The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-08-27
FOR ITS DIAMOND JUBILEE
KAwAIAHAO CHURCH SOON ENDS
ITS 18th YEAR.
Arrangements in Progress for the Cele-
bration-Founded as the First Fruits
of Missionary Labor in Hawaii.

Kawaiahao Church is soon to cele-
brate it's Diamond Jubilee.
The seventy-fifth anniversary of the
foundation of the Kawaiahao Church
the first native church to be started in
! the Hawaiian Islands will be celebrated
December l. The church was organized
December 5, 1925 but as this was the
! first Sunday in the month the date of
subsequent celebrations has been con-
tinued movable with the corresponding
Sunday No program has been, as yet,
arranged about the manner in which
the celebration is to be observed but the
pastor, the Rev. II, Fl. Parker and his
assistant, Rev. w. d. Westerfelt are
considering what is likely to prove the
most interesting, and characteristic of
the church. 1t is intended to have
special services and singing during the
day. The young people will also take
prominent part in the program.
The present edifice was started in
1888 and dedicated four years later. 1t
stands as a monument to one of the
most notable events in Hawaiian his
the formal reorganization of the con-
version of the rulers and chieftians to
Christianity. This church which is built
upon land specially awarded to the mis-
sionaries by Kamchameha II is the
sixth building in which the congrega-
ton has worshipped and during the
seventy-five years of the church's life
it has known but four pastors.
1t was from the original missionary
church of the islands that the present
organization sprung. The missionaries
sailed, from Boston in 1919 and in
March of the following year reached
Oahu. A system of schools both reli-
gious and secular was established
throughout the islands, where the mis-
sionaries taught all natives who were
desrous of studying about the outside
world and the christian religion. II is
from these schools that the organization
found it's first inception. The chiefs
learned that their subjects were rapidly
availing themselves of the chance Of
fered by the missionaries and the heads
of the community were fired with an
ambition not to be outdone by their
subjects. The result was that the
chieftains and royal family soon sought
the aid of the missionaries and conver-
sions became numerous.
During the five years proceeding the
establishment of the Kawaiahao church
the missionaries conducted the church
exclusively and even refused to baptise
the natives. Among the fifst srd most
earnest of the converts was the famous
regent Kaahumanu the favorite queen
of Kamehameha the Great So urgent
did the natives become in their desire
! to be baptised and formally received
into the church that the present or
ganization was finally brought about
in 1925. The following native leaders
signed the roll of the church after hav-
! ing been placed upon six monthes pro-
I baton Kaahumanu, Kalanimoku, Ma
vahanu, Laanui Kapule, Namahana,
Kaiu, Kealiiahonui and Richard
Kalaaiaulu. John Ii and five others
were also received into the
church. 1t was the famous chief
! tain of the Eva district and lived al
Pearl City. The rules of the church
were similar in character to those gov
erning the New England churches at
! that time, basing the admission upon a
confession of faith.
The most famous of the natives was
Kaahumanu, probably the strongest
and most remarkable woman of Hawa'
iian history. Kapiolani received a lit
tie later at Kaawaloa was the third
queen of King Kamehameha the Grea
and it was she who defied the fearful
Pele the volcano goddess. KalunimokI
was the governor of the islands under
the queen regent.
Rev. Hiram Bingham who was one
of the first missionaries to the islands
was the first pastor of the church anC
served in that capacity from 1925 unit
1S4O. Following him Rev. Richard
Armstrong occupied the pulpit for tel
years and from 1850 until 1860 Rev f
W. Clarke was at the head of the
church. From 1868 until the presen
time Rev. II. H. Parker has continued
pastor Rev. w. D. Westerfelt came t.
the church a year ago and has beer
conducting the special nglish brancl
of the work.
The first five places of worship wer
built of grass. The first was burned
down. 1t is thought an intoxicated sal
lor set fire to 1t by accident. The pre-
sent building has been the scene o
many celebrations the most stirring o
which was the ratification of Admira
Thomas restoration of independence Il
the Hawaiians in 1S43. A monster mas
meeting was held in the church whel
King Kamehamehaa III gave utteranc
to that noble sentiment which after
wards became the national motto ant
appeared on the national coat of arms
"Ua mau Ike ca o ka alma ka pono
1.-The life of the land is preserved by
righteousness.