Waioli Huiia Church is one of Hanalei’s most recognizable and beloved landmarks. Built in 1912, the green-painted church sits against a dramatic backdrop of mountains, its color chosen to harmonize with the surrounding landscape. Designed in an American Gothic style, the church features stained glass windows, a steeply pitched roof, and elegant proportions that feel both stately and perfectly at home in its tropical setting. Today, it remains one of the most photographed sites on Kauai.
The church occupies a site with a continuous history of worship dating back to 1834, when a simple pole-and-thatch meeting house was constructed by Native Hawaiians to welcome the first American missionaries. Over time, the site evolved from an early Congregational church into its current affiliation with the United Church of Christ, a transition that formally took place in 1957.
Adjacent to the church stands Mission Hall, built in 1841 and recognized as the oldest surviving church building on Kauai. A bell brought from Boston was added in 1843 and later relocated to the bell tower of the present church when it was completed in 1912. Throughout the 1800s, Mission Hall served as a central place of worship and gathering for Hanalei and the North Shore community.
Tucked discreetly behind a grove of trees on the property is the Mission House, built beginning in 1835 by the first permanent pastor, Reverend William Alexander, who arrived in Hanalei in 1834 with his wife, Mary Ann McKinney Alexander. The two-story, wood-framed home was completed in stages, including a chimney constructed by Reverend Alexander himself in 1837. Later missionaries Abner and Lucy Wilcox arrived in 1846 and spent two decades serving the adjacent mission school. Donations from their sons helped fund the construction of the present church building.
Today, the Mission House operates as the Waioli Mission House Museum, offering visitors a compelling glimpse into missionary life in the mid-19th century. The museum is open for guided tours on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is best accessed from Old School House Road, near Hanalei Elementary School. Set in an open meadow framed by lush mountains, the location alone makes the visit worthwhile.
Despite its age, Waioli Huiia Church has endured Kauai’s harshest storms, including Hurricane Dot, Hurricane Iwa, and Hurricane Iniki in 1992. After sustaining significant damage during Iniki, the church and Mission Hall were carefully restored, preserving their historic character while ensuring their continued use.
The church remains an active place of worship, with services held every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. The Waioli Church Choir is a highlight, known for its performances of early Hawaiian hymns. The church is also a popular venue for weddings and vow renewals. Often referred to locally as the “Green Church,” it is impossible to miss as you drive past Hanalei’s main shopping area along Kuhio Highway.
Visitors will often find the church doors open during the day, welcoming quiet exploration when services or events are not underway. Late afternoon is an especially rewarding time to visit, when the warm light before sunset enhances the church’s color and the surrounding mountains, making it one of Hanalei’s most photogenic scenes.
