Upon invitation from the Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, State legislators got the opportunity to visit the Waiheʻe Water Tunnel in January 2019 to learn about the life of our islands: wai. Read one legislators beautiful and inspiring experience below:

Club members at front (L-R): Clifford Loo, Teri Loo, Nancy Davlantes, Mahealani Cypher, Leialoha “Rocky” Kaluhiwa, Alice Hewett

On February 20, 2019 the Hawaii State Senate honored the Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club for all its work since 1937! This honoring stemmed from two awards bestowed upon the club at the November 2018 Association of Hawaiian Civic Club’s Annual Convention. The Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaʻole Outstanding Hawaiian Civic Club of the Year is considered the most prestigious award given to a civic club for its dedication towards their mission and its accomplishments. The second award bestowed at the annual convention was the Pualeilani Outstanding Hawaiian Civic Club Ohana to the Loo Family of Waiheʻe valley in Kahaluʻu. Auntie Teri & Uncle Clifford Loo have devoted much of their time to the club including helping to coordinate monthly cleanings of the Royal Mausoleum known as Mauna ʻAla.

Senator Lorraine Inouye with Clifford & Teri Loo

The Ko`olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club was established in 1937 and brought together many families throughout the windward coast to celebrate and preserve our Hawaiian heritage. It is one of the largest civic clubs in the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and the largest Hawaiian community organization in the windward district, primarily in the Kāne`ohe bay region.

Congratulations to our club and the Loo ʻOhana!!!

On Aug. 17, 2018, 60 members of the Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club went on a tour of the Waiheʻe Water Tunnel in Windward Oʻahu.  The tour was led by Auntie Mahealani Cypher.  While small groups rotated to enter the tunnel, others enjoyed swimming in the nearby Waiheʻe stream (also known as “Ice Pond”).  Some hiked up to Waiheʻe Falls and others made lei from fresh greens to leave as hoʻokupu.  It was a fabulous day filled with friendship, love, and a renewed respect for our ʻāina & wai.  This tunnel was built in the early 1950s to supply water to the Windward side, particularly the Kailua & Kaelepulu areas.  The tunnel is 1800 ft long and is indeed an engineering marvel.  We must mālama our wai and protect this precious resource we are so lucky to have in our moku.

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