The current church was designed by Hiram Bingham, the first missionary on O'ahu, and was completed in 1842 in a New England style of architecture. It is constructed of coral slabs quarried from reefs offshore of O'ahu and carried to the site by parishioners. The interior was made from wood cut in the nearby Ko'olau Mountains. The interior was remodeled in the 1920's.

Kawaiaha'o Church was dedicated in 1842. It is known as the "Mother" Protestant Church in Hawaii. Numerous members of Hawaii's royalty have worshiped in the church and the royal boxes remain at the rear of the church.

The church's name Kawaiaha'o in Hawaiian means "fresh water pool of Ha'o." Ha'o was an ancient queen of O'ahu and it is said that on this site a spring existed in which she took ceremonial baths of purification. A reconstructed spring sits on the north side of the church.