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Founding of the Hawaiian
Civic Club of Honolulu [HCCH History] [HCCH Archives] [Site Map] [Links] |
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Founding of the Hawaiian
Civic Club of Honolulu [HCCH History] [HCCH Archives] [Site Map] [Links] |
The following is an account of the founding of the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, as given by Mrs. Parker (Sis) Widemann, HCCH president for 1963 and niece of Judge Alexander G.M. Robertson, legal advisor at the first meeting of the Civic Club: Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, while delegate in Congress from Hawaii, made a trip back home in early 1917 and one day, as he stood at the corner of Fort and King Streets watching people walk by - he with his hands in his pockets - he was mehameha (sad) - for he realized not only did he not know them as they passed by, but also, they did not know him. He wondered where they were going, what was going on in their minds, what they did, where they lived. Some looked happy. Many seemed to care not. Some appeared sad, too. Kuhio knew that Honolulu was growing, that Hawaii was growing. He wondered, were they thinking about it, too, as he was. Were they aware of how Hawaii could grow and they, with her? He felt, as he watched them pass by, that they really didn't know, or perhaps they didn't want to know.
They met at his home, Pua Leilani, in Waikiki. There these gentlemen met: three Republicans (John C. Lane, William Legros, and Alexander G.M. Robertson, the lawyer), three Democrats (William H. Heen, Noah Aluli, and Jesse Uluihi), and Kuhio (who himself was a Republican). Judge Robertson sat as the attorney. The Prince told them of his hopes to find a way to remind the Hawaiian of his inherent civic pride, the Hawaiians inborn concern for good government. He told them how he felt that morning standing at Fort and King Streets and that before he returned to Washington D.C., he wanted, most of all to commence the forming of the Hawaiian people into a group which would dedicate themselves to the education of the Hawaiian Ò the young and the old Ò all of them Ò to help elevate and promote their social, economic, civic and intellectual status, all while they would promote the principles of good government as they themselves became outstanding citizens, leaders in their communities so that they could and would take an active part and place in the civic progress of Hawaii and its people. He felt it was the responsibility of each Hawaiian to bring to realization of these aims.
*Note: The Hawaiian Civic Club was founded on December 7, 1918 and not in 1917.
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Kuhio's concern was deep seated. He wanted his Hawaiian to be educated. He wanted him to elevate himself. He wanted to instill in and promote the economic, intellectual, social status, well-being of the Hawaiian in his community and he wanted sincerely to see Hawaii's culture to be forever preserved, not only for the Hawaiian but for all Hawaii. With this trend of thought, he called together a group, seven in all, of his very close friends.
And so, with the legal mind of Judge Robertson coupled with Mr. Heen's expertise, Kuhio requested and they complied with the preparation of and submittal to him of the first Articles of Incorporation of the Hawaiian Civic Club. This document was approved and signed by six of the seven original gentlemen - Robertson retained his position as LOIO. This instrument reflected without an ounce of doubt the deep respect each had for the other and their own partisan political belief, likewise for each one's religious beliefs. Hence the Hawaiian Civic Club, as such, was never to involve itself in partisan politics nor would it ever involve itself in sectarian religious differences. In the late twenties, when a Hawaiian Civic Club was started in Hauula and then in Lahaina, it was agreed that the original Hawaiian Civic Club, started in early