Waiola Church & Waiola Cemetery
Waiola Church & Waiola Cemetery
4.5
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
About
Both Waiola (which means "Water of Life") Church and the Waiola (or Waine'e) Graveyard next to it figure heavily into Maui's history. Many important figures from the early days of Hawaiian colonization are buried here, the famous next to the unknown, and perhaps more importantly, the Hawaiian next to the Western.
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4.5
29 reviews
Excellent
19
Very good
6
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3
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0
ITRT
Virginia44,656 contributions
Apr 2022
Waiola Congregational Church
The original church was built by Native Hawaiians on the orders of their chiefs for the new Protestant mission. The church could hold 3,000 worshippers. Waine’e served as the church for the royal family when Lahaina was the Kingdom’s capital. The first two churches were thatched and were destroyed by high winds and in 1947 was burned down by supporters of the deposed Queen Liliuokalani. The present church was built of concrete. Its named was changed to Waiola which means “water of life”. On the other side of the church is a large assembly hall.
WAIOLA CEMETERY
Waiola Cemetery (Waine’e) is next to the Waiola Congregational Church and is the final resting place for the great and common people of Old Lahaina. Both It holds the monuments to royalty including Queen Keopuolani, the first Hawaiian baptized as a Protestant, King Kaumuali’I, the last king of Kauai, as well as the first Protestant missionary, Rev. William Richards. Both the famous, native Hawaiians and the unknown are buried side by side.
The original church was built by Native Hawaiians on the orders of their chiefs for the new Protestant mission. The church could hold 3,000 worshippers. Waine’e served as the church for the royal family when Lahaina was the Kingdom’s capital. The first two churches were thatched and were destroyed by high winds and in 1947 was burned down by supporters of the deposed Queen Liliuokalani. The present church was built of concrete. Its named was changed to Waiola which means “water of life”. On the other side of the church is a large assembly hall.
WAIOLA CEMETERY
Waiola Cemetery (Waine’e) is next to the Waiola Congregational Church and is the final resting place for the great and common people of Old Lahaina. Both It holds the monuments to royalty including Queen Keopuolani, the first Hawaiian baptized as a Protestant, King Kaumuali’I, the last king of Kauai, as well as the first Protestant missionary, Rev. William Richards. Both the famous, native Hawaiians and the unknown are buried side by side.
Written 21 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janet B
Lahaina, Hawaii, United States1 contribution
Dec 2011 • Friends
In waine`e cemetery you will find many examples of how graves are marked. In early times, graves were lovingly marked by special stone or "pohaku" markers. Over time, the headstones become more westernized. A committee formed in the fall 2011 named, Na Kia I o' Waine`e", has began the process of grounds care and researching many unmarked grave sites for missing names. The original records were lost to a fire which destroyed Waiola church. On the project list, mapping of the grounds. This is an exciting project for the members, which include lineal decedents of the Ali`i. Ken at Lahainaluna's Hale Pa`i has been an invaluable part of helping the past come alive in our research. It has been a great reward to be able to replace empty spaces with names. Often, it is due to visiting families who have not been at the cemetery for years, crossing paths with us during cleaning time of the grounds. These heartfelt times are precious as we are able to add a name where it was missing. Please take your time as you journey through time, and stand beside the finale resting place of some of Hawaii'`s most beloved Ali`i. Aloha, bless you coming.
Written 2 December 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
icantbarrett
South San Francisco, CA51 contributions
Sept 2015 • Couples
First let me say I'm saddened by a few reviews that look at Waiola church as a tourist attraction. The cemetery is sacred ground and the church is where people go for strength, community, guidance and love.
I came here referred by a lovely young lady and a descendant of Hawaiian alii. Sadly my father passed away while vacationing and I needed guidance. She thought this church would be a nice fit for my struggles knowing the love I have for Hawaii and the Hawaiian people. Waiola church is filled with love and compassion for all people. I was taken in immediately and my needs were attended to with as much aloha as one could ask for. Everything about this church says love and when I left I felt the weight and burden of my loss lifted and manageable. My father was with us singing the Hawaiian hymns and rejoicing in this beautiful place of worship. The service is in Hawaiian and English.
Thank you for taking me in. I will visit every time I'm on the beautiful island of Maui. Aloha and Mahalo
I came here referred by a lovely young lady and a descendant of Hawaiian alii. Sadly my father passed away while vacationing and I needed guidance. She thought this church would be a nice fit for my struggles knowing the love I have for Hawaii and the Hawaiian people. Waiola church is filled with love and compassion for all people. I was taken in immediately and my needs were attended to with as much aloha as one could ask for. Everything about this church says love and when I left I felt the weight and burden of my loss lifted and manageable. My father was with us singing the Hawaiian hymns and rejoicing in this beautiful place of worship. The service is in Hawaiian and English.
Thank you for taking me in. I will visit every time I'm on the beautiful island of Maui. Aloha and Mahalo
Written 15 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
morethanjustok
dallas/fort worth283 contributions
Open air, service in english and hawain, beautiful and welcoming people. Visiting this church was one of the highlights of our trip. I am now interested in the history of hawai after seeing the graves.
Written 11 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dgbg100106
Odenton, MD1,687 contributions
Sept 2019
This church has a history of destruction and rebuilding that’ll make you wonder! The superstitious might have interpreted the events as a message, but the persevering congregants simply didn’t give up.
Originally called the Waine’e Church, built-in 1823, the original building lasted only three years to be lost to strong winds. The church was rebuilt and completed in 1832, but then in 1894, it burned to the ground. The church was rebuilt again, lasted another 50 some-odd years and burned once again. Again the congregants rebuilt, and in 1951 (three years time, again) the church was destroyed by “Kaua’ula” winds. In 1954 the church finally got a bit superstitious and changed its name to Waiola Church.
In the back of the churchyard is a row of some of the oldest palm trees in Lahaina.
Originally called the Waine’e Church, built-in 1823, the original building lasted only three years to be lost to strong winds. The church was rebuilt and completed in 1832, but then in 1894, it burned to the ground. The church was rebuilt again, lasted another 50 some-odd years and burned once again. Again the congregants rebuilt, and in 1951 (three years time, again) the church was destroyed by “Kaua’ula” winds. In 1954 the church finally got a bit superstitious and changed its name to Waiola Church.
In the back of the churchyard is a row of some of the oldest palm trees in Lahaina.
Written 5 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peg Moore
Lahaina, HI12 contributions
Aug 2019
The first Christian Church in the Hawaiian islands, open walled facility let’s in light and birdsong during the service, which have scripture and songs in Hawaiian. It is now a United Church of Christ (UCC) Next to the cemetery where early members of the royal family are buried.
Written 31 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miren A
Santa Ynez, CA24 contributions
Sept 2016 • Friends
Take the Lahaina historical tour given by westin ocean resort villas for a full explanation of church & its grounds' history. It's even recognized as sovereign land
Written 11 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
C W
124 contributions
Jan 2016
As believers , we decided to worship at the oldest church in Maui and one of the oldest in all the islands. founded in the 1830's by direct decree of Kamehameha 1, This church preserves the good Christian tradition of the Hawaiian people when many have forsaken the faith. Many of the congregants are Hawaiian with a rich history. Many have ancestors buried right along side of the Hawaiian Queen who lives right next to the church grounds. Her memorial place is enshrined with a fenced area and very sacred and well taken care of. You can feel the Aloha - or love at this church and also the sense of history and purpose for the future of Hawaii in godly hands. The wonderful wall panels are movable to let the trade winds in on hotter days - very unique and ingenious. A lovely place and experience. Gracious and beautiful people - past and present.
Written 1 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elisha S
Eugene, OR13 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
The aloha was very evident when I visited this church. I enjoyed hearing hymns sung in Hawaiian accompanied by ukuleles, and seeing the graves of some of the first Hawaiians buried in the Christian manner.
Written 20 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JMinMaui
Lahaina, HI19 contributions
Dec 2015 • Family
Although Waiola Church and the adjoining Waine'e Cemetery may seem sleepy and (as another reviewer mentioned) not very active, it is actually a wonderful congregational church with immense historical value. Since its inception in 1823, this place has had and continues to have great significance. Come and visit our most sacred Queen Keopuolani in the tomb and you can feel the quiet power this place has and channels. As a United Church of Christ, Waiola also has a very active membership that gives to the greater church and the community. Visit on a Sunday and they FEED you! :) Can't say how wonderful this place it. Feels like home every time!
Written 1 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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