By Shani J.P. Butts

We just wrapped the 2026 King Kamehameha I Lei Draping Ceremony in Washington, D.C., and this one felt different. There was an air of excitement, celebration, and a call to action that left so many feeling invigorated and inspired.

Our mother, Darlene Kehaulani Butts, lovingly known as Aunty Kehau, was a pillar in the Hawaiian community and a constant presence at this event. She served as chair of the King Kamehameha I Lei Draping ceremony for decades.

Aunty Kehau had an appreciation and respect for protocol that went beyond the typical recognition for the necessity of order and procedures – she almost had a fascination with protocol and took pride in educating herself and others.

Combining Hawaiian and political protocol for an event on the East Coast honoring one of our aliʻi was no easy feat. As you might imagine, the Kamehameha Lei Draping Ceremony in D.C. was Aunty Kehau’s time to shine.

This year’s theme highlighted Kamehameha I’s last words: “E ʻoni wale nō ʻoukou i kuʻu pono ʻaʻole e pau” (continue the good that I have done for it is not yet finished). Those words have a whole new meaning for our ʻohana as we carry on our mom’s mission to honor our aliʻi on the East Coast.

May 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the Aliʻi Diplomatic Missions and Other Business Travel to Washington, D.C., project completed in conjunction with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. As shared in the publication:

“The inspiration for initiating this research were the leaders of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, ʻAhahui Kaʻahumanu, Hale O Nā Aliʻi O Hawaiʻi and Māmakakaua – Daughters and Sons of Hawaiian Warriors who traveled together to Washington, D.C., the week of September 13, 2003, to walk the halls of Congress and speak with U.S. Senators. These representatives of the Native Hawaiian Royal Societies sought support for the establishment of a process of federal recognition for Native Hawaiians as a step in the process of reconciliation between the United States and Native Hawaiians, to reaffirm the legal and political legal status as Indigenous sovereigns, protect existing rights and assure perpetuation of the distinct Indigenous Hawaiian culture through self-determination.”

In September 2026, Ke Aliʻi Makaʻāinana Hawaiian Civic Club, in collaboration with the Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī Coalition, are excited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this publication in our nation’s capital. We hope you will join us as we retrace the footsteps of our aliʻi in Washington, D.C.

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For generations, decisions affecting Native Hawaiian communities have often been made far from Hawaiʻi and without Native Hawaiian voices at the table. The Abigail K.K. Kawānanakoa Foundation hopes to help change that through the Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Fellows Program, an initiative preparing emerging Native Hawaiian leaders for careers in public service and policy leadership.

Now nearing the completion of its inaugural year, the program places Native Hawaiian fellows in congressional offices in Washington, D.C., where they gain firsthand experience in federal policymaking while bringing their own perspectives, values, and cultural grounding into the work of governance.

“For me, the most meaningful aspect of being a Kūhiō Fellow, has been the ability to be in the same rooms as community leaders and organizations that I looked up to as a child. Working together in partnerships to push forth meaningful legislation is something I never thought I’d have the opportunity to do, and it’s been an honor to work and learn alongside the leaders shaping Hawaiʻi’s future,” said fellow Kalaʻi Anderson.

Since arriving in Washington in August 2025, the inaugural fellows have worked across Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation supporting legislative research, constituent services, communications, and policy development. Beyond Capitol Hill, fellows participate in professional development, mentorship, and shared living at Hale Kaulike, the Foundation’s Capitol Hill residence.

The program draws inspiration from Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, whose service as Hawaiʻi’s delegate to Congress demonstrated the importance of Native Hawaiian representation at the federal level. Best known for championing the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, Prince Kūhiō understood that meaningful change requires Native Hawaiian voices inside the rooms where decisions are made.

“As I seek to serve the communities that helped raise me, this fellowship has given me the opportunity to better understand the many layers of governance and the interconnected ways decisions at the federal level influence – and are influenced – by state and local currents. I hope to carry this knowledge back home to uplift my lāhui and community,” said fellow Josh Worth.

As part of the program, each fellow completed a capstone project reflecting issues impacting the lāhui today. Topics included environmental stewardship, access to federal funding for Native Hawaiian organizations, pathways to expungement for individuals with nonviolent criminal convictions, and a children’s book centered on Native Hawaiian health and wellness practices.

For the Foundation, the fellowship represents a long-term investment in Native Hawaiian leadership and civic capacity.

“These fellows are gaining experiences and relationships that will stay with them for the rest of their lives,” said Foundation Director Jan Dill. “Just as importantly, they are demonstrating that Native Hawaiians are prepared to lead at every level.”

The Foundation recently selected its second cohort of fellows, who will begin their placements in Washington this August, continuing Prince Kūhiō’s legacy for a new generation.

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What is the kuleana of Kānaka living outside of Kō Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina when it comes to having a voice at the table in discussions about military leases? This article reflects ongoing conversations and the need to expand them.

For some, the answer is straightforward: if you leave the islands, or are born away from them, your voice in Hawaiʻi is diminished. A Hawaiʻi state-issued ID becomes a proxy for belonging – and, by extension, legitimacy.

Within our work, we recognize that perspective but also understand it as a response shaped by scarcity. As a lāhui, our responsibility is to move toward an abundance framework – one that recognizes the breadth of our people, regardless of where they reside.

The Ecosystems and Environment Committee of Nā Lei Makalapua, the Mainland Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, engages in a range of federal and state processes that impact Native Hawaiian resources and rights.

This includes participation in Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) reviews, military lease discussions, and broader national consultations with agencies such as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The committee is also registered with the Federal Register to monitor and respond to rulemaking and notices that affect Hawaiʻi and its beneficiaries, reflecting a sustained commitment to advocacy at multiple levels.

This work requires grounding in the historical and legal framework of Hawaiian crown lands, whose boundaries were shaped during the 1898 annexation, and their alignment with the Hawaiʻi State Constitution. The constitution embeds the public trust doctrine and affirms Native Hawaiian rights, establishing a trust relationship that is status-based, not location-based.

Except for the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, a Native Hawaiian is generally understood as any descendant of the aboriginal people of Hawaiʻi prior to 1778. This definition does not diminish with geography.

Accordingly, the question is not whether diaspora Kānaka are beneficiaries, but how their interests are recognized in decision-making processes.

Reviews of environmental impact statement (EIS) documents, including the Haleakalā Air Tour Management Plan EIS and the Pōhakuloa EIS, indicate that standard National Environmental Policy Act procedures structure participation through impact identification and public comment tracking, often organized by geography or general identity categories.

In practice, this results in diaspora Kānaka being categorized as either “Native Hawaiian” or “out-of-state,” – but not both – within a unified framework.

This reveals a gap in how the full beneficiary class is identified and considered. Current processes do not fully account for diaspora Kānaka as part of the trust relationship, resulting in incomplete engagement with those who hold recognized rights and interests in these lands.

The State of Hawaiʻi carries an obligation to manage trust lands for the benefit of all beneficiaries. That obligation cannot be met without processes that accurately identify and meaningfully engage the full beneficiary class.

At stake is not simply process, but principle – and the state’s responsibility to uphold its constitutional trust obligations.

The absence of diaspora voices is not incidental; it is a structural deficiency that must be addressed to ensure that all beneficiaries are counted, and all are heard.

Noelani Mengel is Ecosystems and Environment Committee chair for Nā Lei Makalapua, Mainland Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.

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By Philip Joseph Kahaunaele Swain with Lisa Kelekolio

Years ago, as our kūpuna voyaged across the moana to the western edge of the continent, some ventured further into the vast Americas settling in the Rocky Mountain area and what is now the state of Colorado.

In 1893, Queen Liliʻuokalani and her retainers crossed the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains on route to Washington, D.C. Others, like George Makalena and John Kulia Mokumaia, were recruited to join the touring Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and Rough Riders Shows in 1899.

Later, Ikuwa Purdy and his pani-olo companions traveled in 1908 to compete in the famed Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. In honor of their winning performances, the mele, Waiomina (Wyoming), was composed by Helen Lindsay Parker.

Today, some 10,000 Kānaka and Pacific Islanders live in Colorado, with at least 15,000 in the Rocky Mountain Region (which includes Colorado, Utah, Montana and Wyoming). Many came for college and stayed. Others came to serve at military bases, for job opportunities, or for affordable housing. Some kūpuna have moved to mālama their moʻopuna who reside here.

Piʻilani Hawaiian Civic Club of Colorado was formed in 1998 by a group of Kānaka Maoli who had migrated from Hawaiʻi. At the time, Piʻilani was the easternmost Hawaiian civic club on the continent. The founders were determined to carry their heritage and culture with them from Hawaiʻi and preserve it for future generations.

In the 28 years since, Piʻilani has advocated for the Hawaiian Community in Colorado and the larger region. Major activities include our annual Hoʻolauleʻa, scholarship fundraising activities, partnering with AAPINH (Asian American Pacific Islander Native Hawaiian) events, and participation in cultural activities.

To this end, we have sponsored workshops on lei-making, ʻukulele, Hawaiian films, ‘ōlelo Hawaiʻi, slack key, hula, lei hulu, lauhala weaving, and more.

Over the years we have learned about our kuleana and kulana from our club founders, leaders, kūpuna and members. Some have passed on, and some still paddle the waʻa with us. We are also grateful to the Hawaiian community here that supports our efforts to exist as Hawaiians in this place even as we support efforts back home to uphold our native rights.

And we are proud of our ʻōpio who have embraced their culture and have gone on to reach for excellence in their educations and careers.

These include a graduate of the UH Mānoa Richardson School of Law now employed at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; an educator at Cherry Creek Schools Colorado pursuing an educational doctorate at the University of Colorado; a graduate of Colorado State serving in the Native American Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps; a graduate of UC Santa Barbara pursuing a masters in sustainable environmental systems; and a Hawaiian fashion and lifestyle designer creating sustainable clothing on Maui.

Philip Joseph Kahaunaele Swain is 1st vice president and Lisa Kelekolio is president of Piʻilani Hawaiian Civic Club of Colorado.

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In our moʻomeheu (culture), an inoa is a precious mea ola (living thing) possessed of its own mana. It shapes health, fate, and character. We are more blessed when we receive our inoa from kūpuna.

Culturally, there are different types of inoa: Inoa pō (names received in a dream); inoa hōʻailona (names received in signs, omens or visions); inoa ʻūlāleo (supernaturally voiced names), inoa hoʻomanaʻo (commemorative names) and inoa kūamuamu (reviling names).

Such has been the inoa of places on the continent settled by Kānaka Maoli. Kūpuna did not see their new settlement as a replacement for Hawaiʻi, but as a puʻuhonua (place of refuge) where ʻohana in kaiāulu could survive while keeping their culture alive.

Iosepa is a town in Skull Valley, Utah. In 1889, King Kalākaua permitted 50 Kānaka Maoli to journey to Utah. These Mormon converts followed Joseph F. Smith, whose perfect fluency in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi served as a powerful charm for their faith. Trekking from San Francisco via the Transcontinental Railroad, they settled 75 miles from Salt Lake City.

They named their town Iosepa, an inoa hoʻomanaʻo honoring Smith and an inoa hōʻailona that foresaw a great journey. Though its residents departed in 1917 to build a temple in Lāʻie, this mana lives on in streets named Honolulu, Wailuku, Kapukini, Waimea and Lāʻie. Today, the history of this puʻuhonua is preserved by the Iosepa Historical Society, Hui Hawaiʻi o Utah, and Kauwahi ʻAnaina Hawaiian Civic Clubs.

Kalama, Washington, stands as an inoa hoʻomanaʻo for John Kalama, a Maui-born trailblazer who arrived on the West Coast in 1830. During the 19th century, Kānaka Maoli were essential to the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), prized for their expert skills in swimming, logging, and smithing.

John Kalama served as a vital middleman between the HBC and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe from what is now known as southwestern Washington state. He eventually married Mary Martin, daughter of Nisqually Chief Sulkaden. Kalama, meaning “the torch” or “light,” was bestowed upon the river and the city incorporated in 1871. This legacy of light is supported till today by the Mokuʻāina a Wakinekona Hawaiian Civic Club.

Las Vegas (The Meadows) and the “Ninth Island” is a desert puʻuhonua that grew from the 1950s recruitment of the first showroom entertainers, The Mary K (Kaʻaihue) Trio. Seeking to mimic Waikīkī, the hotel and entertainment industries drew Hawaiʻi’s talent of travel agents, hotel managers and musicians to the Oasis. Showrooms adapted hula for the era’s spectacle.

In 1996, Uncle Mel Ozeki popularized the nickname “Ninth Island” in ʻOhana Magazine, bridging two lands defined by isolation: one by sea, one by desert. Today, the “Ninth Island” continues to draw all of Hawaiʻi as well as our Kānaka on the continent to where aloha and moʻomeheu is shared; an inoa hoʻomanaʻo to some, an inoa kūamuamu to others. Uncle Mel was a member of the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club.

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My name is Doreen Hall Vann, and I am a proud Kanaka born and raised on the island of Oʻahu. My roots, values, and spirit remain deeply connected to the land and people of Hawaiʻi.

Surrounded by aloha, I grew up with the teachings and moʻolelo shared by our kūpuna, lessons that taught me the importance of family, community, and caring for one another – values that continue to guide me today.

In 2019, my husband Marquise, my son, Zaiden Kaualeimaʻohūonalani Vann, and I made the big move to Las Vegas. Leaving Hawaiʻi after a lifetime at home was not easy, but my hope was to create new opportunities for our ʻohana while staying grounded in our culture.

Zaiden previously attended Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Waiau, where he learned through the Hawaiian language in papa mālaaʻo, just as my three daughters did before him.

Here in Las Vegas, we continue to honor our heritage. Zaiden and I attend the papa ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi classes at Vegas Vista Academy – the first in-person Hawaiian language class in Las Vegas – which has given us a meaningful way to stay connected.

We use our ʻōlelo mākuahine in our daily lives. You can hear it in our home, on the baseball fields, and during our Hawaiian Civic Club meetings. Through language, stories, and shared values, we maintain our pilina – our connection – to our culture and identity.

Life in Las Vegas is different from Hawaiʻi, we continue to live with aloha. Hawaiʻi will always be home, but our aloha travels with us wherever we go.

Doreen Hall Vann is a Pearl City-born mother, grandmother, and storyteller whose life and work are grounded in the teachings of her kūpuna and the enduring spirit of aloha.

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Na Doreen Hall Vann

ʻO wau ʻo Doreen Hall Vann, he Kanaka ʻŌiwi nō au i hānau a hānai ʻia ma ka mokupuni ʻo Oʻahu. Paʻa mau kēia ma nā ʻano a pau i ka ʻāina a me nā kānaka o Hawaiʻi.

I loko o ka nohona aloha nui au i ulu aʻe ai ma ke aʻo ʻana i nā haʻawina o nā moʻolelo me nā kūpuna. Na ia mau haʻawina i hōʻike mai i ke koʻikoʻi o ka ʻohana, ke kaiaulu, me ka mālama ʻana kekahi i kekahi – ʻo ia hoʻi nā haʻa- wina me nā manaʻo nui e kaʻi mai ana iaʻu i kēia mau lā nō.

I ka makahiki 2019, ua neʻe aku mākou ʻo kaʻu kāne ʻo Marquise a me kā māua keiki kāne ʻo Zaiden Kaualeimaʻohūonalani Vann i Las Vegas. ʻAʻole i maʻalahi ka haʻalele ʻana i ko mākou home aloha ma hope, akā ua makemake au e huli i nā mea kūpono hou no kaʻu ʻohana me ka paʻa mau i loko o ko mākou kuanaʻike a moʻomeheu.

Ua hele kula mua ʻo Zaiden i Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Waiau, a ma laila i aʻo ai ʻo ia ma o ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ma ka papa mālaaʻo, e like me kaʻu mau kaikamāhine ʻekolu ma mua ona.

Ma ʻaneʻi ma Las Vegas, mālama nō mākou i ka ʻike kūpuna. Eia ke komo pū nei māua ʻo Zaiden i ka papa ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ma Vegas Vista Academy – ka papa ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi mua loa ma ʻaneʻi i aʻo ʻia he alo a he alo – he ala maikaʻi ia e ola ai ka ʻōlelo iā māua.

Ola ka ʻōlelo makuahine iā mākou i kēlā lā kēia lā. Lohe ʻia nō ma ka hale, ma ke kahua pōhili, a ma nā hālāwai o ka Hawaiian Civic Club. Ma o ka ʻōlelo, nā moʻolelo, a me nā waiwai e ola mau ai ko mākou mauli Hawaiʻi.

He ʻokoʻa loa ka nohona ma Las Vegas, eia nō naʻe mau ko mākou nohona aloha. ʻO Hawaiʻi nō ko mākou kulāiwi, eia nō naʻe, me mākou nō ke aloha e kaʻahele mau ai.

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Inquires began in early October, seeking guidance of Membership Chairs Pōmaikaʻi Gaui (Tennessee) and Philip Swain (Colorado) in preparing the applications. The requirements for membership of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs (AHCC) lay plainly in Article IV of its constitution:

• Section 1—Membership in this Association shall consist of Hawaiian Civic Clubs (HCC) duly organized and chartered under the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association.
• Section 2—Civic Clubs that are formed must initially be comprised of a minimum of twenty-five (25) Kanaka Hawaiʻi, ages sixteen (16) and older. Keiki (child) under sixteen (16) may also join a Civic Club but shall not be voting members of the House of Delegates.
• Section 3—All Hawaiian Civic Clubs now in existence and any new clubs which may be formed and chartered hereafter by the Association shall be known as “Hawaiian Civic Clubs” or their Hawaiian translation.
• Section 4—While each club is autonomous, the acceptance of the charter by a club shall be a ratification and agreement on the part of the club to be bound by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association.
• Section 5—All clubs so organized shall be under the jurisdiction of the council for the district in which they are chartered.

The kūleana of NLM is to review and make recommendations to the AHCC for Chartering. If accepted, the clubs will formally receive their charters at the next AHCC Convention of Delegates; NLM will be the hosting Council for 2026 Convention in Portland, Oregon.

Growing the lāhui in the diaspora, NLM stands with its Constitutional purpose: Support and promote the principles of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Provide guidance and assist in the activities of the chartered Hawaiian Civic Clubs of the Council; Represent and advocate for Kānaka Hawaiʻi not living in the pae āina; and Protect and advance Kānaka Hawaiʻi rights holding the U.S. federal government and the State of Hawaiʻi to fulfill their trust responsibilities to all Kānaka Hawaiʻi.

Located in 11 states, each HCC holds political presence and, in several metropolitan areas, are also influential in state policy making: California Native Hawaiian health initiatives; Utah Pacific Islander educational initiatives for Public School curriculum; Nevada Hawaiian small business growth; Oregon ʻOpio Educational influence in Public Education; Alaska and Washington recognition and preservation of historical sites for Alaskan Natives; Native Americans and Native Hawaiians; and in San Diego, the HCC maintains annual youth presence at its California State Capital.

Every member club of Nā Lei Makalapua has hosted a festival in their resident state including Alaska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and California.

All clubs foster a strong sense of community, promote cultural exchange, and preserve and perpetuate our Native Hawaiian culture and traditions with the aloha spirit.

We will continue to pūpūkahi i holomua (unite in order to progress) across the continent.

For more information go to naleimakalapua.org.

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By Brittany J. Noelani Rivera

“Get involved.”

Those are the words of advice from John Jensen, current member and past pelekikena (president) of ʻAhahui ʻo Liliʻuokalani Hawaiian Civic Club (HCC) of Southern California, the oldest Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs (AOHCC) organization on the continent.

The club’s story began with Marlene Sai, a founding member and its first pelekikena. In April 1976, she gathered a group of Hawaiian friends in Southern California to share the idea of forming a Hawaiian Civic Club. With the guidance of Uncle Noah and Aunty Mary Ann Kalama, that idea took shape.

Members ultimately chose to honor Queen Liliʻuokalani in the club’s name, creating a connection with the then-active Northern California HCC, ʻAhahui Kalākaua of San Francisco. On February 7, 1977, ʻAhahui ʻo Liliʻuokalani HCC received its charter with an estimated 70 members.

I first met Aunty Marlene at the 2023 AOHCC Convention, shortly after the Prince Kūhiō living history play. I approached her, introduced myself as a member of the club, and her eyes lit with surprise and delight. She shared a few memories of those early days and expressed her hope that people would keep the club going.

The conversation was brief, but it left a lasting impression – one that filled me with great motivation. It sparked a deep desire to understand our club’s origins, its journey, challenges, and the vision our kūpuna carried for the future.

The following summer, when preparing our booth for the Annual Hoʻolauleʻa at Alondra Park, I asked Uncle John if he had any old photos we could display. What he placed in my hands were three vintage albums documenting decades of club life – camping trips, mele competitions, workshops, Christmas gatherings, May Day festivals, and more. Watching people stop to flip through those albums was heartwarming.

One man, in particular, turned each page with such intent, smiling, and snapping photos. When I asked if he recognized someone, he replied, “Yes, me!” That was how I met another past pelekikena, Sam Rosero. Throughout the weekend, many others stopped by after being told by relatives, “Go look. There’s a picture of you!”

Recently, I reconnected with Uncle Sam, who encouraged me to speak with Aunty Wini Smith, also a former pelekikena. She, too, recounted her early involvement after receiving a call from Marlene Sai. Among her fondest memories are hosting Hōkūleʻa in 1995 and hosting the first AOHCC convention on the continent in Anaheim, California. She then reflected on changes she has witnessed over the years.

When connecting with past pelekikena, many noted challenges such as organizational changes, members taking their leadership to other areas, and the ongoing struggle to involve younger generations. Yet each conversation left me with immense appreciation and ideas on how to move forward.

Like the pelekikena before us, we remain dedicated to fostering a space where Native Hawaiians can connect, engage, and stay informed. We draw on the successes, challenges, and wisdom of those who came before us. Building on the foundation they established, we commit ourselves to uplifting the next generation and carrying their legacy forward.

Brittany J. Noelani Rivera is the current pelekikena of ʻAhahui ʻo Liliʻuokalani Hawaiian Civic Club of Southern California.

The post Past Pelekikena Share Manaʻo for the Next Generation appeared first on Ka Wai Ola.

Joining fellow district councils, we will converge on Keauhou, Kona, to host Hawaiʻi Council’s kāhea: “E Mau ke Ea” (sovereignty continues).

By tradition, district councils rotate hosting the annual AHCC conventions. Over three years in the planning, Hawaiʻi Council will welcome some 63 Hawaiian Civic Clubs from the shores of Kauaʻi all the way to Washington, D.C.

AHCC conventions are purposeful and include everything from policy-making and cultural preservation to community unification and advocacy. Founded by Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, AHCC is a grassroots, nonprofit volunteer group dedicated to the perpetuation and cultivation of Native Hawaiian culture.

The Hawaiʻi Council site selection at Keauhou aligns with the Hawaiian Civic Clubs’ commitment to cultural preservation and education.

Keauhou is the birthplace of King Kamehameha III, the longest-reigning monarch in Hawaiian history. After being pronounced stillborn, he was revived in a nearby spring, an event of great cultural importance.

The burial grounds at Lekeleke just south of Keauhou are the resting place of Hawaiian warriors who fell in the Battle of Kuamoʻo in 1819. And a portion of the Kāneaka Hōlua Slide, made famous by the Chief of War series, is also located in Keauhou.

Moʻolelo from lineal descendants share the history of the restoration of Keʻekū, Makole-a, Hāpaialiʻi, and Kapuanoni Heiau and the removal of the Keauhou Beach Hotel.

Every annual AHCC Convention, delegates seize the kuleana – the sacred responsibility and privilege – of policy-making and advocacy.

Before the 2025 AHCC delegation are 94+ proposed resolutions, here are but a few:

• Hawaiian Homeland Issuance of undivided interest to all living beneficiaries
• Teaching of Pre-1959 Hawaiian History across all grade levels
• Strong support to maintain vote-by-mail system
• Affirming support for Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy
• Affirming Federal Trust responsibilities to Native Hawaiians
• Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana
• Urging the City and County of Honolulu to enact a percentage-based homeowner exemption
• A ban on commercial aquarium collection in State of Hawaiʻi waters
• Calling for the restoration of land to Native Hawaiian stewardship after U.S. Army leases expire in 2029
• Supporting Hawaiian immersion as a vital component of Hawaiʻiʻs education system

AHCC conventions are instrumental in empowering clubs throughout the pae ʻāina and the diaspora. By convening all clubs, the conventions reinforce a shared sense of purpose, solidify Hawaiian identity, and advance the collective mission of strengthening the lāhui.

Details of AHCC Convention with host Hawaiʻi Council can be found: aohcc.org/2025convention.

Paʻahana Bissen served as the third pelekikena (president) of the Mainland Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs from 1995-1998 and the first female elected. She also served as the second vice president of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs from 2000-2004 – the first non-Hawaiʻi resident elected to the AHCC. She currently serves as a board member of the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club.

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