Three Iconic Women’s Organizations: Hilo Woman’s Club, Zonta International, Soroptimist International of Kona
By Paula Thomas
For decades, Hawai‘i Island women have taken up causes in support of improving the lives of women and families. In the case of the Hilo Woman’s Club, the impact has extended to arts and culture—even the local landscape. For Zonta International of Hilo and Soroptimist International of Kona, visionary female leadership tapped into large global movements, established local chapters of international organizations, and have served to uplift and empower women in our island community ever since. 1921, 1950, and 1971 are the respective years in which the three organizations featured in this story were founded on Hawai‘i Island.
Hilo Woman’s Club
The Clubhouse is home to the Hilo Woman’s Club, an iconic Hilo organization founded in January, 1921 by Mrs. George Bennett, a prominent Hilo resident at the time. Like many woman’s clubs around the country founded early in the last century, the Hilo Woman’s Club predominantly served as a social and philanthropic outlet for their membership, the elite women in town.
Over the decades and into this new millennium, membership demographics have changed dramatically and today, Hilo Woman’s Club is an everywoman’s club, open to any female who wants to serve and socialize with other women. Membership currently stands at 56, stated current President Jen Tanouye. Past President Beverly Heikes noted that two members in particular, Virginia Maeda and Dorothy Williams, both over 90, have been with the club for over 45 years.
Steeped in Hilo history, the club’s archives include articles and clippings going back nearly 100 years. In the early days, its mission was threefold: to improve the outdoor environment, to promote the study of civics, and literary/dramatic study.
Scores of tree plantings all over Hilo town including the pink shower trees at Kapi‘olani School (1924) and the coconut trees at Ho‘oulu Park (1932) are all legacies of the Hilo Woman’s Club. So is the Japanese Pagoda at Lili‘uokalani Park (1931) and the playground system in Hilo, which started with Lincoln Park. Hawai‘i County slowly took over funding from Hilo Woman’s Club before creating the Department of Parks and Recreation. There was a time in Hilo when if someone wanted to cut down a tree, the Hilo Woman’s Club would get called for permission. At the height of its popularity in the late 1970s, the Woman’s Club charted more than 180 members.
Between 1925 and the 1960s, the women donated uniforms and instruments for the County Band, sponsored YMCA and YWCA campers, started what is now the Humane Society by funding the first dog kennel, and used connections to bring marvelous classical music performers to Hilo as a precursor to the Hawai‘i Concert Society.
While the club no longer focuses on outdoor improvement and hasn’t for decades, its mission is to “promote the educational, social, and civic development of its members and of the community of which it is a part; and to assist in the betterment of the social and civic conditions in the City of Hilo.” In 2017, Hilo Medical Center, Hospice of Hilo, the women’s shelter in East Hawai‘i, and three students at our local colleges were all annual beneficiaries of the Hilo Woman’s Club largesse.
Remarkably, the Hilo Woman’s Club is the only club in town with its own clubhouse. Designed and built in the 1970s, the clubhouse is on the corner of Kaumana Drive and Lele Street across from Carvalho Park. It is a practical and accommodating space complete with a small stage, a non-certified kitchen, a service alcove with countertops, and parking for 25 cars. Room capacity is 125. The club’s logo is a red hibiscus, a featured plant on the property as well as on a richly-painted interior landscape mural. It is perfect for club and community meetings, musical events, presentations, workshops, parties, and classes. Past President Beverly, now clubhouse manager, handles outside rentals that support building maintenance, which is ongoing. The club is currently raising funds for a new roof. “I got involved here when I first moved to town,” Beverly notes. “I needed to rent space for an event and when I inquired here, I was asked if I wanted to become a member. So I asked about the mission and decided to join. I believe in supporting students to get an education, and I wanted to support the medical center because we do need more doctors here.”
Because membership is a modest $25 annually, the club runs events to raise funds for its charitable causes: wine tasting in March, an Oktoberfest or themed dance in October, and an occasional fashion show or musical event. December’s Christmas Party is an annual event for families in need. For the 2017 event, the club brought in Santa, purchased specific gifts for over 40 keiki (children), and produced a festive holiday party. “The children were so happy, and it meant a lot to the parents to see their kids enjoying it,’’ notes President Jen Tanouye.
Currently, monthly member meetings feature guest speakers from local organizations who inform the membership on issues like health care, the Blue Zones Project, and law enforcement.
Hilo Woman’s Club is for all women who want to serve, make friends, and continue the legacy of women making a tremendous difference in our community.
Zonta Club of Hilo
Established in 1950, Zonta Club of Hilo advances the status of women through empowerment and advocacy. This club of established professionals supports our Hawai‘i Island community by providing scholarships for women in college, conducting service projects, and generating advocacy programs aimed at empowering women and bringing awareness and action to domestic violence and sexual assault.
Current President Ashley Kierkiewicz is a major force in the resurgence of Zonta fashion shows, now branded as Zonta “Fashion Frenzy.” The event is a cross-generational and cross-cultural designer runway fashion show that shines a light on budding local designers, artisans and tastemakers. The evening includes dinner and pop-up clothing sales, all to support Zonta’s service activities. “Hilo Marketplace” is held the night before—a buzzing, luminous evening of runway fashion in an after-dark bazaar atmosphere.
The club is funded solely by its members and friends. Monthly member meetings are occasions for club business, event planning, informative presentations, and great fellowship. For new member induction, the Sioux origins of Zonta’s logo (it symbolizes a radiant group of honest, loyal, trustworthy professionals inspired to empower women) are celebrated.
“I was once told Zonta is Hilo’s best kept secret,” notes Ashley. “With our club at 45 members strong from across East Hawai‘i, I think the secret is out. Membership is not just limited to women; anyone can join.” Dues for new members are $200.
Every year, the Zonta Club of Hilo has teamed up with the Weinberg Friends Foundation for a signature service project, in which one nonprofit organization benefits for two years from a clean-up, fix-up event. Zontians move in for a morning of light chores and environmental improvement: cleaning windows, hanging curtains, and assembling scores of hygiene kits. At the women’s shelter in East Hawai‘i, women assembled two new bookcases, a barbecue, playground equipment, and supplied kitchenware. In addition to the physical, hands-on contributions that have benefitted organizations such as the Hilo women’s shelter, HOPE Services and the Neighborhood Place of Puna, Zonta presents a $10,000 check to the nonprofit from the Weinberg Foundation. At least 25 Zonta members must participate, in accordance with Foundation stipulations.
The service project precedes Zonta’s worldwide movement to end gender-based violence through the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign. This is a 12-day advocacy program that begins the Friday after Thanksgiving.
For five years, Zonta has funded the Amelia Earhart Girls Engineering Day (Earhart was a Zontian), a day-long workshop at Waiakea High School for girls in grades 4-8. This year, girls launched rockets and programmed drones, which they were able to take home.
The Zonta Club of Hilo is one of four clubs in Hawai‘i and part of Zonta International (ZI), an organization that has globally advanced the status of women since 1919. Zonta International has 32 governors worldwide with nine in the US. The governor of District 9 is Hilo’s Mele Spencer, a Zonta member since 1998. As governor, Mele links the district with Zonta International and administers the affairs of 25 clubs—including seven high school Z clubs and six college Golden Z clubs. District 9 is composed of 543 members from the states of Hawai‘i, California, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. Globally, Zonta International has 30,000 members across 66 countries and funds $6 million in international projects annually. District 9 funds about $115,000 in projects.
“Districts promote ZI goals and programs, serve to inspire and assist clubs to implement programs,…and promote links between clubs and include support such as conferences, area meetings, training, and tools,” Mele explains.
“What is remarkable about ZI is that its programs are geared with elements to not only change attitudes, skills levels, and opportunities among women and girls we are helping, but also to change attitudes and legislation in local organizations, broader communities, and government…We strive to empower women to change their situations,” says Ashley, “If you’re interested in networking and helping women and girls in our community reach their utmost potential, check us out.”
Soroptimist International of Kona
The first thing you’re likely to ask is what does “Soroptimist” mean? The answer comes from Latin—Soror (sister) + optimist and translates as what is best for women.
The first Soroptimist Club in the US was established in Oakland, California in 1921, a year after the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote. Today, Soroptimist International is a global volunteer organization working to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment, with some 75,000 members in 122 countries.
Soroptimist International of Kona started in 1971. It is in District 6, the Founder Region along with the Mariana Islands, Guam, Saipan, and five other clubs in the state of Hawai‘i. For years the club has supported scholarships, citizenship awards for young people, nonprofits that support women and children, and Christmas cheer for a needy family, among many other charitable actions large and small.
Two of the Kona club’s members, Virginia Isbell and Fannie Gouveia, are 45-year veterans. This year, charter member Mamie Bramlett serves as president for 17 members, most of whom are over 65. Mamie is 80, with the energy of someone half her age.
On Valentine’s Day, club members bring food and gifts to all the women and children in the women’s shelter in Kona. A month or two later, scholarships are announced at a special dinner for the signature Live Your Dream Award program.
“Live Your Dream is our main focus for this year,” says Mamie. “It’s an award program for women head-of-households who are back in school,” she notes, “wanting to develop skills, increase employment prospects, and improve the lives of their family. The club reaches out to schools and issues a public service announcement to advertise the award. This year, $1,000 will be given at a dinner in the spring. It’s a much beloved fundraising project. To raise money, club members sell See’s Candies at Thanksgiving and deliver at Christmastime.”
The club also supports women at the shelter with emergency needs. From mostly private donations, very specific needs are met, like the purchase of professional uniforms or supplies needed for a trade (e.g., hairstyling). Past President Kelly Shaw explains, “These women often have to pick up and go for their own safety, leaving everything behind. Our victim assistance fund helps them get things they need to keep their lives going.” At times the club has held fundraisers which raised enough money to purchase new vans for the shelter.
Each Christmas, the club provides food, toys, and clothing for one family in need. The club allocates a small budget, gets a wish list, and members shop for gifts and wrap them. The member who lives closest to the family does the delivery near Christmas Day. For a family in need, this can feel like the work of angels and is a project that has been an ongoing tradition for decades. This past year the club placed a tree at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, decorated with an ornament for every West Hawai‘i recipient of the Live Your Dream Award. Since it is an international program, Live Your Dream Award recipients get to compete at the district and regional levels for additional funding.
Soroptimist International has General Consultative Status as a non-governmental organization at the United Nations. The Founder Region level holds an annual conference in California where local members can connect globally. In addition, funding is awarded to women pursuing their PhDs.
“I really believe in helping other women,” says Past President Kelly Shaw, “and making a difference for women and girls in the community. I love that there is an opportunity for women returning to school to get scholarships and that we have a local impact as well as a global one.” Mamie remains inspired by the effect on women and girls. “I love how we go down to Life Care Center and bring joy to these people by singing Christmas carols. Like sisters, it’s people being together to help women and girls, helping the community because as each person gets better and can be more uplifted, the whole community gets better. It burns in your heart. It’s just a feeling you have in your heart.”
To recruit new members, the Kona club hosts a Ho‘olaule‘a (gathering) potluck and auction early in the year. Annual dues are $170. With the national attention being paid to the status of women and gender-based violence in the workplace, it is a perfect time to join in. This year marks Soroptimist International of Kona’s 47th anniversary. The club is ready for an infusion of younger women to carry its mission into the future.
The causes these three organizations serve represent strong needs in our community—better education, awareness of sexual assault, ending the cycle of domestic violence, and uplifting those most in need. The more attention we can collectively bring to these issues, the more avenues we open for solutions.
These clubs have survived as long as they have because of their strong missions and deeply committed members. Each club will benefit greatly from an ongoing stream of new members to take them into the future.
This work takes more than just the love and fervor of the women who started them. Younger generations of women are being called to step forward and join hands with their older sisters. There has never been a better time to stand together. Heed the call. Get involved. ❖
For more information:
Hilo Woman’s Club: hilowomansclub.org
Zonta Club of Hilo: zontahilo.org
Soroptimist International of Kona: Facebook – Soroptimist Intl. of Kona
Paula Thomas
Writing has always been fun for me and I’ve read since I was a child. These days, I read fiction, non-fiction–biographical, spiritual, scientific, historical—and enjoy each for what it brings to light. Reading is a way I keep learning, and it informs my writing. I tend to observe human nature and mull over the ways in which facts, fiction, and our beliefs collide to make life unceasingly interesting. I hold an English and economics degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s in dance. I’m also a certified yoga teacher and studied movement/body-mind work during much of my early adulthood.
