Were other churches represented at Kalawo and Kalaupapa?
The first Calvinist meetinghouse was built in the Hawaiian fishing village of Kalaupapa in 1839. This was replaced by a second church in 1847, and by a third structure, built in 1853 which is still standing. Within the first year of patients arriving at Kalawao in 1866, church members came together and formed a Congregational church they named Siloama, Church of the Healing Spring. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints also had a congregation at Kalawao. Joseph H. Napela, a Mormon elder, came to Kalaupapa sometime after 1871 as kokua (helper) for his wife, a patient. In October 1873 he was appointed president of the Kalaupapa Branch of the Maui, Moloka`i, and Lana`i Conference. He eventually contracted Hansen s disease and died at Kalaupapa.