Waioli Church, Island of Kauai, Hanalei, Kauai County, HI

Significance: Originally built with a thatched roof, Wailoi Church is reminiscent of early Hawaiian architecture. It is also the oldest church building on the island of Kauai. It is an imposing structure, with a main interior space of 35 by 70 feet, to which a small kitchen wing was added in 1934. An open lanai (porch) surrounds the building on three sides, with wood posts supporting the eave of the tall, high-pitched roof. The pitch is broken over the plate line with a lesser slope above the lanai. This type of roof, a modified copy of the type of roof used in early Hawaiian structures, is referred to now as the "modern" Hawaiian roof. The original roof was thatch, later replaced by shingles, then galvanized iron, then back to shingles, which now cover it. The walls are of wood frame with rough textured lath and plaster on the interior and exterior, which is painted white. Roof beams are of native lumber, brought from the mountains surrounding Hanalei, and cut to shape by local carpenters. A wood floor and ceiling were added later.
Survey number: HABS HI-52