BIL 104 Draft 02 2002-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII BILL NO. 104 Draft 2 ORDINANCE NO. A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 15-68.1, HAWAII COUNTY CODE, PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITY SCHEDULE, BY NAMING THE KAWANANAKOA HALL--"PRINCESS ABIGAIL WAHIIKA`AHU`ULA KAWANANAKOA CENTER". BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII: SECTION 1. Purpose. The purpose of this measure is to name the newly constructed Kawananakoa Hall-"Princess Abigail Wahiika'ahu'ula Kawananakoa Center"--to correctly reflect the name and title of Princess Abigail Wahiika'ahu'ula Kawananakoa in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the Keaukaha community, island of Hawaii and State of Hawaii. Abigail Wahiika'ahu'ula was born on January 1, 1882, the daughter of James Campbell and Abigail Kauihelani Maipinepine Bright. She was educated in private schools in Honolulu and graduated from the College of Notre Dame in San Jose, California in 1900. In 1902, she received the courtesy title of princess through her marriage to Prince David La'amea Kahalepouli Kawananakoa Pi'ikoi. Princess Abigail Kawananakoa effectively became the leader of the native Hawaiian community and took an increasingly active part in territorial politics after the death of her brother-in-law, Prince Kuhio, in 1922. She first registered as a voter on February 8, 1922, and her example influenced thousands of other women to become voters. She was one of the earliest campaigners for women's rights in Hawaii and sponsored legislation for the welfare of women and children. In 1931, she was appointed chairperson of a special committee by Governor Judd to investigate complaints made by some of the homesteaders against the Hawaiian Homes Commission (HHC). The committee's report presented on December 31, 1931, found in favor of the complainants. In 1935, twelve senators from both the Republican and Democratic parties, recommended that she be appointed to the reorganized HHC. She was confirmed in March 1936. As a member of the HHC, she was responsible for the establishment of a finance committee and also initiated a new rehabilitation project, an additional houselot area at Keaukaha on the island of Hawaii. On July 2, 1938, after a year of planning, she dedicated the first new structure, Kawananakoa Hall, which was erected on the shoreline at Keaukaha and named in her honor by the community of Keaukaha. She was accompanied by Reverend Moses Moku, pastor of Haili Church. The first Kawananakoa Hall was a central gathering area for the community with a welfare clinic, a home economics instruction room, and was once the office of the Hawaii County Recreation Director.