We are celebrating 164 years of the YORK RITE OF FREEMASONRY in the Islands of Hawai'i. It was in the year of our Lord 1857 when the first Charter was granted. King Kamehameha IV and John Owen Dominis, consort of Queen Liliuokalani, of the Kingdom of Hawai'i, were the very first candidates exalted. King David Kalakaua was exalted and in 1983, was elected and installed to the office as Excellent Hi
gh Priest. Steward Freeman the founding director of the Wharton Work / Life Integration Project, says that "you first must discover what is uniquely about you. Then you need to harness your passions, interests, and skills and make them valuable to others." Our brother, Sir David Kalakaua, Eminent Commander 1878 to 1879, Honolulu Commandery Knights Templar, a subordinate Commandery of The Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, did precisely that. Just as our fraternity of Freemasonry inspired him, we hope that we can inspire our Youth and Young Adults in Hawai'i on their journey to become well educated, articulate, responsible and passionate citizens and Leaders through scholarship and leadership programs of a planned "Kalakaua Youth Leadership Center." Other programs will focus on voluntarism at inter-generational Home and Community Based Health Care services for Intellectually / Developmentally Disabled, Blind, our Kapuna (Elderly) and Wounded Warriors, thereby inspire "Service Above Self."
