Sariling Gawa
Sariling Gawa Youth Council, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that fosters cultural awareness, nurtures ethnic pride, and empowers youth to develop leadership skill. Our major activity is the annual leadership conference which brings together high school delegates and youth leaders statewide, from six major islands. This conference is usually held at Mokuleia (north shore of O’ahu).
Sariling Gawa started as a grassroots community effort in 1980, commemorating the 75th anniversary of Filipinos in Hawai`i. The stimulus to create this project originated with Filipinos concerned with the overall well-being of the Filipino community here in Hawaii. Contrary to popular perceptions, social service, education, and public health professionals did not create the organization, rather it was a group of college students who reflected, analyzed, and acted on their experiences of being young, immigrant and local-born Filipinos in Hawaii. Read more…
Timpuyog: An Ilokano Language Student Organization
The Timpuyog Organization aims to bring together students enrolled in various Ilokano Language and Philippine related Indo-Pacific Literature courses in the effort to equip them with linguistic and cultural competencies. The organization also intends to make them aware of the importance of the Ilokano language in the State of Hawai’i and the history of Philippine diaspora in particular, with Ilokano itself as historically the language of Filipino diaspora in the United States of America. Read more…
Mindanaoans of Hawaii, Inc.
Mindanaoans of Hawaii, Inc.
The Mindanaoans of Hawaii was founded on April 20, 1997, for the purposes of developing closer ties and cooperation among the people of Mindanao here in Hawaii and to render mutual assistance to its members especially those whose families just arrived in Hawaii. Its mission is to foster and develop a better understanding of the various cultures, heritage and customs of the people of Mindanao. Read more…
The group started in February 2005 providing ballroom dancing instruction at the FilCom Center under the initiative of the first three volunteer couples–Roland and Edith Pascua, Jess and Tess Quemado and Ernie and Lydia Pascua. In the beginning, there were about 15 students enrolled in the ballroom dancing. The group decided to add Filipino folk dances to the repertoire with the recruitment of Ray Rausa, a folk dancing instructor. Two years later, with Leo Delgado’s musical talent, singing was also added to the repertoire. Thus the group’s name of Himig at Indak–Himig for singing and Indak for dancing-aptly describes the group. The Himig has been continuously active with the direction of the very talented Maestro Rafael “Pike” Velasco. The Indak is now headed by the very popular and generous couple, Roland and Editha Pascua. Read more…
Philippine Nurses Association of Hawaii
The Philippine Nurse Association of Hawaii (PNAH) was born as the 32nd Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc. (PNAA) charter member on November 24, 2000. Since then, the PNAH has made significant achievements as a community organization. Read more…
Banda Kawayan
Banda Kawayan is a musical group based at the FilCom Center. The Banda, which consists of an intergenerational group of volunteers devoted to the perpetuation of Filipino performing arts, rehearses at the FilCom on weekends and after school hours. To date, the group has served as the opening act for all of FilCom Sundays, FilCom’s annual events such as the Bayanihan Dinner last October 5, 2012, the annual Filipino Fiesta at Kapiolani Park and other events. Read more…
Bulacan Circle & Associates of Hawaii
Established in 1980, Bulacan Circle & Associates of Hawaii celebrated its 18th installation of officers and 32nd anniversary celebration on November 24, 2012, at the Pagoda Hotel. At that event, the group recognized the founders of the organization — the late Diosdado Baluyot of Paombong; the late Gregorio Salamat of Hagonoy, and Angel Sapitan Dytioco of Hagonoy, also the organization’s first president. Read more…
UNITED VISAYAN COMMUNITY OF HAWAII, INC.
94-833 Awanei St., Waipahu, HI 96797
In the mid 1940’s a widow of a Visayan Sakada needed help with her late husband’s funeral expense. In desperation she approached the Waipahu ILWU unit for assistance. She was referred to Pastor Limatoc, a Visayan who was a member of the union’s executive board. Limatoc approached Paulino Largo and Perdo Alporque first and later met with Felix Dellatian, Hermogenes Ancog and Isidro Daguman, to discuss the plight of the widow. These seven raised monies from relatives, friends, coworkers and others in the Visayan community, which was given to the widow. Read more…
JCI Hawaii Filipino Junior Chamber
Mission Statement
The Filipino Junior Chamber is dedicated to the personal and professional development of its members, as well as creating impact and positive change within its communities, particularly the Filipino Community.
History
The Filipino Junior Chamber’s legacy can be traced as far back as 1970 when Geminiano “Toy” Arre, Jr. made history by becoming the first president of non-Japanese descent to lead the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce. During Toy’s tenure, he led the effort with Ernest Mina to form the first Filipino-themed JCI chapter in Hawaii with Ed Hasegawa as its first president: the Bayanihan Jaycees. Unfortunately, the word ‘Bayanihan’ was forced to be removed due to the U.S. Junior Chamber’s policy banning ethnic connotations to chapter names. Although it got renamed to the Metropolitan Jaycees, the chapter’s bayanihan spirit remained. Read more…
Nursing Advocates and Mentors, Inc. (NAMI)
Nursing Advocates and Mentors, Inc. (NAMI) founded in 2001, is celebrating its 11th Anniversary this November 17, 2012, Saturday with a Fundraising Gala at the Filcom Center, Waipahu. NAMI is a volunteer organization with a mission to address global nursing shortage by providing guidance and assistance for colleagues to obtain their professional license in nursing. Read more…
Filipino-American Historical Society of Hawai’I (FAHSOH)
In recognition of this year’s Filipino American History Month, FAHSOH is coordinating the FilAm History Fest 2012: Filipino Organizations in Hawaii, an event that highlights the diversity of Filipino civic, cultural, mutual aid and professional organizations in Hawaii. Since Filipinos migrated to Hawaii, individuals have sought ways to help and recognize each other and their heritage through organizations. Read more…
Kauai Philippine Cultural Center 
The Kauai Philippine Cultural Center, an organization established by a dynamic group of Kauai Filipino leaders with a mission to erect and establish a Philippine cultural center on the Garden Island met last August 18, 2012 at the County of Kauai Planning Commission meeting room to begin the first step in the process of developing a feasibility study on the project. Invited to take part in the discussions were members of the community representing Filipino organizations, the business community, interests in education and views in featuring its multi ethnic diversity. Among those attending were former Mayor Maryanne Kusaka, Phyllis Kunimura, founder of Preschool KIDS and widow of the late Mayor Tony Kunimura, and Mattie Yoshioka, Director of the Kauai Economic Development Board. The current Honorable Mayor Bernard Carvalho also visited briefly to state his strong and continued support of the project’s development. Read more…
The Congress of Visayan Organizations
By Jun Colmenares
The Congress of Visayan Organizations or COVO, is the umbrella of Visayan organizations in the State of Hawaii. It was founded in 1985 and has about 15 member organizations from Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Lanai and the Big Island representing the Visayas and Mindanao. Its goals are to unite all Visayan organizations in Hawaii, preserve and promote Visayan language and culture, and assist in the socio-economic uplift of Filipinos, particularly those of Visayan ancestry.
Balaan Catalina Society
The Balaan (Holy) Catalina Society is the oldest Visayan organization in the State of Hawaii. It was founded in 1930 by Visayan sakadas, most of whom were from Carcar, a town in Cebu whose patroness is St. Catherine (Santa Catalina) of Alexandria. It is also the first Filipino organization in Hawaii to have its own fully-paid club house and chapel. Its initial membership was primarily Carcaranons, but today, the members are a mix of individuals from the Visayas and Mindanao, either born in the Philippines or descended from Filipino settlers in Hawaii. It celebrates its foundation anniversary every July and the feast of Santa Catalina in November. Read more…
UFCH Unites Filipino Communities Statewide
by Jenny Alconcel Quezon
The United Filipino Council of Hawaii (UFCH) was founded in 1959, coinciding with the announcement of statehood for Hawaii ,by Consul General Juan Dionisio. UFCH is the umbrella organization of Filipino island councils on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, the Big Island, Lanai and Molokai. UFCH’s mission is to promote unity, friendship, camaraderie and mutual assistance among Filipinos in Hawaii; and perpetuate the Filipino heritage and culture.
The UFCH convention, now on its 54th year, will be hosted this year by the Big Island Filipino Community Council on July 27-29 at the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort in Hilo. UFCH is holding the Miss Hawaii Filipina pageant during the convention. UFCH also hosts Mrs. Hawaii Filipina and Miss Teen Hawaii Filipina to raise funds for scholarships for college bound students. Read more…