Built in 1873, the Mokuaikaua Church was the first Christian church established in Hawaii and is the oldest church throughout all of the Hawaiian Islands. Admission is free and the church is open for viewing during daylight hours. Mokuaikaua is still used as a practicing church today, so be respectful if visiting during a prayer ceremony.

Mokuaikaua Church was built of lava rock and coral lime mortar, similar to its neighbor the the Hulihee Palace. It is the tallest structure in town and historically fisherman used the 112ft steeple for navigation. Behind the church is a model of the Brig Thaddeus, the ship that brought missionaries to the Big Island through an arduous 164-day journey.