Kawaiahaʻo Church

Kawaiahao Church is a historic Congregational church located in Downtown Honolulu on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. 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.At one time the national church of the Hawaiian Kingdom and chapel of the royal family, the church is popularly known as Hawaii's Westminster Abbey. The name comes from the Hawaiian noun phrase Ka wai a Hao, because its location was that of a spring and freshwater pool in the care of a High Chiefess Hao.Today, Kawaiahao continues to use the Hawaiian language for parts of the service. It is one of the oldest standing Christian places of worship in Hawaii, although four thatched churches stood at or near the present site before construction of the stone church. The oldest standing church is Mokuaikaua Church on the Big Island. Denominationally, It is a member of the United Church of Christ.