Reverend James Kekela plaque at Kawaiahao Church, 2013.

REVEREND JAMES KEKELA

KEKELA O KA LANI

BORN IN 1824 AT MOKULEIA OAHU

EDUCATED BY JAMES HUNNEWELL AT LAHAINALUNA

FIRST HAWAIIAN CHRISTIAN MINISTER

ORDAINED AT KAHUKU DECEMBER 21 1849

IN 1853 HE WENT AS A PIONEER MISSIONARY TO THE MARQUESAS ISLANDS WHERE FOR 49 YEARS HE EXERCISED A REMARKABLE INFLUENCE AGAINST CANNIBALISM AND TRIBAL WARFARE

A TRUE SPIRITUAL GUIDE

IN 1864 HE WAS SIGNALLY REWARDED BY

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

FOR RESCUING AN AMERICAN SEAMAN FROM CANNIBALS

DIED IN HONOLULU NOVEMBER 1904

“O KE ALOHA, OIA KA MOLE O NA MEA PONO A ME NA MEA OIAIO A PAU”

LOVE IS THE ROOT OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND TRUE

KEKELA

[Kekela is buried in the cemetery of Kawaiahao Church in front of his daughter Maria. His wife Naomi however is buried at the Waianae Church.]

(Kawaiahao Church)

Rev. James Kekela Plaque, Kawaiahao Church