Our History

From 1837 to 1838, William Patterson Alexander from Waioli Mission held open-air services in a large kukui grove at Pila’a. These services were continued by Rev. Edward Johnson, who had services in Ko’olau and Anahola. As the Anahola services were a branch of the Ko’olau Church, it was named Koolauhui’a Church. On February 23, 1865, Koolauhuiia Church separated from the mother church of Waioli Hui’ia Church. Koolauhuiia Church’s first church building in Anahola was a wooden structure with a dirt floor at the location of Koolauhuiia Church’s current graveyard. In 1858, a bell was purchased from C.J. Hooper Co. in Boston, Massachusetts. This bell was installed in the belfry and is currently located at the front of the church. At this time, at least 85% of the Anahola community were members of the church.

 

On June 1, 1863, the membership managed to raise $150 to move the building to the current location of the church, construct a wooden floor, replace the three glass window panes with eight new windows, and construct new pews and a pulpit. This reconstruction was completed on June 1, 1865. By 1875, Sunday School and meetings were still held in both Ko’olau and Anahola, but Worship services were only held in the Anahola. 

 

A new parsonage was built between October 1889 and April 1890 on a piece of land near the Anahola River purchased by the Pastor’s Aid Society for the sum of $350. The church lost the land in unclear circumstances in the years hence. Later, the members of the church obtained the site of the current parsonage in Anahola Village on the corner of Anahola and Poha roads.

 

On November 11, 1917, the Church Charter of Incorporation, along with the constitution and by-laws of the church, was accepted by the Territorial Government of Hawaii under the name Koolauhuiia Protestant Church. New Articles of Incorporation were signed on July 21, 1993 and the bylaws were updated at that time. On May 13, 1919, the church received the deed for the current church site from the Territory of Hawai’i in accordance with section 73 of the Organic Act. 

 

By 1964, time and the elements began to deteriorate the church building. Erosion had weakened the base of the church, and termites had infested the walls and floors. The membership determined that it would be too expensive to renovate the building. Special committees were formed, and on their recommendation, the membership approved the construction of a chapel and an education building, aiming to raise and spend $40,000 on the construction. On December 27, 1964, there was a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the construction of the new church, and its foundation stone was laid on January 31, 1965. On June 13, 1965, a dedication ceremony and luau were held for the new church. On this day, the first service was held in the current church building. On October 25, 2015, the church held a celebration to commemorate its 150th anniversary. 

 

The church serves both the spiritual and secular needs of its members and the broader community. Notable events include providing housing for the 27th Infantry Division of the United States Army in the church hall during World War II (1942) and offering shelter to the community during natural disasters, such as the April 1946 tsunami, Hurricane Iwa in November of 1982, the 100 year flood in the winter of 1991, and Hurricane Iniki in September of 1992.