Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 3, 1 March 2005 — A special report from the Ke Aliʻi Makaʻāinana Hawaiian Civic Club [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A special report from the Ke Aliʻi Makaʻāinana Hawaiian Civic Club

In July of 2004, the Ke Ali'i Maka'āinana Hawaiian Civic Club (KAMHCC) was incorporated in the state of Virginia. At the annual convention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs (AHCC) in November 2004, the KAMHCC charter was officially accepted and the first Hawaiian Civic Club in the eastern United States was born. The driving force behind the formation of our club, Pelekikena Darlene Kēhaulani Butts, has been strongly committed for many years to the Hawaiian community in the Washington, D.C., area. From organizing the lei draping ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, exhibiting books about Hawai'i on the National Mall for the Nalional Book Fair, to almost any event related to Hawai'i or Hawaiiana, Kēhaulani has been involved in spreading the aloha spirit in the nation's capital. In founding KAMHCC, Kēhaulani brought together a group of Hawaiians and those who love Hawai'i, all committed to contributing to the welfare of the community and the perpetuation of our culture.

KAMHCC has already begun working toward this mission by assisting in the identification of qualified and interested Native Hawaiian women for potential U.S. presidential appointment. KAMHCC has also worked closely with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs D.C. Bureau on Kau Inoa registration and in support of OHA events. This past fall, KAMHCC participated in the parade marking the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian, as well as the annual Pacific Fun Day event in Maryland. Members of KAMHCC have also been actively assisting the Gates Millennium Scholars Program by recruiting scholarship applicants and contacting prospective recipients who needed assistance in completing the application process. Members of KAMHCC are uniquely positioned to provide feedback to the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs just by virtue of being located in Washington, D.C. Many of the members of our group work directly or indirectly with the federal government and see first-hand legislation or federal

agency that may have a direct impact at home in Hawai'i. Exciting upcoming projects for KAMHCC include offering Hawaiian language and culture classes open to the public, a Paniolo Day event, and providing support at the upcoming Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing on Federal Recognition for Native Hawaiians. Other exciting plans in the works for KAMHCC include researching and writing on the experiences of Prince Kūhiō and Queen Lili'uokalani during their stays in Washington, developing a scholarship and college application assistance program for area yout, and expanding civic and cultural awareness offerings here for anyone desiring to learn more about Hawai'i and its people. Many KAMHCC members' names will be familiar to anyone who has traveled to the D.C. area recently. Members instrumental in the formation of KAMHCC include Claire Pruet, now an administrator at Chaminade University; Maile Duggan, special advisor; Kapi'olani Adams, a Gates Millennium Scholar now working in

D.C.; A1 Kauli'a, KAMHCC delegate to the 2004 convention and host of our upcoming Paniolo event; Gini Moore, our IT wizard; Martha Ross, OHA D.C. Bureau Chief; DeeDee Akeo, Kanoe Davis, Dreana Kalili, Gail Brown, Mary Beth Aoyagi, 'Ānela Nomura, Aloma Myers, Kawe Mossman, Kimo Van Giesen, Keith Tom and Tim Johnson. The women and men of KAMHCC are honored to j oin the ranks of members of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs who are devoted to the civic, eeonomie, health and social welfare of the Hawaiian community. The members of KAMHCC encourage you to visit with them on your next trip to Washington, D.C. KAMHCC club symbols: Song: HeHawai'iAu Flower: Naupaka Colors:Blue, Red, White Motto: Aloha O Nā Kulāiwi Editors note: Tim Johnson, Ke Ali'i Maka'āinana Hawaiian Civic Club vice president, provided this report. 4/48 V

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Haunani Apoliona, MSW Trustee, At-large