Mokuaikaua Church - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

The oldest Christian house of worship in Hawaii is available as a site for spiritual and educational growth at the Mokuaikaua Church in Kailua-Kona, Big Island. Built in 1820, the Mokuaikaua Church was the first church erected in Hawaii, and is home to a thriving community.

In 1819, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions sent its first mission to Hawaii. Upon their arrival, the missionaries set to work building the Mokuaikaua Church. The structure, which is composed of lava rock, crushed coral, sand and oil, was completed in 1837, after two previous incarnations burned down, and stands today much as it did upon its completion.

The Mokuaikaua Church hosts regular services, as well as public tours and a museum. Free guided tours of the church are offered daily. The museum includes a model of the ship that brought the first missionaries to Hawaii, as well as plenty of artifacts from over the years. After visiting the Mokuaikaua Church, visitors can find a wide variety of restaurants within easy walking distance, with everything from shrimp to Chinese food.

To get to the Mokuaikaua Church, take Queen Kaahumanu Highway north, then turn west onto Hualalai Road, then south onto Alli Drive.