waiōhinu for several years, returned to the United States, and then came back to the island and were posted to the Kealakekua congregation. He found the large old church in ruins.
He set about building a more solid but smaller stone church called Kahikolu on the site of the old one. Kahikolu means "three in one" in the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
, which refers both to the Holy Trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
of the Christian faith, but also that it was the third attempt to build a church here. The width of the old church became the length of the new one, resulting in a building about 57 feet (17.4 m) by 62 feet (18.9 m), with walls 35 inches (88.9 cm) thick.
Kahikolu took three years to build, and included a bell donated by William E. Dodge
William E. Dodge
William Earle Dodge, Sr. was a New York businessman, referred to as one of the "Merchant Princes" of Wall Street in the years leading up to the American Civil War. Dodge was also a noted abolitionist, and Native American rights activist and served as the president of the National Temperance...
of New York. It could hold a total of about 1200 people. Paris went on to build eight more churches (including Hale Halawai O Holualoa
Hale Halawai O Holualoa
Hale Halawai O Holualoa is a historic church, also known as Living Stones Church, located in the Kona District on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is located at 76-6224 Alii Drive.-History:...
), and died in the area in 1892.
There are grave sites located on both sides of the church, some of which are unmarked. Several bear the name of "Kamakau", probably descendants of a chief Kelou Kamakau, born about 1773 who was mentioned in Ellis' journal as a good source of history.
Decline and restoration
In 1925 a layer of plaster was added to the inside walls, and the ceiling and floor replaced.In 1929, an earthquake caused one of the gable ends to tumble into the church. They were replaced with horizontal wood strips. Once the largest church on the west side of the island, its influence declined as population moved to other areas.
On August 21, 1951, an earthquake with magnitude 6.9 was centered almost under the church. The roof collapsed after more earthquakes in 1952 and 1953. The stone church was abandoned in 1953 due to the damage.
Kahikolu church was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings on the island of Hawaii
National Register of Historic Places listings on the island of Hawaii
This is a list of properties and districts on the island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The island is coterminous with Hawaii County, the state's only county that covers exactly one island...
on November 15, 1982 as site 82000148, and the state list as site 10-47-7215 on July 30, 1982. The only other stone church from this era on the island is Mokuaikaua Church
Mokuaikaua Church
Mokuaikaua Church is the oldest Christian church in the Hawaiian Islands.Its address is 75-5713 Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona, coordinates .-History:...
, about 12 miles (19.3 km) to the north.
P
A rebuilding effort lasted through the 1980s.
On July 13, 1993 the Hawaiian who inspired the first missionaries, Henry Ōpūkahaia, known as Obookiah during his lifetime, (c. 1792–1818) was re-interred in the Kahikolu cemetery, at the request of his descendants.
The church was finally restored and opened again for use in 1999. A historical marker was added in 2003.
The address of the congregation is 82-6013 Puuhonua Road, Captain Cook, coordinates 19°28′10"N 155°54′55"W. Sunday services are held at 9:30 AM with Sunday School at 8:30. The pastor (as of July 2011) is Wendell Davis. In November 2003, under the urging of pastor Davis, Kahikolu Congregational Church voted to disaffiliate from the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
because of the UCC "open and affirming" ordination of practising gay and lesbian pastors.
The variety of coffee Ruggles brought in 1828 thrived in the part of the island around Kealakekua, called the Kona District. Because it was the first coffee grown on the western side of the island, it is often referred to as the first Kona coffee
Kona coffee
Kona coffee is the market name for coffee cultivated on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona Districts of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Only coffee from the Kona Districts can be described as "Kona"...
, still popular today.