Kona Hawaii Temple
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Kona Hawai‘i Temple is the seventieth church temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is the second church temple in Hawai‘i following the Lā‘ie Hawai‘i Temple, the fifth oldest in the world. Located in the town of Kailua Kona on the Big Island of Hawai‘i, the site of Kona Hawai‘i Temple was dedicated on March 13, 1999. The structure itself was constructed in concrete, white marble and some native materials. Architects used a simple classical design featuring a single spire. The completion and official dedication was celebrated on January 23, 2000 by LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley.
Mormonism in Hawai‘i
The Mormon Church was established in the islands in 1850 following the Edict of Toleration promulgated by Kamehameha III, giving the underground Hawai‘i Catholic Church the right to worship while at the same time allowing other faith traditions to begin establishing themselves. After the construction of Lā‘ie Hawai‘i Temple, the Mormons founded Church College of Hawai‘i, now the Brigham Young University of Hawai‘i. The Hawai‘i Mormon population continued to flourish becoming one of the world's largest communities today, evidence of the need for the second church temple.
Resources
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Official Site (http://www.lds.org/)
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Visitors Site (http://www.mormon.org/)
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Temples Site (http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/)