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