The Lahaina wildfire badly damaged buildings on the property of Waiola Church, the first Christian church on Maui.
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The first Christian church on Maui, established by Queen Keopuolani 200 years ago, has been destroyed by the Lahaina fire, members told USA Today.
Waiola Church is one of the most historic and sacred Christian spots in Hawaii. In 1823, Queen Keopuolani, the highest-ranking wife of King Kamehameha I, traveled with two Protestant reverends to Lahaina, which was then the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii. There, they prayed; it was the first Christian worship service in the island’s history, Waiola Church’s website says.
In the years to come, the first iteration of Waiola Church was built nearby. Its cemetery became the eternal resting place of several members of the Hawaiian royal family, including Keopuolani; King Kaumualii, the last king of Kauai; and Princess Nahienaena, the sister of King Kamehameha II and King Kamehameha III.
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Now, church members believe most of the treasured site is gone. Photographs show Keopuolani Hall, a large community gathering place on the church property, engulfed in flames. Waiola Church treasurer Judy Kinser told USA Today the area was “destroyed.”
“It’s gone, the social hall, the sanctuary, the annex, all of it,” church lay minister Anela Rosa told the outlet. “It is totally unimaginable.”
Wildfire devastation is seen outside Lahaina, Hawaii, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.
Rick Bowmer/AP
This is not the first chapter of heartache for Waiola Church; it was leveled in 1894 when a caretaker accidentally burned trash too close to the building, and intense winds collapsed the structure again in 1951.
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Rosa told USA Today that the church plans on resuming services as soon as it is able, even if that means using tents outdoors. A request for more information about the damage at the church complex was not returned by publication time.
Since three separate brush fires ignited on Maui Tuesday evening, at least 36 people have died and nearly 300 structures were destroyed. Most of the damage is centered in Lahaina, which saw its commercial district Front Street decimated by the blaze. The full extent of the damage remains to be seen; county officials are barring all unauthorized people from entering the area due to “biohazard and safety concerns.”
“We appreciate the cooperation of our community at this challenging time so we can collectively mitigate potential safety risks,” County of Maui officials wrote in a statement Thursday. “Arrangements to allow residents into the area will be announced at a later time.”