Church bells will ring across the state at 10 a.m. Saturday to celebrate the life of Henry Opukaha‘ia, the young Hawaiian who inspired the American Protestant mission to the islands.

The event, which marks the day he died 200 years ago, includes free open-house activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at what was formerly known as the Mission Houses Museum, now officially the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives. This kicks off activities leading up to 2020, the bicentennial commemoration of the first arrivals of the Sandwich Island Mission.

Kawaiaha‘o Church will join the event with a 10 a.m. service (simultaneous events are planned in Hilo and Kona, and the next day in Connecticut). Members of the Royal Societies, Hawaiian Civic Clubs and other organizations will attend. Performing at the church and the Mission House will be a combined choir from four schools — Lahainaluna, Kamehameha Maui, Punahou, and Mid- Pacific Institute — that were begun or influenced by the mission.

Mission House will hold an 11:30 a.m. Hawaiian lunch ($15), or attendees may bring their own lunch. A 12:15 p.m. program begins with choir singing, and speakers will include biographer Christopher Cook and the Rev. David Hirano. Moses Goods will give a one-act one-man portrayal of Opukaha‘ia.

Tours every half-hour at Mission Houses begin at 11 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. The printing press will be continuously operated, with Hawaiian printouts for participants to take home.

The events are sponsored in part by a grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Visit missionhouses.org or call 447-3926.