Hale Halawai O Holualoa Explained

Hale Halawai o Holualoa
Location:Hawaii County, Hawaii
Nearest City:Kailua-Kona
Architect:John D. Paris
Added:June 5, 1987
Area:less than one acre
Refnum:87000794

Hale Halawai O Holualoa is the former name of Living Stones Church located in the Kona District on the Big Island of Hawaii.

History

The name means "Meeting house near the long slide" in the Hawaiian Language.[1] There might have been a wooden church on the site from about 1825. A coral lime and stone building, of about 30 by 60 feet, was finished by 1855, under the supervision of Reverend John D. Paris. It was in continuous use until the 1940s. There is also a small grave site, some old stone walls, and a canoe landing. Several Kōnane boards have been discovered during excavation, indicating a long occupation of the site.[2]

Today

The site was added to the state register of historic places on November 26, 1986, as site 10-37-7234,[3] and the national register on June 5, 1987, as site 87000794.[4] The Holualoa Bay Congregational Church reconstructed the building in the early 1990s[2] under the direction of Norman Kenneth Smith.[5] The land is leased from the state, and is near the North end of Holualoa Bay.The church grounds are currently used by Living Stones Church with several events each week, often on the lawn right on the edge of the ocean.[6]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.wehewehe.org Hawaiian Dictionary
  2. Web site: Environmental Assessment report for reconstruction of the Church . 2009-10-18 . Holualoa Bay Congregational Church . Hawaii state Department of Land and Natural Resources .
  3. http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/hpd/register/reghaw.pdf Hawaii State registry of historic places
  4. Web site: N. Ken Smith . [{{NRHP url|id=87000794}} Hale Halawai O Holualoa Church nomination form ]. National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service . May 28, 1986 . 2009-10-15 .
  5. http://trinity-aloha.org/Ken_Bio/body_ken_bio.htm Biography of Ken Smith
  6. http://livingstones.us/ Current Congregation web site