About Hawaiian Mission Houses
Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives (HMH), an active site for Hawaii’s history since 1820, is a National Historic Landmark (listed in 1965) and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (last re-accredited in 2010). HMH graces a one-acre site in the Historic Capital district in downtown Honolulu. HMH preserves Hawai‘i’s oldest Western-style house, the 1821 Mission House, as well as the 1831 Chamberlain House, the 1841 Bedroom Annex, a cemetery, a collections storage vault, a gift shop, and multi-purpose space. The library, which holds both English and Hawaiian archival material, welcomes researchers on site as well as from around the globe through the digital collection. A coral-and-grass performance arena was added in 2011, hosting theater and mele (music) performances throughout the year, and a reconstructed hale pili, built using cultural practitioner leadership and designed with sources from journals in the HMH archives, was added in 2021. HMH offers school field trips, tours, historical theater performances and has been awarded over 15 Po‘okela Awards for Excellence in theatrical performance, writing, and direction. The HMH library and historical archive holds over 80,000 digital pieces and is home to one of the largest collections of Hawaiian language printed material in the world.
The mission of the Hawaiian Mission Houses is to interpret the legacy and to promote an open dialogue around the impact of the Protestant missionaries and their interwoven relationships with the people of Hawai’i.
The vision of Hawaiian Mission Houses is to encourage a deeper understanding and appreciation of the complex history of Hawai’i, how it evolved into today’s society, connecting down to contemporary life. This will be accomplished by preserving the heritage and interpreting the stories of the American Protestant Missionaries and their descendants through the material and archival collections, which illustrate their relationships with the people, and cultures of Hawai’i.
Hawaiian Mission Houses is a site where communities and cultures have intersected for over two hundred years. The institution primarily focuses on the approximately forty year “Missionary Period,” which occurred between 1820 and 1863. The unique, collaborative relationship between the American Protestant Missionaries and the Hawaiian Aliʻi brought many changes to Hawaiian society; HMH has identified five key areas of development during the time period, which are as follows:
- The introduction of Christianity;
- The development of a written Hawaiian language and establishment of schools, resulting in widespread literacy;
- The promulgation of the concept of constitutional government;
- The combination of Hawaiian with Western medicine; and
- The evolution of a new and distinctive musical tradition.
Using primary source materials from the institution’s archives and collections, various perspectives and narratives are presented to bring individual and community stories to light, celebrating the plurality of experience and voices from the past.
Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives’ pre-eminent values include:
- Fostering openness and dialogue about historical and contemporary issues;
- Honoring the legacy of language, literacy, and learning;
- Nurturing the importance of identity, family, and genealogical record keeping;
- Upholding our stewardship role in the care of the past for future generations;
- Listening and engaging with others with respect, humility, and authenticity; and
- Advancing the highest professional standards and fiscal responsibility.
(2025)
September:
- ‘Ohana Day ~ Open House highlight reel:
- KHON2 NEWS: September 25, 2025, Pilina Kapu “Forbidden Relationships” interview with Mike Smola, HMH Director of Education & Kumu Sam ‘Ohu Gon III. The event on October, 4 will be a night of mo’olelo, mele, oli and hula at Hawaiian Mission Houses. Click here to watch the interview.
- KHON2 NEWS: ‘Ohana Day interview on September, 24, 2025 with Matt McConnell, HMH School Programs and Volunteer Coordinator & our community partner, Aloha Tree Alliance, featuring Executive Director, Chris Chang. Click here to watch.
August:
- Hawaiian Mission Houses announces upcoming annual fundraising gala, Huaka’i 2025, at the Royal Hawaiian hotel. Learn more about the event, read the press release here. To get tickets to the event, click here.
- Hawaiian Mission Houses performs “Visions of Hospitality” in Maui at Makawao Cemetery History Theatre, August 2nd and 3rd. To read press release, click here.
- Hawaiian Mission Houses & the Hawaiian Historical Society host Archives Uncorked: “Endless Summer” on Friday, August 1, 2025. Guests explored how island residents have celebrated the summer season from the missionary era to today through four engaging historical stations. To read press release, click here:
July:
- Hawaii Public Radio Show, The Conversation, by Maddie Bender, July 17, 2025: Librarian who moonlights as a sommelier uncorks history (and wine) ~ Listen here.
- Hawaii Public Radio: Archives Uncorked event info. ~ Hawaiian Mission Houses & Hawaiian Historical Society
June:
- Kaka’ako Vert magazine: Living History by Peter Rosegg, pg. 58~ Hawaiian Mission Houses Brings History to Life With Its Popular O’ahu Cemetery Pūpū Theatre Program. To read article: Kaka’ako Vert Hawaii Magazine
- The O’ahu Concierge feature: Experience Hawaii’s Rich Tourism Legacy through Historical Portrayals: O’ahu Cemetery Pūpū Theatre, June 2025, Volume 28, Issue 6. To read article: O’ahu Concierge ~ June 2025
May:
- ‘Pūpū Theatre’ brings history to life at Oahu Cemetery: Star Advertiser feature story by John Berger, May 26,2025. To read article: Star Advertiser
April:
- HMH hosts Archives and Inquiry (a virtual speaker series) on Tuesday, April 22, 2025: Dr. Lilikalā Kameʻeleihiwa – Haumea: Hawaiian Earth Mother and Ancestor of All Female Divine Elements . Read more here.
- HMH presents Special History Theatre: “Visionary Women” on Thursday, April 24, 2025. This special event brings to life the stories of four visionary women who made significant contributions to Hawaii’s history through authentic actor portrayals. Read more here.
March:
- Hawaii News Now ~ Sunrise with Casey Lund was LIVE at the Hawaiian Mission Houses to discuss Archives Uncorked: Mana Wāhine.
- Announcing “Wahi Kapu: Forbidden Places” our spring Mele program event on May 17, 2025 – here
- Video: Educators from the Kūkalahale Project: E Hoʻi Nā Wai Cohort of the University of Hawai*i Honolulu, Windward, and Kapiʻolani Community Colleges came to learn about our resources in order to teach and share Hawaiian history. Video credit to Nyzjon Jefferson for Kūkalahale – VIEW HERE
- Hawaiian Historical Society (HHS) and Hawaiian Mission Houses (HMH) will host a collaborative event, Archives Uncorked: Mana Wāhine on Friday, March 21, 2025 from 5:30PM to 8:00PM – READ HERE
February:
- Hawaiian Mission Houses holds FREE Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month) Event 2/22/25 11am-1pm BYO lunch – READ HERE
(2024)
November:
- Hawaiian Mission Houses is proud to announce our AAM Re-accreditation – READ HERE
- Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives invites you to shop at our annual Holiday Craft Fair – READ HERE
- Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives unveils our new Chemberlain Houses exhibit – READ HERE
October:
- Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives returns with our Archives & Inquiry series – READ HERE
September:
- Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives returns with our Mele series – READ HERE
- Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives, in partnership with Hawaiian Historical Society, announces the return of our Archives Uncorked series – READ HERE
August:
- Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives returns with our annual ʻOhana Day – READ HERE
- Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives announces the return of our annual Huakaʻi Gala Fundraiser – READ HERE
July:
- Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives is seeking new volunteer docents – READ HERE
- Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives announces the next installment of the Archives and Inquiry Virtual Speaker Series: “Leviathan’s Families: The History of Humans and Whales in the Pacific”, Dr. Ryan Tucker Jones of the University of Oregon – READ HERE
- Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives in partnership with Hawaii Shakespeare Festival 2024 – READ HERE
June:
- Hawaiian Mission Houses announces the return of our annual Cemetery Pupu Theatre Program: “How Sweet It Is” – READ HERE
- Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives welcomes Phil Acosta as new Executive Director, and other new staff members – READ HERE
May:
- Hawaiian Mission Houses announces the return of our Mele Program: “I Ke Kuapaʻi o Kahu William Ellis” – “In the Footsteps of Rev. William Ellis” – READ HERE
April:
- Hawaiin Mission Houses honors our Partner in Change: “Leah Laramee, Hawai’i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Coordinator, and Skye Kolealani Razon-Olds, Community Organizer, Cultural Resource Advocate, Community Council Member, Climber, and Digital Storyteller, as “Partners in Change”.” – READ HERE
- Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives announces the next installment of the Archives and Inquiry Virtual Speaker Series: “Women in
Power: Polynesian Political Leadership in the 19th Century” with author of “When Women Ruled the Pacific: Power and Politics in the Nineteenth Century Tahita and Hawaiʻi”, Dr. Joy Schulz. – READ HERE
- Hawaiian Mission Houses will host a special presentation of History Theater: Rediscovering History – READ HERE
February:
- Hawaiian Mission Houses in partnership with Hawaiian Historical Society presents Archives Uncorked: Hoʻoulu Lāhui – READ HERE