Name/Title
Oldest Frame Building in HawaiiDescription
The Oldest Frame Building in Hawaii
Ka Hale Lā‘au, the oldest still-standing, Western-style structure in Hawai‘i, also known as the “Old Mission House” and the “1821 Frame House”, is celebrating its bicentennial year in 2021.
Originally built as a residence for the first company of New England Protestant missionaries sent by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the structure became the first seat of the Sandwich Islands Mission and served as the Honolulu Mission Station. It was in active use from 1820-1862.
The structure was delivered from Boston as cut lumber to be assembled upon arrival (what would be called pre-fabricated today). To get here, the structure travelled around Cape Horn aboard the brig Thaddeus with the first mission company, arriving first in Kona in April 1820. It was transported to Honolulu on board the ship Tartar on Christmas Day of 1820.
After careful consideration by the ali‘i, in particular King Liholiho, the missionaries were given permission to build the structure in March of 1821. Construction for the first iteration of the house began the following month, and members of the first company were residing in it by August. The house remained in various stages of construction throughout the 19th century, changing to fit the evolving needs of the Honolulu Mission Station. The station compound grew, as did its community, and by the 1840s the house had two kitchens and up to 5 families living inside, each family occupying one room.
Historic Hawaii Foundation CreditCreated By
hawaiiancovers@gmail.comCreate Date
April 13, 2025Update Date
April 13, 2025
