Our Club Perpetuates Generations of Hawaiian Tradition

The name Kauwahi ʻAnaina Hawaiʻi means “our Hawaiian gathering place.” Hawaiians always enjoy getting together and when the members of Kauwahi ʻAnaina Hawaiʻi Hawaiian Civic Club (KAHHCC) gather, they know that they will connect with friends, family, ono food, music, and Na Mea Hawaii (things that are Hawaiian).

What do the members of KAHHCC do?
A monthly meeting is held the second Saturday at the Provo Towne Center Mall or at one of the local parks when the weather invites outdoor gatherings.

It doesnʻt matter where we gather, there is always Hawaiian music, Na Mea (learning the Hawaiian language, values, history, and culture), ono food, and the aloha spirit.

Meet the Hui Board

ORIGIN OF THE KAUWAHI ANAINA HAWAII HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB 

The Hawaiian Civic Club movement is the fulfillment of a dream for Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole. In 1895, he joined Queen Lili‘uokalani to help attempt to reestablish her government. That ended unsuccessfully, and resulted in Prince Kūhiō’s concern over the decline in spirit and devastating spike in the mortality rate of the Hawaiian people, and the fear that they would not have the educational skills to protect their interests. Specifically, Prince Kūhiō believed that the future of the Hawaiian community and its people could be protected and promoted only through an organized effort by Hawaiian leadership. He believed that the Hawaiians should help their young people secure an education that would enable them to compete successfully in the new cultural environment introduced to Hawaii in the 19th century. Thus, the Hawaiian Civic Club was formed with the objective of providing scholarship aid for the education of Hawaiian students; of preserving and promoting the Hawaiian heritage, traditions, language and culture; of promoting and supporting organizations interested in improving the conditions of the Hawaiian people and community at large as well as legislation beneficial to the Hawaiian community; and of perpetuating the values that dignify all human life, which are the moral and ethical foundation of our cultural expressions that comprise a unique, rich and enduring legacy of the first people of Hawai‘i. 

As Hawaiians migrated to the continental United States, they took this tradition and purpose with them and in 1989, established the Mainland Council of Hawaiian Civic Clubs (Nā Lei Makalapua) to serve as the voice of Native Hawaiians living beyond Hawaiʻi. Their mission is to extend the advocacy for the educational, civic, health, cultural, economic, and social wellbeing of the Hawaiian people while promoting Hawaiian culture and language on the US continent.  

In 1993, many in our hui were members of the Salt Lake Civic Club, Hui o Hawaii o Utah, however with distance, winter weather and driving conditions, and family dynamics of health and aging it made it difficult for many to make consistent contributions and be active participants. On March 11, 1993 we had a special meeting asking everyone to come and help and we decided to create a new club for the Utah county members. 

It was decided by unanimous vote on the following: 

Name:     Kauwahi Anaina Hawai’i Hawaiian Civic Club (“Our Hawaiian Gathering Place”)

Motto:     Kupa’a ka Nohona Hawai’i (Stand Firm in the Hawaiian Way)

Colors:     Purple & White 

Flower:    Ka Loke Melemele o Iosepa (The yellow rose of Iosepa) 

Song:       Kupa’a Ka Nohona Hawai’i, haku ‘ia o Bill Kelly; unuhi ‘ia o Keao Nesmith 

With the unanimous consent of those present the following were selected as our leadership: 

Pelekikena: Albert Kanahele

Pelekikena Mua: Ned Aikau

Pelekikena Elua: Sonya Skyles

Recording Secretary: Judy Knoll

Corresponding Secretary: Charmagne Rossean

Board of Directors: Mililani Mc Quivey

Norman Chow

Richard Keeno

Charlene Lui

Instrumental in its organization was our Pelekikena Albert Kanahele who spent many diligent hours in the organization and incorporation of our organization with both the State of Utah and with our charter application to the AOHCC and the Mainland Council. Assisting Albert with his Law expertise was Jace McQuivey, a recent graduate Law student of Brigham Young University. Other investments of time, money, and effort were expended by all of the board members in order to get information to the community.  

We started our first year with 72 adult members and their ‘ohana, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and received our AOHHCC charter on June 18, 1993. 

Today we have a membership of 105 and strive to continue in the footsteps of those who went before us.  We have experienced the patience of our ancestors as we have become observers and learners of our heritage. We express sincere appreciation to the Mainland Council for their support and encouragement and to the other Civic Clubs who have lent support and aloha to our efforts.