Kawaiahaʻo Church
Kawaiahaʻo Church is a historic Congregational church located in Downtown Honolulu on the Hawaiian Island of Oʻahu. The church, along with the Mission Houses, comprise the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site, which was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark (NHL) in 1962. In 1966 it and all other NHLs were included in the first issuance of the National Register of Historic Places.
| Kawaiahaʻo Church | |
|---|---|
Kawaiahaʻo Church is known as the "Westminster Abbey of Hawaiʻi": site of royal weddings, inaugurations, installations, christenings, funerals and tombs. | |
| Location | 957 Punchbowl Street Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi |
| Country | United States |
| Language(s) | English and Hawaiian |
| Denomination | United Church of Christ |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Neoclassical Mediterranean Revival |
| Years built | 1836–1842 |
| Administration | |
| Division | Hawaii Conference UCC |
| Clergy | |
| Pastor(s) | Kenneth Makuakāne (Kahu) |
Kawaiahao Church and Mission Houses | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
U.S. National Historic Landmark | |
| Location | 957 Punchbowl Street and 553 S. King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Coordinates | 21°18′15″N 157°51′28″W |
| Area | 8.8 acres (3.6 ha) |
| Built | 1836–1842 |
| Architect | Hiram Bingham |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000294 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 29, 1962 |
At one time the national church of the Hawaiian Kingdom and chapel of the royal family, the church is popularly known as Hawaiʻi's Westminster Abbey. The name comes from the Hawaiian noun phrase ka wai a Haʻo (the water of Haʻo), because its location was that of a spring and freshwater pool of a High Chiefess Haʻo. It has also been called the "hale pule lahui", the Great Stone Church, the Hawaiian Tabernacle (luakini), the Mother Church, the Kingʻs Church, the Kingʻs chapel, and the "Aliʻi Church".
Today, Kawaiahaʻo continues to use the Hawaiian language for parts of the service. It is the oldest church on Oʻahu and one of the oldest standing Christian places of worship in Hawaiʻi, although four thatched churches stood at or near the present site before construction of the coral church. The oldest standing church is Mokuaikaua Church on the Big Island. Denominationally, it is a member of the United Church of Christ.