Ko`olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club

KO`OLAUPOKO HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB

Ua mau ke ea o ka `aina i ka pono...the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness

Ua mau ke`ea o ka`aina i ka pono...
the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness

The towering Ko`olau pali stand majestically over the nine ahupua`a of Kane`ohe Bay. Represented by the Ko`olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, these ahupua`a include Kane`ohe at the southern end, through He`eia, Kahalu`u, Waihe`e, Ka`alaea, Wai`ahole, Waikane, Hakipu`u and Kualoa.

The Ko`olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club is a non-profit community organization dedicated to the perpetuation of the Native Hawaiian culture, our heritage and our people. Our membership is comprised of Native Hawaiians and "Hawaiians at heart", and is open to anyone interested in supporting cultural, educational and service programs primarily in the Ko`olaupoko area on the Windward side of the island of O`ahu, Hawai`i.

E hele mai, welcome...

We invite all of you to enjoy learning about our island culture "through Hawaiian eyes", from the perspective of our native people. You can do this through this website, by participating in our various tours and other activities, or by becoming a member of our Hawaiian civic club.

Please download the membership form from this site, complete it and mail it with your dues to the address noted on the form. These nominal dues help us to sustain and maintain our work to support and preserve our native Hawaiian culture and the history and heritage of our islands.

We recently completed a year-long community outreach project, "Celebrate Kane`ohe", during which we partnered with over three dozen community organizations and institutions to plan and celebrate over 50 activities and events that recognize the wonderful community known as Kane`ohe.

The meaning of "Kane`ohe"...

Contrary to published stories from a wide variety of sources, we believe that the name of our community, Kane`ohe, does not stem from a local legend of an angry husband.

In the time of our ancestors, the god Kane was supreme over the island of O`ahu. A mighty heiau, or temple, was built in his honor on the slopes of the mountains above a large village that extended from the mountains to the bay. The name of this heiau, Kukui o Kane, means "the enlightenment of Kane". A stand of towering `ohe, bamboo, is hidden amidst the extensive banana patch that now covers the hillside in the area near the heiau. The name, Kane`ohe, refers to the sacred grove of bamboo dedicated to the god Kane`ohe.

Our sincere mahalo...

We could not have accomplished much of our work this past year with the Celebration of Kane`ohe, without the kokua of many wonderful individuals, businesses and organizations in the Kane`ohe community. We extend our deepest mahalo nui loa to all of you for your support and many kindnesses, and invite each and every one to join us, Hawaiians - or "Hawaiians at heart" - as members of the Ko`olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club.

YOUR KOKUA IS NEEDED:

In 2007, we established a communications center office in the Atrium Building in Kane`ohe through a capacity-building grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Now that the grant is completed, we are in need of funding to continue maintaining this vital communications center and gathering place for our crafts activities, training programs, and records.

Donations to help defray the cost of continued use of this space would be greatly appreciated, and can be sent to: Ko`olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, P. O. Box 664, Kaneohe, HI 96744.

If you have office space (or warehouse space) in the Kane`ohe area that you would be willing to donate for our use, at least for the next 12 months, this would also be greatly appreciated.

Our work to strengthen the communities surrounding Kane`ohe Bay and to perpetuate our community's history and heritage is far from over. Please kokua - any consideration would be greatly appreciated. Mahalo!