Laie Hawaii Temple Wiki

Quick Facts

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Description

The Laie Hawaii Temple is a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) located on the northeast shore of the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu. The temple sits on a small hill, a half-mile from the Pacific Ocean, in the town of Lāʻie, 35 miles (56 km) from Honolulu. Along with Brigham Young University–Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Laie Hawaii Temple plays an important role in the town of Lā’ie,^[1]Hokulani K. Aikau (Winter 2008). “Resisting Exile in the Homeland: He Mo’olemo No Lā’ie”. American Indian Quarterly. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. 32 (1): 70–95. doi:10.1353/aiq.2008.0003. ISSN 0095-182X. with the Visitors’ Center attracting more than 100,000 people annually.^[2] Kayal, Michele, “Mormons Spruce Up Their Aging Hawaiian Outpost”. The New York Times, 27 November 2004. Accessed 10 October 2012.

History

The Laie Hawaii Temple was the first temple built by the LDS Church outside of the contiguous United States. The temple is also the oldest to operate outside of Utah, and the fifth-oldest LDS temple still in operation. The Laie Hawaii Temple was formerly known as the Hawaiian Temple or the Hawaii Temple until the implementation of the standard naming convention for LDS temples.^[3] “Temples renamed to uniform guidelines”. Church News, Deseret News, October 16, 1999. Retrieved 2012-10-10

In addition to initial building and construction, the temple has been dedicated for use by several presidents of the LDS Church. The temple site was dedicated by Joseph F. Smith on June 1, 1915, with Heber J. Grant dedicating the completed structure on November 27, 1919. Spencer W. Kimball rededicated the Temple after significant expansion on June 13, 1978. After seismic upgrades and remodeling, Thomas S. Monson rededicated the Temple on November 21, 2010.

Announcement

In 1865, the Church purchased a 6,000-acre (2,400 ha) sugarcane plantation as a gathering place for the Latter-day Saints in the area.While on a mission to the Sandwich Islands, Joseph F. Smith first proposed building a temple in Hawaii during a meeting in Lāʻie on February 15, 1885.^[4]BYU–H, “The Destiny of La‘ie” (PDF), Office of Planning, Institutional Research, Assessment and Testing, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, 2009. Retrieved 2012-10-10.

George Q. Cannon, one of the original ten missionaries, visited Lāʻie in 1900 and became revered as a prophet for promoting the idea of a new Hawaiian temple among his congregations.^[5] T.D. Webb,. “Profit and Prophecy: The Polynesian Cultural Center and La’ie’s Recurrent Colonialism” (PDF), The Hawaiian Journal of History. Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaiian Historical Society, 1993. 27: 127–150. ISSN 0440-5145.

On 3 October 1915 at the general conference of the Church, Joseph F. Smith, then sixth president of the LDS Church, announced plans for a temple to be built in the “Sandwich Isles,” and chose Lāʻie for its construction.^[6]Baldridge, Kenneth W., ed., “Proceedings, 9th Annual Conference, 21 May 1988”, Mormon Pacific Historical Society, Mormon Pacific Historical Society, 9 (1) , 1988.

Groundbreaking

Prior to the public announcement of the temple President Joseph F. Smith, himself an early missionary to the islands, dedicated the site for the temple at Laie on 1 June 1915.^[7]“Latter-day Temples” Ensign, January 1972. Accessed 7 July 2017.

Migration

When news of the new Laie Hawaii Temple reached Native Hawaiian converts (and other Polynesians) living far from home in the town of Iosepa, Utah, many decided to emigrate back to Hawaii. Although the Hawaiians had lived in Iosepa since 1889, the closest temple, Salt Lake Temple, was 75 miles away from the colony. Moving to Laie gave the Hawaiians the ability to be closer to the new temple and allowed them to perform sacred ordinances without having to travel great distances. By January 1917, most of the Hawaiians returned home, leaving Iosepa a ghost town.^[8]Richard Poulsen, “A History of Iosepa, Utah”, The Polynesian Gift to Utah, KUED, 1999, archived from the original on 21 February 2012, retrieved 10 October 2012

Dedication

Dedicatory Prayer

Dedication Order

*Hawaii did not yet exist as a State at the time of dedication,s till being a US territory. Honolulu had been incorporated 12 years earlier as a county, however.

One more temple had been announced just a month prior to the Laie Temple dedication for Arizona (Mesa Arizona Temple,) but groundbreaking for that temple would not occur for another 3 years.

1938 Renovation and Bureau Expansion

In 1938 a renovation was undertaken of the temple to modernise equipment ond convieninces, and to undue damage done by salt, wind and humidity. At this point, the temple as a whole was still cooled by opening windows and allowing the air to blow through. LeConte Stewart, original painter of the murals, oversaw updating of drapes and furnishings, and would return 2 years later to refurbish the murals.^[12]Zipporah L. Stewart, Hawaiian Temple reminiscence, 27 February 1978, MS 6124, 7, CHL; Ka Elele o Hawaii Presents the Hawaiian Mission in Review (Hawaiian Mission newsletter, 1942), 49.

The buildings at the front of the grounds, comprising the Bureau of Information, were expanded do to large numbers of visitors. The expansion was designed by Harold W. Burton, and overseen by Ralph E. Woolley.^[13]See Harold W. Burton, “Hawaiian Temple,” in N. B. Lundwall, Temples of the Most High (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1975), 151–53.

1949-1951 Expansion

The first expantion to the Laie Hawaii temple extended the annex to the North and South, adding wing extensions to the front annex. this first expansion increased the width to 140 feet. Additionally, the porch was glassed in using a pergola that had been added to the entry way, to provide shelter from the elements to those coming to the temple.

Open House and Rededication

Though dates have been hard to locate, a news story from 1974 indicates that there was an open house of the temple at this time, like with the original opening of the temple, and a rededicaiton when the wings were completed.^[14]”Mormon Temple May Open Closed Doors,” The Honolulu Advertiser, 15 June 1974.

1956-57 Renovation

A new program of Building Missionaries was instituted in the 1950s. These missionaries built the Liahona High School in Tonga (next to wich the Nuku’alofa Tonga temple now stands). As part of the program, it was decided to have the program build the Church college in Hawaii as well.^[15]David W. Cummings, Mighty Missionary of the Pacific: The Building of the Program of the Church (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1961); and Britsch, Moramona, 332–33, https://archive.org/details/mightymissionary00cumm.

During this time of Construction, the missionaries also contributed more than 19,000 hours of renovation work at the temple and the Bureau of Information Building, which sat near the are of the current Visitor’s Center. This renovation included redecorating all interior wall space in the temple, with exception of the room murals, new drapes, new carpet, and for the first time in it’s 30 year history, the temple recieved air conditioning. Painting was done to the interior of the Bureau as well.

The most interesting part of this renovation, however, occured on the outside. The temple,was sandblasted, waterproofed, a new roof added. Then, the Temple, the Bureau, the reflecting pools and all the statuary ons site were repainted. With a soft shade of green.^[16]ʻO Ka Nani O Ke Akua Ka Naʻauao, Church College of Hawaii and Its Builders (Lāʻie, HI: self-published, 1958), BYU–Hawaii Archives, [44, 62]; page numbers supplied from the digital archive at https://archive.org/details/churchcollegeofh00fald; “President Dillman Presents Progress Report,” Hui Lau Lima News, temple edition, 24 November 1957, BYU–Hawaii Archives. See Naʻauao, Church College of Hawaii and Its Builders, via “The Lā’ie Hawai’i Temple: A Century of Aloha” (Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2019), 351–378

The new green color was intended to help it better blend with the landscaping, but in just a few years it faded and, rather than repainting it green, the previous white color was restored.^[17]Joseph H. Spurrier, “The Hawaii Temple: A Special Place in a Special Land,” Mormon Pacific Historical Society 7, no. 1 (1986): 33, https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1075&context=mphs.

1963 Expansion

In the 1960s it was found that, with the progress on building the Church College and growth of the Church in the area, more room was again needed in the temple. Harold Burton, one fo the original architects, undertook the design of the new additions. He made the expansion long and low, so that the new areas did not detract from the original structure, leaving the temple proper to stand alone amids the scenery.

This expansion, taking the temple to 270 feet wide, included additional office space, dressing room facilities, a bride’s room, and a lounge area. Additional changes in the existing portions of the structure provided space for a new laundry, a children’s waiting room, and a new washing and anointing room for the women.^[18]Alice C. Pack, The Building Missionaries in Hawaii, 1960–1963 (Lāʻie, HI: Church College of Hawaii, 1963), 94. N. B. Lundwall, comp., Temples of the Most High (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1978), 152. Burton’s son, Douglas W. Burton, acting as on-site architect added to the project with suggested renovations and changes including repairing walls, installing new lockers, retiling the baptismal font, refurbishing exterior windows, replacing furniture, recarpeting the celestial room, redecorating sealing rooms, and installing a new recommend desk. Most of the changes to the existing structure were done during the regular closures, and the additions were done while the temple was open and operating still.

1976-1978 Renovation

Announcement

Despite the plans being announced in 1972, and the plans for the renovation presented to the then Temple presidency back on 5 April 1971, the permitting process would hold up the entire renovation for another 5 years.^[20]Victor L. Walch and David B. Walch, A Worthy Legacy: Memories of Charles Lloyd Walch and Lila Bean Walch, MSSH 321, 332, Joseph F. Smith Library Archives and Special Collections, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, Lāʻie, HI (hereafter BYU–Hawaii Archives), via “The Lā’ie Hawai’i Temple: A Century of Aloha” (Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2019), 351–378.

Commencement

The closure was finally announced 27 February 1976 that the temple would close for the expected renovation on 1 June of that year, well after the originally anticipated 1974 closure. The closure was set to include both interior renovations and the addition of about 15,000 square feet for “stairways and expanded locker rooms.”^[21]”Laie Temple Will Close June 1 For Remodeling,” The Honolulu Advertiser, 27 February 1976.

An announcemnt 12 January 1978 heralded the end to the ongoing renovation, and a pending open house.^[22]”Laie Temple to Be Open to Public,” Honolulu Star Bulletin, 12 January 1978.

Open House

The newley renovated temple opned to the public for tours 2-27 May 1978. Excepting the Sundays, on which it was not open, the temple was open for 22 days. During that time more than 105,000 people toured the temple, an average of 4,773 people per day of the open house.^[23]”Mormons Dedicate Laie Temple,” Hawaii Tribune Herald, 14 June 1978.

Rededication

Rededicatory Prayer

Rededication Order

1987-1989 Renovation

1987 Statue Preservation

A renovation begun in 1987 saw improvements to the temple and grounds. 1987 saw the restoration of the freizes at the top of the temple. Justin Fairbanks, son of Avard FAirbanks, who sculpted the freizes, was tasked with stripping the paint, removing rusted portions of rebar, and restoring broken portions of the freizes, repairing cracks, and sealing with two coats of white accrylic paint. During this process, they also restored the Maternity statue at the head of the reflecting pools, and the heroic sized statue, Lehi Blessing Joseph, that sat behind the temple since its dedication 60+ years earlier.^[25]Norman R. Bowen, “Hawaii Temple Shines like a ‘Pacific Jewel,’” Church News, 21 January 1989, https://www.thechurchnews.com/1989/1/21/23263309/hawaii-temple-shines-like-a-pacific-jewel/; “D. Arthur Haycock Power Behind Temple Restoration,” Hawaii LDS News (formerly Hawaii Record Bulletin), January 1989, via Eric-Jon Keawe Marlowe and Clinton D. Christensen, “Temple Hill, New Technology, and a Second Temple—1980 to 1999,” in The Lā’ie Hawai’i Temple: A Century of Aloha (Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2019), 351–378.; Ballard T. White in consultation with Justin F. Fairbanks, “Restoration of the Hawaii Temple Friezes” (Mormon Pacific Historical Society proceedings, 21 May 1988, conference held at Hawaii Temple Visitors’ Center), 13, via The Lā’ie Hawai’i Temple: A Century of Aloha.

Apparently, multiple solutions to the cracked freizes were initially conssiderred before deciding to preserve them in place. These solutions included Removal and preserrvation in a museum, leaving the top of the temple bare, and replacing them with more resiliant granite reproductions. Reproducing in stone would have, at tha time, cost more than 4 times the original $250,000 cost to build the entire temple. ^[26]Grant Turner, “Annual Gathering Discusses Historic LDS Hawaii Temple,” Ke Alakaʻi, 25 May 1988; via Ballard T. White in consultation with Justin F. Fairbanks, “Restoration of the Hawaii Temple Friezes” (Mormon Pacific Historical Society proceedings, 21 May 1988, conference held at Hawaii Temple Visitors’ Center), 13, via The Lā’ie Hawai’i Temple: A Century of Aloha.

1988 – Landscaping

Starting in march, all the plaza areas, walks, and the reflecting pools were retiled. The visitors center columns were covered in new marble. The east courtyard was refurbished, with copies of the four temple freizes placed in the courtyard back wall. The newley refurbished sculpture, Lehi Blessing Joseph, was relocated to this courtyard from it’s original home behind the temple.^[27]Norman R. Bowen, “Hawaii Temple Shines like a ‘Pacific Jewel,’” Church News, 21 January 1989, https://www.thechurchnews.com/1989/1/21/23263309/hawaii-temple-shines-like-a-pacific-jewel/; Norm Bowen, “Summertime Visitors to Temple Will See Major Improvements to Grounds,” Hawaii LDS News, summer issue, 1988, 3, via The Lā’ie Hawai’i Temple: A Century of Aloha.

1988-89 Temple Updates

The temple closed for its usual summerr closure in August of 1988. While it was cclosed, a new lobby and entrance were added, as well as a new brides room. Renovations were made to the Celestial Room and ordinance rooms. Louvered windows that had been on the temple since around the 1930s or 40s were removed and relaced with pan windows. Another part of this renovation was the addition of a new elevator tower on the back, northwest corner of the temple, off one of the expanded sections added to the temple in the prior renovation.^[28]Norman R. Bowen, “Hawaii Temple Shines like a ‘Pacific Jewel,’” Church News, 21 January 1989, https://www.thechurchnews.com/1989/1/21/23263309/hawaii-temple-shines-like-a-pacific-jewel/; “Temple Re-Opens after Extensive Remodeling,” Hawaii LDS News, January 1989, 1, 4. via The Lā’ie Hawai’i Temple: A Century of Aloha.

The temple reopened in January of 1989.

2003 Landscaping

A $5.5 million renovation, renewal, and beautification project along Hale Laʻa Boulevard leading to the temple began in 2003, lasting 14 months:^[29]Mary Adamski, (2004-12-11). “Dedication is set for Laie project”. Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 11 December 2004. Retrieved 10 October 2012

Norfolk pines suffering from termite infestation were replaced with royal palms, new decorative lighting was added to the terraces, and landscaped roundabouts were put in place. At the same time, the Visitors’ Center was upgraded with interactive kiosks and new displays. ^[30] Kayal, Michele, “Mormons Spruce Up Their Aging Hawaiian Outpost”. The New York Times, 27 November 2004. Accessed 10 October 2012.

Renovation 2008

In December 2008, the Laie Hawaii Temple closed again for structural and seismic upgrades and to restore the ordinance rooms to their original appearance and progressive-style presentation of the endowment (still using film). The baptistry was repaired and renovated.

Open House

An Open house for the newly renovated temple was held from 22 October to 13 November 2010. More than 45,000 people attended the open house during its 20 days of operation, an average of 2,250 per day.

Cultural Celebration

A cultural celebration was held on 19 November 2010. It was held at the Cannon Activities Center at BYU-Hawaii. 2,00 individuals danced, sang, and presented a visual history of the the islands and their culture.^[31]“Laie Hawaii Temple rededicated by President Monson” Mormon Newsroom. Accessed 8 July 2017

Rededication

The temple was rededicated on 21 November 2010, by President Thomas S. Monson over 3 sessions. ^[32]“Laie Hawaii Temple rededicated by President Monson” Mormon Newsroom. Accessed 8 July 2017

Rededicatory Prayer

Rededication Order

At the time of the second rededication of the Laie Hawaii Temple there were 134 temples in operation. Additionally there were another 9 Temples under construction, and another 8 announced awaiting groundbreaking. There were 2 additional temple undergoing rennovation at the time, reducing the total number of active temples to 132 (including Laie.)

Firsts

• First Temple constructed without a stower/spire
• First Temple constructed without an Assembly Hall
• First Temple built in the Pacific islands
• First Temple “brought to the people,” being built outside the Church’s center of influence
• First Temple built outside of the continental United States

Myths And Legends

Timely materials

According to the folklore, precious materials arrived just in time to complete the building of the temple: Temple builders ran out of wood (a scarce commodity on the islands) during initial construction, but local members received lumber when a ship ran aground and needed to unload some of its cargo of wood. The temple builders volunteered to help the ship and were given the lumber out of gratitude. The lumber taken from the ship proved to be just enough to finish the temple. ^[33]Rick Satterfield, “Laie Hawaii Temple”. Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. LDSChurchTemples.com. Retrieved 10 October 2012. ^[34]Burlingame, Burl, “X Marks the Spot: Mormon temple a Laie landmark since 1919”, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, April 2 2004. Retrieved 2012-10-10.

This story has been recounted many times, and there are multiple variations. There are those who doubt it’s credibility on several factors. One being that the first recorded copies of this story appear in 1970, 64 years after the event was reported to have occurred. The individual who first shared the story had shared other talks previously about the problems and difficulties with the temple construction, but had not mentioned this incident in earlier talks.^[35]Richard J. Dowse, “The Laie Hawaii Temple, A History from Conception to Completion,” BYU Scholars Archive, 12 July 2012. Accessed 7 June 2017.^[36]Romania Woolley, “Laie Hawaii Temple Jubilee Celebration.” Audio Recording. Laie, Hawaii, 1969.

During his visit to the temple for the Dedication, Apostle Rudgar Clawson cataloged many of the difficulties that had been experienced during construction of the temple. This story was not among those shared. ^[37]Richard J. Dowse, “The Laie Hawaii Temple, A History from Conception to Completion,” BYU Scholars Archive, 12 July 2012. Accessed 7 June 2017. ^[38]Rudger Clawson, “The Hawaiian Temple.” Millennial Star, November 1919.

The account is not recorded in any missionary journals or official histories of the time. There are also no records of ships running aground near Laie during the time period, and it was rare for large ships to travel along that portion of the island at all. ^[39]Richard J. Dowse, “The Laie Hawaii Temple, A History from Conception to Completion,” BYU Scholars Archive, 12 July 2012. Accessed 7 June 2017. ^[40]Hallstrom, James E. “Information of the December 7th Incident and the Miracle of All Miracles,” edited by John L. Hepworth. Honolulu, Hawaii, 1992.

There are however, at least three women, children at the time who remembered the incident when interviewed in 1990, and one Man, in his thirties at the time who recalled the incident when interviewed in 1970. Critics of the story have noted, however, that the events they describe could also be applied to any supplies arriving by bought. Due to the reefs in the area, items were frequently tossed overboard farther out to sea, and floated in by swimmers, wherein they were stacked on the beach to dry out.^[41]Richard J. Dowse, “The Laie Hawaii Temple, A History from Conception to Completion,” BYU Scholars Archive, 12 July 2012. Accessed 7 June 2017. ^[42]Gus Kaleohano interviewed by Clinton Kanahele, 1970; as cited in Moffat, Gathering to Laie, 114–115.^[43]Fugal, Viola Kawahigashi Interview.

Pearl Harbor

The 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor gave rise to another popular tale about the Laie Hawaii Temple in Mormon folklore. According to variations on this story, Japanese aircraft pilots attempted to bomb or strafe the Hawaiian Temple just prior to, or just after, the attack, but were thwarted by mechanical failure or from an unseen protective force.^[44]Kenneth W. Baldridge,; Lance D. Chase. “The Purported December 7, 1941, Attack on the Hawai’i Temple”. In Grant Underwood. Voyages of Faith: Explorations in Mormon Pacific History. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press. pp. 165–190. ISBN 0-8425-2480-0.

Some stories suggest that the Japanese pilot who attempted to attack the temple was converted to the LDS Church after he saw a picture of the temple in the possession of Mormon missionaries in Japan. ^[45]Rick Satterfield, “Laie Hawaii Temple”. Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. LDSChurchTemples.com. Retrieved 10 October 2012.

There is an eyewitness who believes he saw the attempted bombing. He first reported the story to his daughter in law in 1965, More than 2 decades after the attack. He also admits to having a hangover at the time he witnessed the attempted bombing run.^[46]Lance D. Chase, “The Attempted Attack on the Hawaii Temple, December 7, 1941,” BYU Scholars Archive.

There is a former missionary who says he met the Japanese pilot, but with no indication that he joined the Church. There are good records of the pilots who participated in the bombing, and none of them are on the records of the Church as having joined the Church in their lifetime.^[47]Jan Harold Brunvand, “HAWAIIAN TEMPLE SPARED FROM WAR’S BOMBING?,” Deseret News, 12 December 1989.

Any other sources outside these two tend to be “friend of a friend” or “met someone who met” leaving these two stories the only valid sources to pull from. It is difficult to prove or disprove the veracity of either of these stories, leaving the veracity of this story up in the air.^[48]Cummings, Casey, “Talk Faves”, HolyFetch.com – the Mormon Urban Legends Website

In the 1980s historian Lance D. Chase wrote a paper in which he attempted to prove the account true, and was unable to do so in any conclusive way. At almost the exact same time, historian Kenneth Baldrige also wrote a paper on the story, in which he tried to disprove all the accounts, and was similarly unable to conclusively disprove the story. Both note, however, that despite others being up and awake in Laie at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, no one else saw this attempted bombing run, even those not suffering from a hangover, and living much closer to the temple.^[49]Baldridge, Kenneth W. (1988) “In Search of a Tale: A Personal Account (Was there an attempt to bomb the Hawaii Temple or wasn’t there?),” Mormon Pacific Historical Society: Vol. 9, Article 9. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/mphs/vol9/iss1/9

Presidents and Matrons

Temple President	Temple Matron	Years Served
Finau Hafoka	Lucy Fakalata ’Ofahengaue Hafoka	2021–2021
James Emerson Hallstrom Jr.	Kathleen King Hallstrom	2018–2021
James Kealoha	Arlette Kalawemaunu Hew Kealoha	2015–2018
Patrick Kanamu Kanekoa	Elizabeth Pualani Leong Kanekoa	2012–2015
Harley Ross Workman	Katherine Evelyn Meyers Workman	2007–2012
Wayne Octave Ursenbach	Nettie Bernice Ohlin Ursenbach	2004–2007
Glenn Yoke Mun Lung	Julina Ethel Jensen Lung	2001–2004
John Richard Clarke	Barbara Jean Reed Clarke	1998–2001
Tausilinu’u David Hannemann	Carolyn Lorine Harline Hannemann	1995–1998
Albert Y. G. Ho	Alice Kihohiro Ho	1992–1995
Victor Bird Jex	Marva Tingey Jex	1989–1992
David Arthur Haycock	Maurine McClellan Haycock	1986–1989
Robert Hunter Finlayson	Betty Dorune Tracy Finlayson	1982–1986
Max Washington Moody	Muriel Edith Mae Parker Hammond Moody	1978–1982
Charles Lloyd Walch	Lila Bean Walch	1971–1978
Harry Vernal Brooks	Louise Fagergren Brooks	1965–1971
Edward LaVaun Clissold	Irene Picknell Clissold	1963–1965
Henry Roland Tietjen	Sarah Genevieve Willardson Tietjen	1959–1963
Ray Eugene Dillman	Mildred Myrtle Miles Dillman	1956–1959
Benjamin Leon Bowring	Leone Rampton Bowring	1953–1956
Ralph Edwin Woolley	Romania Jeannette Hyde Woolley	1944–1953
Edward LaVaun Clissold	Irene Picknell Clissold	1943–1944
Albert Henry Belliston	Elsie Elizabeth Maughan Belliston	1941–1943
Henry Castle Hadlock Murphy	Verna Ann Fowler Murphy	1938–1941
Edward LaVaun Clissold	Irene Picknell Clissold	1936–1938
William Mark Waddoups	Olivia Sessions Waddoups	1931–1936
Henry Castle Hadlock Murphy	Verna Ann Fowler Murphy	1930–1931
William Mark Waddoups	Olivia Sessions Waddoups	1919–1930

Details

According to Neil B. Lundwall’s Temples of the Most High, the Laie Temple “is one of the earliest examples of structural concrete in America.” All the structural elements of the original temple are concrete. This includes the foundations, the exterior and interior walls, the floors and roofs, all beams, columns and girders. All these elements are tied together with rebar.

The temple proper is in the shape of a “Grecian Cross,” (a “+” symbol) when viewed from above. The cross is 76 feet, end to end, along both arms. The Celestial room sits at the top of the central intersection of the arms, with the baptistry directly below it. Other ordinance rooms surround these two rooms, going up a few feet per room in a clockwise manner around the center.

The Annex of the temple, where the entrance originally was, extended 23 feet out from the front of the east arm of the cross. It was 76 feet north to south. The 1951 expansion saw this width taken to 140 feet, with the 1962 expansion driving it to 270 feet.

Location

The Temple is situated on the edge of the community of Laie, forty miles from Honolulu. The white temple sits among the lush greenery of Hawaii, overlooking the blue Pacific ocean, on the windward side of the Island of Oahu, overlooking both the town and the ocean on the other side.

The Temple sits 23 feet above the oceaon. A semi-circular terrace sits in front of the temple, with a reflecting pool on it. From the terrace you get an unobstructed view of the ocean looking eastward down through the palm-lined water court, through the fore court of the Visitors Center to the main approach
Avenue which is on the east and west axis of the Temple, leading out towards the ocean.

Exterior

Windows

1940s

Louvered Glass windows that could be opened and closed to cool the temple as neccesary.

1989

Pane Glass windows with an etched pattern on them

2010

Stained glass windows

Symbolism

Inscriptions

Cornerstone

None

Spires and Finial

Spire

None

Finial

None

Interior

Contractors