Kona Hawaii Temple

Kona Hawaii Temple
Number	70
Dedicated	January 23, 2000 (January 23, 2000) by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site	7.02 acres (2.8 hectares)
Floor area	10,700 sq ft (990 m2)
Height	71 ft (22 m)
Preceded by	St. Paul Minnesota Temple
Followed by	Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple
Official website • News & images
Additional information Announced May 7, 1998 Groundbreaking March 13, 1999 by John B. Dickson Open House January 12–15, 2000 Current President Philip A. Harris (2014) Designed by Church A & E Services, Bob Lowder Location 75-230 Kalani St. Kailua Kona, Hawaii United States Exterior finish White marble veneer Temple design Classic modern, single-spire design Ordinance rooms 2 (two-stage progressive sessions) Sealing rooms 2 Clothing rental No Cafeteria No Visitors' center No

Coordinates: 19°38′29.8″N 155°59′7.9″W / 19.641611°N 155.985528°W / 19.641611; -155.985528 The Kona Hawaii Temple is the 70th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The temple is located in Kailua-Kona on the island of Hawaii and is the second temple built in Hawaii, along with the Laie Hawaii Temple. It is the sixth temple built in the Pacific Islands.

History[]

The Kona Hawaii Temple was announced May 7, 1998,^[2][3] with a groundbreaking ceremony presided over by John B. Dickson of the Seventy held less than a year later on March 13, 1999.^[4] 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, also participated.^[5]

The structure itself was constructed in concrete, white marble and some native materials. Architects used a simple classical design featuring a single spire, similar to other smaller temples constructed by the church at the same time.

Upon completion, an open house was held from January 12–15, 2000.^[4][6] LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Kona Hawaii Temple on January 23–24, 2000.^[7] Hinckley was accompanied to the dedication by Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Hallstrom.^[4] More than 3,800 church members attended the dedicatory sessions.^[4]

In 2020, the Kona Hawaii Temple was closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.^[8]

Temple facts[]

The Kona Hawaii Temple has two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms.^[9]

The temple dedication was considered the first event in a yearlong commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the church in Hawaii.^[4][10]

NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young married his wife, Barbara Graham, in the Kona Hawaii Temple on March 15, 2000.^[11]

See also[]

Laie

Kona

Temples in Hawaii

Red = Operating
Blue = Under construction
Yellow = Announced
Black = Closed for renovation

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

References[]

Additional reading[]

• Dockstader, Julie (January 29, 2000), "Second sacred edifice in Hawaiian Islands", Church News^{[permanent dead link]}
• Dockstader, Julie (February 26, 2000), "Legacy of faith is his gift to posterity", Church News^{[permanent dead link]}
• Heaps, Julie Dockstader (October 21, 2006), "Members rally after quake strikes islands", Church News^{[permanent dead link]}
• "Plans announced for renovation of Hawaii temple", Church News, October 4, 2008^{[permanent dead link]}

External links[]

• Kona Hawaii Temple Official site
• Kona Hawaii Temple at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org