In 1841, with the successful establishment of a congregation in Honolulu, Walsh was sent to establish a mission on the island of Kauai, a recently conquered island in the kingdom. He landed on 22 December and was given a warm welcome by various people on the island. He celebrated the first Mass on the island on Christmas Day, under a tree in the village of Koloa, by which he inaugurated the Mission of St. Raphael. Walsh then began classes of instruction in the faith and opened a school at the mission, following which he set out on a tour of the island to expand his mission to the surrounding population. He was able to have a small chapel built on the site by the following March.