Beautiful Easter Sunday Worship - also spoken in Hawaiian and the word was such a blessing to enjoy and experience. The choir and music were amazingly lovely. read more

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This is an interesting historical site, and there are a number of placards around the site which elaborate upon its significance. read more

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Located on the 3-acre churchyard of the Kawaiaha'o Church, this cemetery is the one of the oldest Western-style burial grounds in Hawai'i. When missionaries brought Christianity to Hawai'i, the tradition of marked graves inside a fenced churchyard was established. Within the burial grounds, you can find the gravesites (marked and unmarked) to many of the missionaries, Hawaiian Royalty and congregation members. There are many unmarked graves of early converts as they could not afford tombstones. -I found the gravesite of James Kekela who became the first Hawaiian Christian minister when he was ordained in 1849. According to his tombstone, he was sent to the Marquesas Islands where he preached against cannibalism and tribal warfare. He was recognized by President Abraham Lincoln for saving the life of an American seaman from being eaten by cannibals. -Somewhere in the unmarked graves lies the remains of David Douglas, botanist, for whom the Douglas Fir is named. He cataloged plants in the Northwest and came to Hawai'i to catalog Hawaiian plants where he unfortunately fell to his death. -The tomb of King William Charles Lunalilo (Lunalilo Mausoleum), which is one of the earliest concrete block structures in Hawai'i, stands at the northwest side of the churchyard. Buried nearby is his mother's grave. There are many surviving tombstones from the 1800's that bear Hawaiian and Haole (foreigner) names. The oldest known burial in this churchyard is dated 1825. This churchyard cemetery is inactive and does not have the same historic respect as the Kawaiaha'o Church. The Kawaiaha'o Church has a designation on the original list of National Register of Historic Places. read more

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Kind of scary to park and I did not go in I was worried about my car the whole time and just wanted to get out of there It would be really nice if we had security and resources to establish what is and what is not historical because I would love to see this place peacefully when we all can feel safe! Instead of Policing the Hawaiian people maybe government and police officers should do the opposite and protect our historical beloved Churches so it's safe for our children to educate themselves and not be constantly harassed by people of authority threatened and undermined from our very existence we are punished for wanting to learn more about our culture On our Island:) I feel like a stranger on my own Island I feel like a prisoner with NO RIGHTs always put down just to practice our culture like Seeing churches going to the beach finding out and undercovering our real history I feel like I'm a prisoner w no freedom no rights to pursue any type happiness always shut Down for any kind of confidence spirit or feeling good about being Hawaiian I guess there are always people to put our people down to full fill the status quo! Stop putting us down and support Hawaiians instead of making us leave our own island Even other Hawaiians submit to the foreign law that serves them and that's not being Hawaiian We give from our heart and that's Aloha I am scared and angry and always fighting to know my on my own culture and my own island when others put me down because I'm Hawaiian and want to learn more about our culture we are treated like thieves and criminals and our very existence is diminished in Hawaii That's wrong! read more

Kawaiaha'o Church was built on April 23,1820 which makes 2020 the year of its bicentennial celebration! Rev. Hiram Bingham designed the structure using coral quarried from an offshore reef. Services on Sunday are supposedly spoken in Hawaiian. That itself deserves 5 stars! The grounds is beautiful and tranquil in the front and on the side of the Church. Who knew, in the messiness of Downtown, Honolulu that such a peaceful space exists. There are two different gardens outside with benches to sit on. But there is also a graveyard behind the church. Some of the gravesites date back to the early 1800's! If you're exploring Downtown, I would add this to your list. It's free and great to just pass through or actually attend a service! read more

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Came here in the middle of the day while sightseeing. Thought it was really neat to walk around the inside of the church and look at the photos and paintings on the walls. Also walked the grounds and looked at the tombstones. Cool history! read more

Kawaiaha'o Church - Churches Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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So Blessed living in nearby this church to listen hymn pipe organ everyday I want to visit here post covid read more

Kawaiaha'o Church - Churches Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Kawaiaha'o Church represents the transformation from old to new Hawai'i. I love the peacefulness of this church. Normally when I come I just sit and think. This is a historical church and not in the mainstream of places to visit here on Oahu. If you are interested in the history of Hawaii, then be sure to put this on your list of places to visit. But please allow me to remind you to be respectful of the church grounds, building, and of others who are visiting and worshiping. A little bit of history of the church: Ka Wai a means the freshwater pool. The waters were reserved for the high chiefs and chiefesses. Chiefess Ha'o used to come to the pool quite often. Eventually these waters, and the surrounding land, came to be known as Ka Wai a Ha'o or the freshwater pool of Ha'o. The first missionaries who arrived in 1820 were granted land at Kawaiaha'o for residence (thatched homes). In 1837 they gathered materials to start building a new church and in 1838 the foundation work began. The Stone Church was not really stone, but coral from the ocean. The native people cut them away in the ocean, brought them to the surface and then to land on a canoe (yep, and they were extremely heavy stones). The church was dedicated in 1842. The Kauikeaouli clock (or clock tower) was erected in honor of King Kamehameha III (also the donor) in 1850. The clock tolls every hour and still operates on its original machinery. The really groovy part is that four generations of the Mahoe-Mulford family have maintained it. Portraits of the Ali'I line the walls and they are all painted by one artist. Keep in mind, in those pews royalty sat to worship, witness marriages, people laid in state, and more. Notes: Some of the original missionaries are buried in the cemetery beside/behind the church. Plus, there is a fountain outside the church and this is where the Chiefess Ha'o frequented the freshwater spring. Some of the original rocks from the original spring represents the spring in this fountain today. read more

There is a real sense of time standing still when you enter Kawaiaha'o Church. As you enter the sanctuary, you can see the royal pews, marked by four khili (feather staffs). You can almost picture the Hawaiian monarchs of days long gone, seated in these places of honor here. The construction of the church was a testament to the work of the Christian missionaries who had come to Hawaii in the 1820s. The original structure was made of thatched material that was quickly destroyed by winds and storms. Three thatched grass structures were built and ruined by 1838, when the foundation for the current structure was begun. Sometimes called "The Great Stone Church", the facility is actually constructed of massive 1,000-lb. slabs of coral that were quarried from the ocean floor and then dressed by hand. The Hawaiians hauled approximately 14,000 of these slabs for construction of this great building, which is on the state and national registers of historic sites. The church was dedicated by King Kamehameha III in 1842 and became known as the "Westminster Abbey of the Pacific." Kawaiaha'o Church has witnessed much history. Within its walls the Hawaii's royalty worshipped, were married, christened their children, and were ultimately laid in state. On the grounds surrounding the church are buried a number of original missionaries. Also on the church grounds is the Kawaiaha'o Fountain (located along the makai side of the sanctuary). The High Chiefess Ha'o frequented the freshwater spring located here, and thus the Church bears her name: Ka Wai a Ha'o (the water of Ha'o). On the 'ewa side of the church is the Royal Mausoleum of King Lunalilo. Kawaiaha'o Church has regular worship services Sundays at 9:00am and Wednesdays at 6:00pm. The church also has Ali'i Services, which celebrate selected Hawaiian Royalty (Ali'i) who are of particular importance for the Church by holding special Sunday services in their honor. Although I am not a member of this church, I have attended services here during the holiday season, including Christmas Eve. I can attest to the beauty not only of the building but of the service, which is marked with a sense of reverence and love of Hawaii Nei. Yelp 365 Challenge #096/365 read more

Kawaiaha'o Church - Kawaiaha'o Church - Churches Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

For those interested in the history of the Kingdom of Hawaii, this is a must-stop destination. Kawaiaha'o Church was long the worshiping place of the Ali'i of the islands. Their portraits adorn the private seating booths and all along the second level of the building. The church is built of volcanic stone with a very sparse inner sanctuary. The alter is all wood and is historic in its own right. Due to the age of the structure, there is no ADA access nor restroom facilities in the building (these are in a trailer in the parking lot but are locked usually). The church is located right in the Honolulu government district across from Honolulu Hale, the State Library, Old Territorial Office Building (and King Kamehameha Statue), and close to the Federal Building, 'Iolani Palace and Queen's Medical Center at the intersection of Punchbowl and King Streets. They have modest parking, but street and garage is available in the area. The cemetery is also a must-see historical site, with very old tombstones under breadfruit trees. The church itself is host to many community events. read more

We visited the cemetery when we also visited the church. It is a very beautiful and peaceful place and it is surrounded by much Hawaiian history. The small chapel is wonderful and the flowers and bushes beautiful read more

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As an out-of-towner, I found Kawaiaha'o Church while searching for a place to go to Sunday mass. Even though I'm Roman Catholic, I decided to give it a try. I attended the weekly 9 AM mass here last Sunday with my reluctant un-religious boyfriend in tow. I immediately felt welcomed into the open arms of this church after a friendly greeter handed me a "program" for the day's mass. The opening page reads, "We pray that you will feel the deep sense of aloha and warmth from this family of God's people." I honestly could not have felt more welcomed! We arrived about five minutes before mass started, but I wish we'd gotten there earlier because there was awesome live music. I was thrilled when there were plenty of Hawaiian songs interspersed with classics like "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love." The anthropological tourist in me was both fascinated and giddy to join the Ohana Choir at the front to sing "Imi I Ke Kahu" together. An elderly Hawaiian man shared the page from the program with lyrics with me and smilingly said, "Aloha, welcome to the family" after we finished singing. The "meditation" (or what Catholics would call the "homily") was very well-rehearsed and had a clear message with plenty of relatable real-life examples. I enjoyed that the Kahu, Curt Kekuna, was very upfront about being a sinner himself; this made that meditation somehow more meaningful. By the end of the mass (run-time ~80 minutes), I felt incredibly welcomed not only to the church but also to the Hawaii "ohana." By the end of the mass, I also felt a little more confident in my understanding of how to pronounce words in Hawaiian, which was helpful. The mass is all in English, except for most of the songs and the Lord's Prayer. This church made an excellent impression on me and my boyfriend actually ended up really enjoying it, as well! He really liked how there is more of a focus on the message here than the song and dance of traditions. I HIGHLY recommend you come to a service here, even if you aren't religious at all. At the very least, you'll meet some very friendly people and you'll enjoy some beautiful Hawaiian music. Tips: 1. For the tourists: Take pictures before and after mass, but not during. A few people still snapped a few discreet shots, but the program does state not to take pictures during the service. 2. Give something during the offering. Even if it's just whatever change you happen to have in your wallet, give. I promise you will be happy to support this great church in whatever way you can, plus you won't feel awkward at all when the ushers come around with the collection basket and you won't have to avert your gaze. 3. For the Catholics: Don't eat the host at the alter and genuflect, so you can avoid the "d'oh!" moment I had when I realized that the protocol is for everyone to consume communion at the same time after everyone is seated again. read more

Kawaiaha'o Church. This was one of my first stops in Hawaii. This was one of the first historical sights we saw on the introductory and orientation tour. I passed by this church on the bus going sightseeing and shopping. I stopped by the administrative offices here to get my bearings. The staff were ever so patient and kind to me. This was the place where I was going to see the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus perform on the last Saturday night in May 1997. I stopped by the church on my first full day in Honolulu. The front doors were locked, yet I met one of the maintenance workers who gave me permission to go in the side entrance and explore the church. I loved having the church to myself to explore and contemplate in the peaceful stillness. The is the place where the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus (HYOC) performs their recitals when they are not performing with the Hawaii Opera Theatre. That was the case when I was there in 1997. They used to be known as the Honolulu Children's Opera Chorus back in the day when the actor (the one I mentioned in my Damien Memorial review) cut his vocal chops. And Brook Lee-Miss Universe 1997-is an alumna of this choral group. They were really excited and happy about one of their own winning the Miss Universe crown and title. Hawaii Strong! Hawaii Proud! I really do miss this place--even though I still struggle with the pronunciation of how to say the church's name. Still, it is truly worth a place (no matter what one's religious affiliation) and a must when visiting the Islands of Aloha. Mahalo and Aloha! Fresh Yelp! Review #76 of 2013 read more

With some friends in town this week, decided to come here for services since I had never been here. Christian-based services (non-denomination). A little different from the Catholic services that I usually attend, but surprisingly not by much. Beautiful church in downtown Honolulu with a cemetery on the grounds. read more

When I travel, I enjoy going to different churches. This church was beautiful and historic. The congregation was friendly. The service was excellent. There was so much music. And I enjoy hearing part of the service in Hawaiian. I would absolutely recommend putting this church on your "must attend at least once" list. I would go again, if I lived here. read more

This lovely Hawaiian Church was a wonderful stop on our downtown tour. The exterior of the church is made of coral and shells dredged from the ocean floor by divers in the 1700's. They did NOT have oxygen tanks back then either! The interior of the church is simple and peaceful, and a lovely bride was having her pictures done as we toured the church. The exterior houses a tomb of the 2nd to last Hawaiian King and a very interesting cemetery. there were lots of tombstones dedicated to Aunties and other relatives. We just love visiting cemeteries! read more

If you live in Hawaii and ever have a chance to visit the cemetery behind Kawaiaha'o Church you will definitely recognize the tons of names affixed on the headstones. Names such as Dole, Gulick, Castle, Cooke, Alexander, Baldwin, and Bingham are engraved among the many headstones. The most famous graves being that of Sanford Dole (first governor of Hawaii Territory, cousin to the founder of Dole Cannery) , David Douglas (who a fir tree is named after), and Hawaiian Royalty William Lunalilo (located in the large crypt in front of the church). Princess Ka'iulani's funeral service was held here in 1899. Every year they hold Ali'i Sunday services for the Princess and many of the other Hawaiian royal family members. Check their website for specific dates. It's actually quite peaceful if you figure that it's right on a major thoroughfare. Since it's right near the Mission House (http://www.yelp.com/biz/mission-houses-museum-honolulu), you can walk right across and visit them as well or grab something to eat at lunch (http://www.yelp.com/biz/mission-houses-museum-cafe-and-tea-parlor-honolulu-2). read more

clean and upscale building filled with a lot of great people who do a lot of great things for our community. they are very nice and try to help families to go in the right direction in their life. we would visit again. our family had to experience terrible ABUSE from a past CULT CHURCH called the HONOLULU CHURCH OF CHRIST located on 1732 keeaumoku street they were DISHONEST WITH OUR MONEY and are running SCAMS on the island... read more

This is another downtown location to visit along with the palace, the statue and other attractions. As soon as you walk into the grounds it's actual physical location melts away. You feel like you have been transported into another world. The clock has turned back into yesteryear. As you walk around the grounds and see the tombstones, there's an air of reverence which makes the experience more poignant and heartfelt. The church itself looks solidly built, to weather the test of time for many more centuries. You go up the steps on side and step inside history. The glorious wooden pews and the flags dangling down. There is no let up on the emotions as you walk around the church, trying to be as quiet as a door-mouse. We sit at a pew and say a prayer and then head back outside. As we walk off the grounds, it's back to reality. read more

I called about a month ago for help. Left multiple messages to no avail. I asked for help with my home due to spiritual activities. I'm hoping this post will help me. read more

I didn't actually go into this church, but explored the exterior grounds after having tea service at the Mission Houses Tea Parlor (across the street). What initially caught my attention was the cemetery. It was interesting to see the variety of dates for the tombstones. Another thing which struck me was how cramped it was...must be a prestigious place to be buried... The church building is really pretty and rustic looking. It reminded me of the beautiful old churches in New York. read more

What a treat!! Googled Hawaiian language church services on Oahu and this is the only one that came up--managed to get up and get ready in time to make it to the 9 am service. The exterior of the church is beautiful--very old stone surrounded by the cemetery and greenery. The inside is spacious and vast. We were greeted by a full orchestra! I couldn't believe it! The Whitworth band was visiting and they were just top notch. I haven't ever seen a college orchestra with such an extensive strings section! I am SO GLAD that I did this, it really added so much to the trip--hearing the band, the wonderful choir and soloist and hearing prayers and songs in the Hawaiian language. They were having a feast afterwards to celebrate the visitors, and although we were invited to stay, we elected not to intrude (although I wish we had). If/when I return to Oahu, I will definitely be attending service here again. read more

5 Stars for the history, gorgeous building, choir (stellar choir director), music, and Hawaiian language hymns and prayers. Absolutely a must- visit Sunday morning at 9 AM for a service with a dose of Hawaiian history, language, and even a Hawaiian-Christian hula as part of the service. ...Less stars for the actual ongoing church itself .... I've heard the Kahu preach twice and each time his message pushed me away rather than drew me in. Maybe I caught him on two bad days. His most recent sermon I heard, talked about his friend who burned down his house trying to get rid of invasive fire ants "true story", how the Kahu himself had mice in his dishwasher, how he "despises" tiny invasive creatures, how God invades us like vermin invade your home, and how once you've been invaded by God then you need "go and show the world you've been invaded and start invading them" including invading the legislature and government with religion, with some tea-party themed sentiment about how the founding fathers of the USA wanted "one nation under God." Sorry, Kahu, the Pledge of Allegiance was not written until 1892 (one year prior to the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy).. and the words "under God" were not added by Congress until 1954 during Eisenhower's presidency (Republican). Then the Kahu threw in some stuff about Satan and finished his sermon by asking the congregation to turn to each other and say "I'm glad that God is an invasive lover of my soul." Uhh, just, NO. So this rambling disjointed sermon was kind of odd to hear in a church that otherwise prides itself on being "The Westminster Abbey of Hawaii." As of Feb 12 their website is still prominently advertising their previous December Christmas services. Native Hawaiians protest outside, against the church's stubborn battle to dig up part of their grounds to build a large new multi-purpose facility despite the many iwi kupuna or native Hawaiian burials found on the site. A quick google search will bring up plenty of stories about this divisive topic. So in conclusion, I'm glad I went, you should go attend a service, but I left with the feeling that this congregation is ready for its own re-birth, if it wants to be a truly vital church that is not primarily serving tourism and weddings. An unexpected bonus... at the end of every service they join hands and sing the Malotte Lord's Prayer... absolutely my favorite musical setting of the Lord's Prayer. read more

If you are interested in History of Hawaii and particular Christian History of Hawaii this church is a must visit. The church represents the transition of Hawaii from the ancient Hawaiian traditions to the western "new Hawaii". Many of the Alii (the Kings and Queens) of Hawaii were members of the church. They were married, baptized, crowned and had their funerals in the church thus the church is known as "the Westminster Abbey" of Hawaii. The church is the original site of Christianity on O'ahu and the 2nd in Hawaii. The church grounds were given to the mission by Queen Kaahumanu and King Kauikeauouli (Kamehameha III). The church grounds and the Mission Houses were once all one property. The mission was established in 1820. The Church became a parish church in 1842. The name of the church is for the place that was already famous. The grounds had a spring that was frequented by an ancient Hawaii chiefess named Ha'o. Thus the waters of Ha'o "Kawaiaha'o". In Hawaiian tradition the place was already sacred, and therefore the church was built in the sacred place. The spring still exists and is represented by the fountain on the grounds and the water in the fountain comes from that spring as are several of the stones in the fountain. The church is made of 1 ton coral blocks, 14,000 of them. The corner stone laid in 1839. The clock tower was dedicated to King Kamehameha III, and the clock in the church was given by King Kamehameha III. The marble baptismal font was given by Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop and her husband. The construction and design of the church was designed by the first pastor, and one of the original missionaries, Hiram Bingham. He based his design on the Congregational / Calvanist type churches you find in New England. The spoken word of God is what is important in this tradition, thus the large and prominent raised "dias" and the clear glass windows to see god's creation. You will also find the Alii Pews in the church and the feather standards "Kahili" in the pews and on the dias. The Alii Pews were where the Alii sat when in worship. When the church was renovated in the 1930 they were moved to their present location. The 2nd floor has portraits of all of the Alii of Hawaii. The pews are made of redwood so as not to be eaten by termites. Queen Liliuokalani was an organist and choir director of the church. Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop was in the Choir. Queen Emma and King Alexander Iolani King Kamehameha IV were married in the church. The church, 8 times a year celebrates Alii Sundays where the Alii who were important leaders in faith are remembered in service and the Hawaiian societies and civic clubs come to worship. The church has two grave yards. The fenced graveyard located immediately behind the church between the church and the mission house is the mission graveyard. Most of the early missionaries are buried here and other noteable and infamous missionary tied families. For example Lorin Andrews who founded Lahainaluna High School the oldest school west of the Rockies, The Cooke's of the Chief's Children's School, the Rice's, the Atherton's, the Binghams, etc. Also buried here is Sandford Dole who was part of the group that overthrew the Hawaiian kingdom and became the Republic of Hawaii's first "president". The 2nd graveyard makai of the church is where common folk were buried and one noteable grave is that of Henry Berger the German Bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band. Also on the grounds is the tomb of King William Lunalilo Hawaii's first elected King. He was only King for one year. The church has seating for 1500 and is one of the largest sanctuaries in the state of Hawaii. It has regular Sunday worship and will be celebrating it's 200 year soon. The church also has many fine instruments including two organs one a pipe organ and was the last Aoliean Skinner Organ ever installed in the organ loft. A 2nd newer electronic organ is down near the dias. Both organs are played regularly. There are also two pianos. The acoustics of the church make it one of the finest places for choral music and concerts are held regularly. The church choir is has a long and venerated history and traveled frequently in the 40 - 80's. The choir regularly performs many of the old Hawaiian anthems. Worship on Sundays has both Hawaiian and English language components. The church is a Congregational Church and is part of the United Church of Christ and is also part of the Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches (which is part of UCC). read more