HCCW Founding and Charter Member Cardinal Kuhio Thomas

Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawa Nonprofit Historian Collection Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs Charter April 16, 1966

HCCW Founding and Charter Member Mary Kapai Keliʻikipi Thomas with Lurline Thomas

Aloha nō... The Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawā celebrates 65 years in 2025 ! We respectfully acknowledge those kanaka mauli who have maintained and cared for Kūkaniloko Birthstones for the past 100 years - a century. Wahiawā families, early in 1925, worked alongside the Daughters of Hawai`i to mālama Kūkaniloko Birthstones.  On February 19, 1934, the Waialua Hawaiian Civic Club was organized - 91 years ago. On June 15, 1935, the Wahiawā Hawaiian Civic Club was organized - 90 years ago. Waialua-Wahiawā Hawaiian Civic Club functioned as one for 25 years. Together, our sister communities cared for and protected all ancestral places within our Moku o Waialua. The privilege of care of this wahi kapu was later officially passed on to WHCC by the Daughters of Hawai`i in 1950. At the first Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs Convention, April 18, 1959, both clubs registered as one for the first, and the last time. Reorganization, established the Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawā on November 10, 1960 to specifically maintain Kūkaniloko Birth Site, share her moʻolelo and to preserve all things Hawaiian – seen and unseen. Mahalo nūnui, our perpetual maintenance and care of kapuahuawa Kūkaniloko continues...EŌ, eō mai la  Me kealoha pumehana a pauloa

                                            ALOHA is forever...and FOREVER is the old way of our ancients. ​

​The Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawā (HCCW)
Established by Cardinal Kuhio Thomas, Joseph Helenihi, and thirty other Founding Members.  

From the HCCW Historian Collection:

It was November 10, 1960, when thirty-two members met at the Library of Hawaii, Wahiawa Branch, that the Wahiawa, Hawaiian Civic Club was organized.

Gulstan Poepoe, Chairman pro-tem, opened the meeting with invocation offered by Mr. James Poe. The Nomination Committee Chairman, Cardinal K. Thomas Sr., with Thomas Lopez, and Joseph Helenihi as members presented their slate.  The enthusiasm of those present resulted in the following being unanimously elected:

                                                                                President:                  Gulstan Poepoe
                                                                                Vice President:        Walter N. P. Kim
                                                                                Secretary:                  Martha Helenihi    
                                                                                Treasurer:                 Lurline Lee
                                                                                Auditor:                      Virginia Cruz
                                                                                Historian:                  Dolores Paahana
                                                                                Chaplain:                    Ferry Kim

These Officers were properly installed by Monsignor Charles Kekumano at the dinner social held at Kemoo Old Plantation, Saturday, December 10, 1960.
​
Circumstances supported separation from Waialua-Wahiawa Hawaiian Civic Club in order to better serve our own rapidly growing community of Wahiawa following Statehood.  However, our sister Clubs HCCW and WHCC were Chartered by Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs on the same day, April 16, 1966. We were then officially recognized as the "Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawa".   

​Focus, integrity and commitment set the foundations of the Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawa.  In 65 years HCCW has experienced over 450 members who brought with them more than 200 guests.  Our mission is to seek to inspire, educate, and encourage all things Hawaiian, seen and unseen; while together we choose "to guard the kapu of Kūkaniloko because we love them for all time…" Protection of our pae ‘āina, iwikūpuna, kūpuna ma, and nā‘ōpio are foremost on our agenda. Second, third and fourth generation descendants of the original founding and charter members continue to support their forefathers as Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawa Nonprofit members today.
 
The Friends of Kūkaniloko, rooted in the Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawa, was established in the early 1970's. Today it is comprised of a community network of hundreds of individuals who help “to guard the kapu of Kūkaniloko because we love them for all time...” The Friends of Kūkaniloko was instrumental in their working together to have Kūkaniloko Birthstones State Monument placed on the Hawaiʻi State Register of Historic Places (Site no. 218) in 1972.  This Register acknowledged the "Period of Significance: 1900-1750 AD, 1749-1500 AD, 1499-1000 AD".  Continued efforts by the Friends of Kūkaniloko placed Kūkaniloko Birthstones State Monument on the National Register of Historic Places (State Site No. 50-80-04-218) in 1973.  In 1994, the National Register of Historic Places acknowledged a "boundary increase" and more detailed information. "Significant years: 1797, 1925. Area of Significance: Prehistoric, Pacific-Islander, Religion, Politics/Government, Social History.  Cultural Affiliation: Native Hawaiian.  Period of Significance:  1900-1750 AD, 1875-1899, 1850-1874, 1825-1849, 1800-1824, 1750-1799, 1749-1500 AD, 1700-1749, 1650-1699, 1600-1649, 1500-1599, 1499-1000 AD. Historic Function: Religion. Historic Sub-function: Ceremonial Site.  Current Function: Other. Also listed were some of the Significant People: Kapawa; Maʻilikukahi; Kakuhihewa; Kalanimanuia; Others; who were Ali`i born at Kūkaniloko.

In 1997, the Hawaiʻi State Parks Division entered into a five-year Curatorship Agreement with The Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawa and The Friends of Kūkaniloko. The Agreement was renewed in 2002 for another five years.  At the time of third renewal, land management of the 511 acres immediately surrounding Kūkaniloko Birthstones State Monument was transferred from the Hawai`i State Parks Division to the Hawai`i State Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA).  Today the HCCW-OHA Stewardship Program is currently in effect between The Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawa, The Friends of Kūkaniloko, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
                                                                                                                                                                                  
As we begin the next 50 years of service to Wahiawā and her surrounding communities, The Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawā Nonprofit, The Friends of Kūkaniloko and Na Wahine Kunia ʻo Līhuʻe now have a global community of members and friends. Perpetual maintenance and care are our goals. Our vision: Ke kulanui o Kūkaniloko; hale io; reforestation; restoration of kapu‘ahu‘awa a me waihau hoʻolonopahu. Mea ola kanaka mauli o kalana Kūkaniloko e kūka‘awe i nā kapu o Kūkaniloko no ka mea aloha no ho‘i kākou ia lākou i nā kau a kau.

                                                                                                                                           

"e kūkaʻawe i nā kapu o Kūkaniloko nō ka mea aloha nō hoʻi kākou iā lākou i nā kau a kau..."
 “to guard the kapu of Kūkaniloko because we love them for all time…”