Lā‘ie Hawai‘i Temple is the fifth oldest church temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Located in the town of Lā‘ie thirty-five miles from Honolulu, Hawai‘i on the island of O‘ahu, the site of the Lā‘ie Hawai‘i Temple was dedicated by LDS President Joseph F. Smith on June 1, 1915.

The temple structure itself was built on a former sugarcane plantation that was purchased in 1865. Native materials were used such as crushed lava rock and coral blocks. Its gleaming white finish was created by pneumatic stone cutting techniques. The design of the temple resembles the structures that once stood in the South American forests where only ruins of ancient civilizations are found today. The front exterior was designed in the form of a Grecian cross but lacking a tower. In total, Smith wanted Lā‘ie Hawai‘i Temple to resemble Solomon's Temple referred to in holy scripture. Apart from Lā‘ie Hawai‘i Temple, only two other church temples share the distinction.

Though he spent much of his presidency overseeing the construction of his beloved Lā‘ie Hawai‘i Temple, Smith died before its official opening. On November 27, 1919, newly elected LDS President Heber J. Grant presided over the church temple's dedication instead.

Mormonism in Hawai‘i

LDS President Joseph F. Smith spent most of his presidency overseeing the construction of his beloved Lā‘ie Hawai‘i Temple. He died one year before it was completed.

The Mormon Church was established in the islands in 1850 following the Edict of Toleration promulgated by Kamehameha III, giving the underground Hawai‘i Catholic Church the right to worship while at the same time allowing other faith traditions to begin establishing themselves. After the construction of the Lā‘ie Hawai‘i Temple, the Mormons founded Church College of Hawai‘i, now the Brigham Young University of Hawai‘i. The Hawai‘i Mormon population continued to flourish becoming one of the world's largest communities today. Kona Hawai‘i Temple, a second Mormon temple for Hawai‘i was completed on the Big Island of Hawai‘i in 2000.

Resources

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Official Site
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Visitors Site
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Temples Site