Mission Houses Museum was established in 1923 by the Hawaiian Mission Children's Society, a private, non-profit organization and genealogical society.
Consists of three mission houses that served as homes and workplaces for the first Christian missionaries who came here:
Frame House (Hale Lā‘au) (1821)
The oldest wood frame structure still standing in the Hawaiian Islands, it was shipped around Cape Horn from Boston in 1820. It was used as a communal home by many missionary families who shared it with island visitors and boarders.
Hear architect Spencer Leineweber talk about the Frame House
Chamberlain House (Ka Hale Kamalani) (1831)
This house bears the name of the Mission's first secular agent in Hawai‘i - Levi Chamberlain. In 1831, Chamberlain contracted for the building of this structure, which was to be used as a depository. The building was made of coral blocks cut away from the ocean reef, which were dried and bleached by the sun. These blocks were arranged and assembled to build the Chamberlain House. From this location, Levi Chamberlain was able to plan out and undertake the disbursement of provisions for the entire Sandwich Islands Mission. It now serves as the Museum's temporary Exhibition Gallery.
Printing Office (Ka Hale Pa‘i) (1841)
Also built from coral blocks, this structure was completed in 1841 and contains a replica of the first printing press to be brought to Hawaii. Here, some of the first books and printed materials in Hawaii were produced. The restored printing office shows how early Protestant Missionaries and native Hawaiians collaborated on the production of numerous books and other printed materials first printed in the Hawaiian language
Listen to historian Peter Salter describe the Ramage Press
Mission Statement
The Mission Houses Museum connects the story of the American Protestant missionaries and their descendants to the history and culture of Hawai‘i, in order to give present generations of residents and visitors a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, Hawai‘i's rich and complex history.
Mission Houses Museum is a National Historic Landmark and is accredited by the American Association of Museums.
