In 1903, the first Lihue Public Hall was built and a group of enthusiastic and resourceful young women undertook to assume the debt of $1,400. “The ladies of Lihue and Hanamaulu met at the Social Hall … to prepare for the Fair, proposed for the benefit of the hall … They were busy in sewing and making articles to be sold at the fair.” (Evening Bulletin, Feb 15, 1905)
“Saturday, June 17th, the Day of the Fair, will be a red letter day long to be remembered in the annals of Lihue. … On that day all roads led to the Fair, and every road was astir with travelling feet.”
“The Hall debt of $1400 has been paid off and there is money left in the treasury. Great credit is due the ladies of Lihue and elsewhere for their untiring, enthusiastic work in the preparation and conduct of the Fair.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, July 26, 1905)
The women were convinced of the need on Kauai for a group who would be a force for social and cultural stimulation that would undertake civic development and improvements. (Mokihana Club)
On November 5, 1905, twenty-six young women – under the leadership of Dora Isenberg – met at Nawiliwili and formed the Mokihana Club.
At the first regular meeting, Elsie Wilcox was elected president; Mrs. Sweetser, Vice President; Mrs. Carter, secretary; and Kate Christian, treasurer. Meetings were to be held on the first Wednesday of each month at 3 pm and dues were set at $1 per year.
The first civic project undertaken was to pioneer for a public library, and the Mokihana Club committee shared in establishing the Kauai Library Association.
As membership grew, the Club developed a new interest: a garden club and a beautification program. The group was responsible for much of the roadside and park planting that exists today. The Garden Club was one of the early committees whose function was to encourage the development of gardens.
The Club’s Beautification Committee, also called Garden Club Committee, Outdoor Improvement Committee and/or Village Improvement Committee, worked closely with the Outdoor Circle of O‘ahu, which consequently led to the formation of the Kauai Outdoor Circle in 1975. (Kauai Historical Society)
In 1916, the membership of the Club brought attention to the pressing need for health services, and appointed Mabel Wilcox, a registered nurse, as chairman of the Health Committee. Miss Mabel hired the first public health nurse, making possible the services of the Territorial Board of Health.
The Public Health Committee was established in October 1916 and it “was immediately successful in fulfilling that need.” The Committee raised funds for a nurse’s salary and provided her with lodging and a car.
A list of rules included a salary of $100 per month, and an auto plus $25 per month for auto expenses. Responsibilities included pre-natal care, well-baby clinics, nutrition guidance, and dental checks.
For the past two decades, Mokihana Club has presented scholarships to students in the Kauai Community College (KCC) Nursing Program.
The first chair of the Nursing Scholarship Committee, Marie Ryan Pietro, which appears relevant 20 years after the club’s first scholarship presentation said,
“We look forward to an ever-increasing program directly connected to one of the Mokihana Club founders, Miss Mabel Wilcox who graduated from the R.N. program at John Hopkins University, and was responsible for many of the local health decisions made those many years ago.” (The Garden Island)
The nursing students continue to remember and honor Miss Mabel Wilcox by hosting their traditional Pinning Ceremony following graduation on the grounds of the Grove Farm Museum, which was Wilcox’s residence. (The Garden Island)
The Community Entertainment Committee was responsible for the planning of all entertainment given under the auspices of the Club.
Until about the 1940s, this consisted primarily of Christmas activities – the Community Christmas tableaux held for the enjoyment of the public at the Lihue Armory, the delivery of Christmas trees to schools, and candy to school children for example.
The Community Education Committee was formed to take an active interest in the betterment of educational conditions existing in the community. A 1925 annual committee report mentions developing a League of Women Voters on Kauai, but notes that the Club would “let our successors undertake that project.”
This committee later became the Social Service Committee. A 1966 Community Service report notes that the “Club has been inactive.” It is possible that members felt that other organizations were filling the educational needs of the community.
In 1955, The Mokihana Club sponsored the first performance of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra on Kauai. In the ensuing years, the Symphony introduced island students to music through concerts and classroom visits by orchestra members.
The scholarship funding for nursing and music awards is generated by concerts featuring Hawaiian artists (recently, Kalani Pe‘a (2023) and Jeff Peterson and Keola Beamer (2024)), golf tournaments, wine tastings, and other programs and events.
Membership in The Mokihana Club is open to all interested women who is a resident of Kauai or regular visitor, and who is willing to cooperate in the work of the Club; to become a member you must be sponsored by two other members and voted on by the Board of Directors.
Annual dues are $25 which covers membership from October through June, the yearbook with the Club Constitution and Bylaws, and the Membership Directory. If you are interested in joining please contact at info@TheMokihanaClub.org. (Information here is from Mokihana Club and Kauai Historical Society.)
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