By Ryan Anderson and Visa Castillo
NaHHA is proud to share an article from our Lamakū Hoʻokipa – Beacons of Hospitality – who exemplify the value of mālama and are making meaningful impacts as contributing members of the Native Hawaiian community.
The ʻōlelo noʻeau chosen as the theme for the 2026 Holokū Ball, “Ka Lama Kū o ka Noʻeau – The Standing Torch of Wisdom,” reflects both the enduring legacy of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole and the collective responsibility of our generation to carry that legacy forward.
Through this year’s theme, the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu (HCCH) honors three distinguished leaders and organizations whose work embodies the vision of Prince Jonah Kūhiō in service to the lāhui: The Royal Order of Kamehameha I – Chapter One; Kali Watson, director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; and Kūhiō Lewis a Hawaiian Civic Club member, homesteader, and Native Hawaiian community leader.
Established in 1928, the Holokū Ball is one of Hawaiʻi’s longest-standing Native Hawaiian legacy events now in its 98th year. More than a gala, it is a gathering that celebrates Hawaiian achievement, strengthens community relationships, and raises critical scholarship funds.
Celebrants at the 2025 Holokū Ball show off their finery on the red carpet. – Photos: Kat Wade Photography
This year’s Holokū Ball is on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the historic Royal Hawaiian Hotel; a place rich with history and deep cultural significance.
Long before Waikīkī became a global visitor destination, it was the cherished home and retreat of many aliʻi, including our beloved Prince Kūhiō. Holding the Holokū Ball here serves as a powerful reminder that wahi kūpuna like Waikīkī remain Hawaiian gathering places where our stories, traditions, and celebrations allow us to continue to thrive.
For nearly a century, proceeds from the Holokū Ball have supported the HCCH Scholarship Fund with more than $1.3 million invested in over 2,000 scholarship recipients pursuing their educational goals at vocational academies, colleges, and universities in Hawaiʻi and abroad.
These investments help fulfill the objectives Prince Kūhiō laid out for HCCH in 1918 at our founding with a vision of a thriving lāhui empowered through education, knowledge, and opportunity to become the next generation of Native Hawaiian leaders.
Community members, businesses, and supporters are invited to join us for an evening of elegance, culture, and purpose. Table sponsorships, silent auction items, and direct donations to the fund will go towards support of educational scholarships. Together, we celebrate our past, invest in our future, and ensure that Prince Kūhiō’s legacy continues to flourish for generations to come.
To learn more, purchase tickets, send a silent auction or monetary donation, or to become a sponsor, please contact Holokū Ball co-chairs Ryan Anderson and Visa Castillo at [email protected].
