Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs

Aloha mai Kākou!
The Mainland Council Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs extends aloha and Mahalo to the Maui Council as they host the 50th annual Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs Convention at he Maui Prince Hotel, Makena, Maui. Your theme of “Aloha ‘Äina” calls each of us to Mālama our ‘āina here at home and in our adopted homes across the continent and Alaska. With that in mind, MCAHCC is proud to that the Association will charter the Mainland Council’s newest Hawaiian Civic Club, Kai ‘Ula Pono‘i Texas Hawaiian Civic Club. Together we welcome them to the Association and the Mainland Council as we extend our hand to Hawaiians in yet another State.

The Mainland Council continues to meet quarterly, with the latest being held in Seattle, Washington hosted by Moku‘āina A Wakinekona HCC at the Puyallup American Indian tribe’s youth center. Our time together in different locations gives our Council directors the opportunity to experience the ‘āina where our Native Hawaiians have chosen to call their home away from Hawai‘i Nei. The aloha spirit and way of being is alive and well across the continent and Alaska.

As we come together from far distances to meet, our quarterly meetings utilize the time to provide more than a meeting agenda. Each of our meetings has included health workshops on topics such as diabetes and cancer conducted by MCAHCC Komike Mālama Ola chairs. Representatives from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs have also been present to provide updates on legislative issues and at our last meeting sponsored a genealogy workshop conducted by Analu. We are grateful to our Komike Mālama Ola chairs and to OHA for their continued mana‘o and support.

As you read through MCAHCC component clubs’ reports, you will see that they have all been busy with a variety of activities participating in area Ho‘olaulea, sponsoring of Hawaiian craft workshops, and the latest involvement in Census 2010 in each state to mention but a few. Though three years away, the Mainland Council is already working on welcoming everyone to the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs Annual Convention 2012 in Washington, DC and is looking forward to being your host.

As Pelekikena, I would like to acknowledge my Board and Mahalo them for all that they do as delegates to the MCAHCC and their leadership in their own clubs. Our Council motto, “e lauhoe mai na wa‘a”, everybody paddle the canoe together, is truly who we are.

A hui hou,
Tee Furtado, Pelekikena
Mainland Council Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs