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Exterior Dedication Plaque

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This plaque on a slab of reef stone outside the church reads, "Kawaiaha'o Church (The Stone Church). Built of giant coral slabs, hewn from ocean reefs, this sanctuary became known as The Stone Church. This strucure was preceded by a succession of four thatched grass buildings which served as houses of worship until ground was broken in 1837. The building materials of the sanctuary were not easily accessible. The huge coral slabs had to be quarried underwater, and each weighed more than 1000 pounds. Native Hawaiians dove 10 to 20 feet to hand chisel these pieces from the reef. The physically and spiritually strong hauled some 14,000 of the slabs to this, their final destination. The Stone Church was dedicated on July 21, 1842. The coral slab this sign is mounted on was from the original pieces used to construct this sanctuary."