Growing the Lāhui in the Diaspora

Aloha mai kākou a Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou. The Mainland Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs – also known as Nā Lei Makalapua (NLM) – begins it new year with petitions to charter two new Hawaiian Civic Clubs: Arizona (Phoenix) and Kansas (Topeka).

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.