On May 19, 1824, a simple grass hut was dedicated as the first church of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions with Joseph Goodrich as preacher and Samuel Ruggles as teacher.

The name of the village came from wai ākea in the Hawaiian language meaning "broad waters",[4] and was located in what is now the southeast part of the city of Hilo.

In December 1824, Goodrich met Chiefess Kapiʻolani at the Kīlauea volcano, for a dramatic demonstration that the new faith was acceptable.

[5] In June 1825 HMS Blonde arrived, and Goodrich guided a party to the summit of Mauna Kea.

The wood had to be dragged by hand down from the slopes of Mauna Loa since no horses or oxen were available, and no roads suitable for wheeled carts.

Coan served as pastor, but was often proselytizing on circuits through the countryside or showing visitors to the volcano, when Lyman performed services.

[13] Tsunamis devastated the areas along the coast, with the largest in 1946 and 1960,[14] but the new site of the church was far enough inland to avoid destruction.

The Current Church Leadership (Council) Members are (Moderator) Lyndell Lindsey (Vice-Moderator) Enola-Gay Osorio (Secretary) LeeAnn Lindsey (Treasurer) Cindy Lee (Diaconate) Carol Hughes-Okada (Missions) Lorna Bufil (Evangelism) Daniel Kawaha (Delegate) Cynthia Akimseu It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 23, 2002, as site 02000387, and the state list as site 10-35-7417 on November 17, 2001.