The present structure was started in 1854 near the Lyman house and dedicated on April 8 , 1859 by Rev. Coan . The name of this church comes from the forest where the ōhia ( '' Metrosideros polymorpha '' ) wood was gathered for its construction . The main interior space has a ceiling high spanning . The architectural style is simplified Greek Revival , as was popular in New England meetinghouses at the time of its design . Coan served as pastor , but was often proselytizing on circuits through the countryside or showing visitors to the volcano , when Lyman performed services . The flexible wooden building survived an 1868 earthquake that damaged many stone buildings and plaster walls . Pews made from koa ( '' Acacia koa '' ) wood were installed in 1900
1868 earthquake
1868 Hawaii earthquake
Waiakea Mission Station-Hilo Station