Building a Resilient Lāhui in the Diaspora

Wakinekona (Washington State) is home to the third-largest population of Native Hawaiians in the U.S. (census.gov).

Mokuʻāina a Wakinekona Hawaiian Civic Club (MAWHCC) engages our community across the state while upholding the legacy of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, who founded the Hawaiian Civic Club movement to provide an organized civic identity for our people, fostering community, preserving culture, and advocating for the wellbeing of the lāhui.

His leadership created a platform to express needs, secure rights, and strengthen cultural and educational foundations. More than a century later, that vision continues to guide us in the diaspora.

Founded in the Seattle Metropolitan area and chartered into the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs on Oct. 26, 2006, MAWHCC now represents Native Hawaiians across Wakinekona and beyond. Our work continues a 200-year legacy of kūpuna who migrated during the fur trade era, bringing the skills, traditions, resilience and aloha that established the vibrant Hawaiian community here today.

Our mission is clear: we promote, preserve, and perpetuate Native Hawaiian culture, values, and traditions.

While rooted in Hawaiian values, our members come from diverse professions and backgrounds, and include cultural practitioners, educators, healthcare professionals, law enforcement professionals, artists, community organizers, business owners, students, veterans, and more, all paving the way for future generations to see themselves and thrive.

A major milestone has been the creation of Mālama i ka ʻĀina (MIKA), a program for keiki ages 0-5 and their ʻohana. This initiative plants early seeds of cultural identity, connecting keiki to the land, language, and values that sustain us. In diaspora, where Hawaiian culture can feel distant, programs like this ensure that the next generation grows with a strong foundation in cultural identity.

A signature highlight of our year is ʻAha Mele, which kicks off the Hawaiian festival season in Wakinekona. ʻAha Mele brings together musicians, hālau hula, cultural practitioners, vendors, and community members in a joyful celebration of Hawaiian culture. It honors tradition, builds connections, and often serves as an entry point for new members seeking a deeper connection to the community.

We also partner with and support Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian American organizations, and honor and sustain our Indigenous connection with local Native American tribal communities, recognizing them as the original stewards of the lands we occupy.

These relationships strengthen solidarity across communities, demonstrating that while our histories differ, we are united by our shared commitment to justice, representation, and cultural perpetuation.

Looking ahead, MAWHCC will participate in the upcoming Hawaiian Council Convention in Tulalip, Washington. This gathering brings together Native Hawaiians from across the pae ʻāina and the diaspora, reaffirming our collective voice, sharing ʻike, and building strategies to serve our lāhui. Our members look forward to attending and offering kōkua as we mahalo the Hawaiian Council for bringing this important gathering to our state.

Through MAWHCC, Native Hawaiians in diaspora find ways to stay connected to our heritage and strengthen the resilience of the lāhui. We remain guided by Prince Kūhiō’s vision, no matter the distance from our kulāiwi, our beloved Hawaiʻi.

Aaron Helenihi serves as kilo iʻa and government relations chair for Mokuʻāina a Wakinekona Hawaiian Civic Club and was one of the original founding members of Ka ʻAha Lāhui o ʻOlekona Hawaiian Civic Club. A graduate of Kamehameha Schools, he is an educator and community leader in Southwest Washington.