The Hawai'i people underwent a profound cultural transition during the 14 years between the founding of Waimea Mission and the building of stations at Koloa and Wai'oli.
After the death of Kamehameha I in 1819 his favorite wife, Kaahamanu ended the ancient kapu system and allowed Christian missionary work. She herself learned to read and was converted by 1825.
The Wai'oli valley seemed the best place on the north shore of Kaua'i to build a church, school, and the necessary domestic buildings which together made up a mission station. The Hawaiians were enthuastic.
Rev Alexander, his wife Mary Ann and young son were brought from Waimea around the NaPali coast to Hanalei Bay by Gov Kaikioewa's double hulled canoe in 1834.
Ethel Damon described the anticipation of the Hawaiians in this scene: "Natives thronged the shore to help beach the canoe and thus have the first sight of the strange white woman and child who had come from so far. And crowds accompanied the little family to the new thatched house as leaven from the older church of brother Whitney, Davida Papohaku had accompanied the new missionary to Wai'oli with a train of 75 followers.
Camping in temporary huts at the mouth of the Wai'oli River, this troop of the faithful called their village Kalema, Bethehem" (from Waioli Mission House" by Barnes Riznik
Wai'oli Hui'ia Church celebrates 175 years this October.
Amazingly at one time history bored me.
Sterling, 4 days till Poipu
After the death of Kamehameha I in 1819 his favorite wife, Kaahamanu ended the ancient kapu system and allowed Christian missionary work. She herself learned to read and was converted by 1825.
The Wai'oli valley seemed the best place on the north shore of Kaua'i to build a church, school, and the necessary domestic buildings which together made up a mission station. The Hawaiians were enthuastic.
Rev Alexander, his wife Mary Ann and young son were brought from Waimea around the NaPali coast to Hanalei Bay by Gov Kaikioewa's double hulled canoe in 1834.
Ethel Damon described the anticipation of the Hawaiians in this scene: "Natives thronged the shore to help beach the canoe and thus have the first sight of the strange white woman and child who had come from so far. And crowds accompanied the little family to the new thatched house as leaven from the older church of brother Whitney, Davida Papohaku had accompanied the new missionary to Wai'oli with a train of 75 followers.
Camping in temporary huts at the mouth of the Wai'oli River, this troop of the faithful called their village Kalema, Bethehem" (from Waioli Mission House" by Barnes Riznik
Wai'oli Hui'ia Church celebrates 175 years this October.
Amazingly at one time history bored me.
Sterling, 4 days till Poipu
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