Kawaiahaʻo Church

Kawaiahaʻo Church tickets: which one to buy

Kawaiahao Church stands in downtown Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, near the Iolani Palace and the King Kamehameha statue, and entry is free, with donations welcome. It is the oldest Christian church on Oahu and one of the most important historic sites in Hawaii, sometimes called the Westminster Abbey of Hawaii.

Walking tours of historic Honolulu combine the church with the Iolani Palace, the only royal palace in the United States, the Hawaii State Capitol, the Aliiōlani Hale with the Kamehameha statue, and the Mission Houses Museum next door. The church holds Sunday services in Hawaiian and English, and visitors are welcome. The church is open on weekdays for visitors. Modest dress is appreciated, and photography is allowed outside services. Parking downtown is limited, and buses along King Street stop near the church.

Visiting Kawaiahaʻo Church: what to see

American Protestant missionaries arrived in Hawaii in 1820, and the congregation first worshipped in thatched grass churches on the site. The present church was built between 1836 and 1842, designed by the missionary Hiram Bingham, using about fourteen thousand blocks of coral, cut from the reefs by Hawaiians who dived to depths of several metres. Many Hawaiian kings and queens attended services here, and royal ceremonies, including coronations, weddings and funerals, were held in the church. Inside, the church has a simple, elegant interior with a balcony and portraits of Hawaiian royalty along the walls. The royal pews, with velvet cushions, are reserved for descendants.

The tomb of King Lunalilo, who asked to be buried among his people rather than in the royal mausoleum, stands in the churchyard. The church's name refers to a freshwater spring that was used by a chiefess. The church's coral walls are more than a metre thick. The clock tower was a gift from King Kamehameha III. The interior's gallery holds portraits of the Hawaiian monarchs and their families. The church's organ was installed in the twentieth century. The cemetery behind the church holds the graves of missionaries and Hawaiian notables. The pulpit is made of koa wood. The church's stained glass windows were added later. Plaques on the walls record the history of the church and the kingdom. The church hosted the funeral of Queen Liliuokalani, the last monarch of Hawaii, in 1917.

Kawaiahaʻo Church opening hours and the best time to go

The church is open on weekdays and for Sunday services. Honolulu is warm all year, and the dry season from April to October is sunny, while winter brings more rain. King Kamehameha Day, on 11 June, brings a floral parade and the draping of the Kamehameha statue with long flower leis. Mornings are the best time for walking in downtown Honolulu, before the heat. Allow about twenty minutes for the church, and visit Iolani Palace, which offers guided tours. The Mission Houses Museum, beside the church, preserves the oldest wooden house in Hawaii, built in 1821.