Waihee Church

Waihee Church
Waihee Church is located in Maui
Waihee Church
Waihee Church is located in Hawaii
Waihee Church
Nearest cityWaihee, Hawaii
Coordinates20°56′6″N 156°30′54″W / 20.93500°N 156.51500°W / 20.93500; -156.51500
Arealess than one acre
Built1848
NRHP reference No.94000384[1]
HRHP No.50-50-04-01619[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 21, 1994
Designated HRHPJune 2, 1992

Waihee Church (also known as Waihee Protestant Church) is a historic church in Waihee, Hawaii, United States. The church began construction in 1848 and was finished ten years later in 1858. It is located on a small parcel heavily planted with trees and flowers in the plantation town of Waihee.[3][4]

The church was established for Waihee's missionary congregation. Johnathan S. Green had built a thatch and pole meeting house on the present site in 1830. Early records indicated that between 100 and 300 Hawaiians attended the early meetings. The church became an official branch of the Kaahumanu Church in Wailuku in 1868.[4]

The church building is significant for its architecture. It was built with lava rock and has a limestone foundation and wooden siding. A wooden bell tower originally topped the building; however, it was removed in 1987 due to termite and storm damage. In 1930, the church was devastated by a flash flood cascading from the mountains at the back of the church property. It is still standing today but most of the church records were destroyed. Waihee Church is a historic landmark and museum.[4]

Over a hundred years later the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

Exterior of Waihee Church. Photograph by Alan Gowans. National Gallery of Art Library.

References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Historic Register Counts". Hawai'i State Historic Preservation Division. State of Hawaii. February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  3. ^ "Waihee Church". Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Penkiunas, Diana (February 24, 1992). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Waihee Church". National Park Service. Retrieved March 7, 2014. Accompanied by photos.
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