Revival in Hilo

When Titus Coan and his wife Fidelia arrived in Hilo in 1835, they found a fertile but spiritually searching land. Coan devoted himself to prayer, long journeys on foot, and face-to-face visits with nearly every household in his vast district. He became known for his tireless energy, compassionate spirit, and unshakable faith that God was about to do a mighty work among the Hawaiian people.

On the evening of November 7, 1837, a massive earthquake shook Hilo, followed by a sudden tidal wave that swept far inland. Houses, canoes, and possessions were destroyed, and hundreds were caught in the floodwaters. Though many were rescued, thirteen lives were lost. For the people of Hilo, the tidal wave was a sobering reminder of the frailty of life, and it stirred many to consider eternal things. Coan, already preaching Christ with boldness, saw this tragedy open hearts more fully to the gospel.

In the years that followed, an extraordinary revival swept through Hilo and the surrounding areas. The Spirit moved with such power that thousands were cut to the heart, confessed their sins, and turned to Christ. In just six months of 1838, Coan admitted 639 new members to the church. Soon the numbers multiplied into the thousands, until the Hilo congregation swelled to an astounding 13,000 members, one of the largest Protestant churches in the world at that time.

The revival not only changed individuals but also reshaped Hawaiian society. Prayer meetings flourished, families were transformed, and Christian influence touched schools, laws, and community life. Titus Coan himself became a living example of missionary faithfulness, walking hundreds of miles to reach remote villages, interceding constantly for his flock, and recording with humility the wonders he witnessed.

Coan’s own autobiography, Life in Hawaii, preserves these remarkable events, including his detailed account of the tidal wave and the revival that followed. His life stands as a testimony to how God used one man’s perseverance and love for the Hawaiian people to ignite one of the greatest revivals of the nineteenth century.