Soon they set about translating the Hawaiian language into written form and, using an imposed alphabet, translated the scriptures into Hawaiian. Then they brought a printing press to the islands and used it to mass produce materials in both English and Hawaiian. The next step was to establish a school system that reflected Western society and the Protestant faith making way for the Hawaii of today.

Some of the churches built by the Big Island's early missionaries stand today and are used regularly. One of the most famous is St. Benedict's Painted Church in South Kona near the Honaunau Place of Refuge.

The church was built at the turn of the century and is known for the paintings the church's priest created on its interior walls. Completed with ordinary house paint, the murals were used to teach stories from the Bible. The church is still used daily for mass and other functions. To find the church, take Hwy. 11 south from Kailua-Kona to Hwy. 160 at the Honaunau Post Office. A little more than a mile from the post office is a turnoff on the right side of the road. You'll find the church less than a mile down that road on the right.

Across from the Hulihe'e Palace on Ali'i Drive in downtown Kailua-Kona is the oldest Christian church in Hawaii. Mokuaikaua Church was founded in 1820 and completed in 1837. It has not been changed significantly since then and still plays an active role in Kailua-Kona's Christian community.

St. Augustine's Church sits atop a little hill running along Route 270 between Hawi and Kapa'au. It was built in 1884 by English families who traveled to Hawaii to work on the sugar plantations. The church and its small cemetery remain a picturesque piece of Hawaii's history.

The Imiola Church is located in the heart of Waimea along Route 19. In 1830, a young King Kamehameha blessed the church. In 1832, when missionaries arrived at the church they found nothing but a grass edifice. By 1838, the grass structure had been converted to stone and wood. In 1855, however, the church collapsed and was rebuilt again. Imiola Church remains active in the Waimea community and is a member of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ.

St. Joseph Catholic Church is located at the center of Hilo, three blocks from the ocean on Kapiolani Street. Since 1839 it has been the center for Catholic life in Hilo. Like the Imiola Church, it was originally a grass structure. In 1848 the grass church was replaced by a more stable wooden structure. After many years and several remodelings, St. Joseph has been transformed into a beautiful building with gardens, statues, stained glass and a bell tower.