Kona Hawaii Temple

The Kona Hawaii Temple was announced May 7, 1998,{{citation |url= http://www.churchnewsarchive.com/articles/31405/Locations-for-six-of-30-small-temples-given.html |title= Locations for six of 30 small temples given |date= May 23, 1998 |newspaper= Church News }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{citation |url= http://www.churchnewsarchive.com/articles/35271/The-announcements-of-new-holy-edifices-bring-joy-and-tears.html |title= The announcements of new holy edifices bring joy and tears |first= Janet |last= Kruckenberg |date= February 20, 1999 |newspaper= Church News }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} with a groundbreaking ceremony presided over by John B. Dickson of the Seventy then held on March 13, 1999.{{citation |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2000/04/news-of-the-church/two-new-temples-dedicated-president-hinckley-visits-saints-in-pacific?lang=eng |title= Two New Temples Dedicated, President Hinckley Visits Saints in Pacific |date=April 2000 |journal= Ensign |accessdate= September 21, 2012 }} Approximately 1,200 people attended the groundbreaking ceremonies. Dickson, Donald L. Hallstrom, an area seventy, Hilo stake president John Sakamaki, and Kona stake president Philip A. Harris each spoke at the ceremony. Dickson turned over the first shovelful of dirt, after which other onlookers, including many children, participated.{{citation |url= http://www.churchnewsarchive.com/articles/35392/Hawaii-edifice-to-help-establish-eternal-families.html |title= Hawaii edifice to help establish eternal families |last= Peacock |first= Joyce A. |date= March 20, 1999 |newspaper= Church News |accessdate= September 21, 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

After construction was completed, a public open house was held from January 12–15, 2000.{{citation |url= http://www.churchnewsarchive.com/articles/36842/Open-house-dedication-dates-announced-for-temples.html |title= Open house, dedication dates announced for temples |date= November 27, 1999 |newspaper= Church News }}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple on January 23–24, 2000.{{citation |url= http://www.churchnewsarchive.com/articles/37099/KONA-HAWAII-Here-to-taste-the-sweet-refreshment-of-the-Holy-Spirit.html |title= Kona Hawaii: 'Here to taste the sweet refreshment of the Holy Spirit' |date= January 29, 2000 |newspaper= Church News }}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Hinckley was accompanied to the dedication by Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Hallstrom. More than 3,800 church members attended the dedicatory sessions.

In 2020, like all the church's others, the Kona Hawaii Temple was closed for a time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Stack, Peggy Fletcher. [https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/03/26/all-latter-day-saint/ "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus"], The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.

On August 29, 2022, the First Presidency announced that the temple would close for renovations.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-29 |title=Renovations Are Coming to the Kona Hawaii Temple |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/renovations-are-coming-to-the-kona-hawaii-temple |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org |language=en}} It closed in October 2023, with renovations expected to be completed by late 2025.{{Cite web |last=KUTV |first=Victoria Hill |date=2023-09-11 |title=Church releases updated rendering of reconstructed Kona Hawaii Temple |url=https://kmyu.tv/news/local/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-releases-updated-rendering-of-reconstructed-kona-hawaii-temple |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=KMYU |language=en}} The renovations will expand the temple from 9,500 square feet to 12,000 square feet.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-29 |title=Renovations, expansion planned for Kona Hawaii Temple |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2022/8/29/23324783/kona-hawaii-temple-renovations-expansion-planned-for-october-2023-to-2025/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Church News |language=en}}

The temple dedication was considered the first event in a yearlong commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the church in Hawaii.{{citation |url= http://www.churchnewsarchive.com/articles/39050/150-years-in-Hawaii.html |title= 150 years in Hawaii |date= December 16, 2000 |newspaper= Church News }}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Steve Young, a member of the National Football League's Hall of Fame and his wife, Barbara Graham, were married in the Kona Hawaii Temple on March 15, 2000.{{citation |url= http://www.churchnewsarchive.com/articles/46864/Steve-Young-inducted-in-NFL-Hall-of-Fame.html |title= Steve Young inducted in NFL Hall of Fame |date= February 12, 2005 |newspaper= Church News |accessdate= September 21, 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The temple is on a 7-acre site, with views of the ocean and Mount Hualalai.{{Cite web |title=Kona Hawaii Temple |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/almanac/temples/kona-hawaii/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Church News |language=en}} The building has a modern architectural style and uses traditional Latter-day Saint temple design. Designed by Emil B. Fetzer, its architecture reflects both the cultural heritage of Kona and its spiritual significance to the church.

The majority of the building was constructed with cast stone containing white marble chips; while there is no noticeable visible difference, the tower was built with fiberglass to make it lighter. The temple has two ordinance rooms, two sealing rooms, and a baptistry, each designed for ceremonial use.

The design uses elements representing Latter-day Saint symbolism to provide deeper spiritual meaning to its appearance and function. Symbolism is important to church members and includes the statue of the angel Moroni on top of the temple’s steeple, which symbolizes “the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”{{Cite web |date=2020-09-15 |title=Angel Moroni Statues on Temples |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/angel-moroni-statues-on-temples |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org |language=en}}

The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff.{{Cite web |title=Presidents and Matrons of the Kona Hawaii Temple {{!}} ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org |url=https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/kona-hawaii-temple/presidents/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}

Serving from 2000 to 2002, the first president was Larry R. Oler, with Midge J. Oler serving as matron. As of 2025, the temple’s president and matron are Edward Lincoln Reinhardt and Gail Tsurue Minami Reinhardt.{{Cite web |date=2020-04-16 |title=Read about these 8 recently called temple presidents and matrons |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/2020/4/16/23216178/new-temple-presidents-matrons-tokyo-new-zealand-arizona-california/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Church News |language=en}}

Following completion of construction, the church announced the public open house that was held from January 12-15, 2000 (excluding Sundays). The temple was dedicated by Gordon B. Hinckley on January 23 and 24, 2000, in four sessions.{{Cite web |date=2000-01-29 |title=Second sacred edifice in Hawaiian Islands |url=https://www.deseret.com/2000/1/29/20776228/second-sacred-edifice-in-hawaiian-islands/?__hstc=264139411.106cf68c427822804132557c67d7d881.1732577391956.1740610615862.1740613269758.102&__hssc=264139411.1.1740613269758&__hsfp=746698734 |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}

Like all the church's temples, it is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship.{{Cite web |title=Inside Temples |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/inside-temples?lang=eng |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=www.churchofjesuschrist.org}} The Kona Hawaii Temple is currently closed for renovations.

{{Portal|Latter Day Saint movement}}

• Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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• Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hawaii

{{reflist}}

• {{citation |url= http://www.churchnewsarchive.com/articles/37119/Second-sacred-edifice-in-Hawaiian-Islands.html |title= Second sacred edifice in Hawaiian Islands |first= Julie |last= Dockstader |date= January 29, 2000 |newspaper= Church News }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• {{citation |url= http://www.churchnewsarchive.com/articles/37235/Legacy-of-faith-is-his-gift-to-posterity.html |title= Legacy of faith is his gift to posterity |first= Julie |last= Dockstader |date= February 26, 2000 |newspaper= Church News }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• {{citation |url= http://www.churchnewsarchive.com/articles/49657/Members-rally-after-quake-strikes-islands.html |title= Members rally after quake strikes islands |first= Julie Dockstader |last= Heaps |date= October 21, 2006 |newspaper= Church News }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• {{citation |url= http://www.churchnewsarchive.com/articles/54889/Plans-announced-for-renovation-of-Hawaii-temple.html |title= Plans announced for renovation of Hawaii temple |date= October 4, 2008 |newspaper= Church News }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

• [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/kona-hawaii-temple?lang=eng Kona Hawaii Temple Official site]
• [https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/kona-hawaii-temple/ Kona Hawaii Temple] at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org

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Category:20th-century Latter Day Saint temples in the United States

Category:Hawaiian architecture

Category:Religious buildings and structures in Hawaii County, Hawaii

Category:Temples (LDS Church) completed in 2000

Category:Temples (LDS Church) in Hawaii

Category:2000 establishments in Hawaii