The Holokū Ball is HCCH’s signature event and has been ongoing for over 90 years. In 1931, Ka‘ilipaina “Bina” Mossman had a desire to revive the waning popularity of the holokū and suggested to the Hawaiian Civic Club to create a formal Hawaiian gala at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel at Helumoa, Waikīkī. As a musician, composer, choral director, educator, and eventual politician, she was well-prepared to produce and direct this flagship event, where both kama‘āina and malihini delighted in the unprecedented gala.

The annual Holokū Ball later evolved into a Hawaiian Scholarship Benefit, and over the decades, has generated more than $2 million in scholarships for the education and training of Hawaiian scholars. In 2025, HCCH awarded a total of $81,000.