Capitol Words a project of the Sunlight Foundation

Rep. Mazie K. Hirono

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Ko`olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club on the 75th anniversary of its founding and to recognize its impressive contributions to the preservation and perpetuation of Native Hawaiian culture. Ko`olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club has a distinguished record of service to the ahupua`a of Kane`ohe, Heaeia, Kahalu`u, Waihe`e, Ka`alaea, Waihole, Waikane, Hakipu`u, and Kualoa on the windward side of the island of O`ahu. The civic club, along with community and other local partners in Hawaii, has planned a year-long celebration featuring the musical, natural, and cultural heritage of O`ahu's windward coast.

Our civic clubs have played an important role in the history of Hawaii, dating back to the first Hawaiian civic club founded in 1918 by Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanian`ole. He was a stalwart figure in Hawaiian history, a tireless advocate for the Hawaiian people and served in this very chamber as Hawaii's delegate to Congress from 1902 to 1922. Carrying on Prince Kuhio's legacy and strong belief in civic duty and grassroots activism, more than sixty Hawaiian civic clubs have been established in Hawaii and the continental United States. These clubs proudly keep Hawaiian traditions, language, and culture alive and work to improve the conditions of the Native Hawaiian people and our island communities.

Founded by community leaders George Ke`ehukulani Cypher, Johnny Townsend, Isaac Kanakanui, and Solomon Halualani, as well as renowned hula master Kau`i Zuttermeister and Honolulu City Planner George Houghtailing, the Ko`olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, has taken its core value of malama--or to take care--to heart. Through its efforts to maintain ancient heiau (sacred Hawaiian religious sites), restore threatened wetlands, provide annual scholarships for Native Hawaiian students, and many other initiatives, the Ko`olaupoko Civic Club continues to support the culture and heritage of Native Hawaiians. It's only fitting that the club was awarded the Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanian`ole Award as the ``most outstanding Hawaiian Civic Club'' at the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs' 2011 Convention.

Congratulations to the members of the Ko`olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club for all their accomplishments, their dedication to the betterment of our community and continuing the civic clubs' heritage of service.

Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much).