As church members began to move to Laie, one of the first structures to be built was a bowery for church services. However, a bowery (a series of poles with boughs laid across the top) is great protection from the sun, but not from the rain - a real chapel was a high priority. The first real chapel in Laie was built, measuring 24 by 36 feet in size. Its exact location is not known, but was most likely near the ranch house.
By 1880, the community of Laie was large and stable enough to raise funds and build a chapel to rival any on this side of the island. When King Kalakaua heard of the upcoming ground breaking he asked to attend and, while at the event, made a donation of $100 to the building fund. He was also present for the laying of the four cornerstones of the new chapel on April 6, 1883.
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I Hemolele in the 1880s
(this photo and others below courtesy of BYU-Hawaii Archives) |
The chapel, which came to be known as "I Hemolele" ("holy" or "sacred"), was built on a knoll or rise where the Laie Hawaii Temple now stands, a hundred yards south of the ranch house. The chapel was 90 by 30 feet in size, and was built with a steeple, a traditional second story choir loft at the rear, and a bell that could be heard throughout all of Laie - all for the total cost of $8,000. I Hemolele served the community well for many decades.
In 1915, President Joseph F. Smith and several other church leaders visited Laie, in recognition of its Jubilee year. While there, President Smith felt impressed to dedicate the chapel grounds as the future location of a temple. In order to make room for temple construction, the chapel first had to be moved to a new location.
Under the inspired leadership of temple construction supervisor, Ralph Woolley, and foremen Hamana Kalili and David Haili, the approximately 3600 square foot, nine-ton chapel was ingeniously raised off the ground and rolled slowly down the hill on timber tracks and large pipes, until it reached its final location on Lanihuli Street near where the Laie "back chapel" now stands.
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I Hemolele being rolled down the hill,
windows removed circa 1916
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The chapel in its new location served well until the year 1940, when workers preparing its exterior for a new coat of paint accidentally started a small fire which soon consumed the entire structure. It was a sad day; the chapel where saints, royalty, and prophets of God had worshiped together was no more.
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I Hemolele (lower center) with the Laie school campus
just to the right, 1927
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Laie was to go without a chapel for the next 10 years, partly because the war years made new construction of any significance impossible. During those years, church services were held in the community social hall located on Loala Street.
When World War II was over, and construction materials were once again available, Laie began fund-raising for a new chapel. The community turned to the hukilau. It was felt that such an activity, along with food and entertainment, might be of interest to tourists and help generate the needed funds.
Sure enough, this activity quickly became popular, the necessary funds were raised, and a few years later Laie had a new chapel dedicated in 1950 by Matthew Cowley, beloved Apostle to the Pacific.
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Laie "back chapel" dedicated in 1950 by Elder Matthew Cowley
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- The Mormon Pacific Historical Society
