 English missionary William Ellis (1794–1872) toured the island in the summer of 1823 to determine locations for mission stations and suggested the village of Kaawaloa at the north end of Kealakekua Bay as one of the first sites for a church.In February 1824 High Chiefess Kapiolani built a thatched house in the village of Kaawaloa for use as a Christian church by Rev.James Ely (1798–1890) and his family.