Andre K.
Google
Wai'Oli ("Joyful Water") Church stands as a guard at the border between the profane streets of Hanalei and devine Napali bastion. The waterfall from the cliffs behind the church and the same named stream welcome visitors to the celebration of life.
As in the United Church of Christ, there is no uniform doctrine or worship here. The services are very respectful to traditional Hawaiian spirituality of aloha ("the presence of the breath of life").
It is a historical place from 1834, which saw the birth, the fall, and rebirth of its mission. The missionary Abner Wilcox came here in 1846 to do good, but his son George Wilcox did really well. George became a very rich suger plantations owner. With his colleagues he witnessed the native Hawaiian population decline by somewhere around 80%. It caused owners star import of labor and infiltrate into the government of the islands. Now the Christian faith is deeply rooted in people of Hawaii, but at the same time they stay close to their roots. Wai'Oli shrine enhances this way.