The Koko Head Lions Club was chartered on May 6, 1947. Kauka Judd of the Moloka'I Lions Club was instrumental
in sponsoring the club for charter. Koko Head's service area began on the Koko Head side of 21st Avenue and stretched to the Mokapu Light House. There was no Hawai'i Kai. Koko Head raised funds with a lau lau sale, prepared by members. It was also part of the Brooms for the Blind sale that was prevalent at the time. The club even sponsored, for two years, a full scale carnival at the Aina Haina Shopping Center!
One of our major events up until the chartering of the Hawaii Kai Lions' Club, was the Lunalilo Home Christmas Party. A luau with all the trimmings, including an imu prepared by the Lions was put on for the residents and staff of the Home. For many years Danny Kaleikini and his group from the Kahala Hilton graciously donated their time to entertain the kupuna. The party was later moved to the Ranch House Restaurant in Aina Haina. Buses were hired and the party goers were treated to a tour of the Honolulu city lights of Christmas before the party began.
What we do today.
The Koko Head Lions Club carries out many service projects throughout the year, some independently, many jointly. As part of the District 50 Hawaii Lions, we focus on the needs of our local communities, but respond to the larger community as well. Highlighted below are some of our current activities:
Sight Services:
Lions International heeded the call of Helen Keller early in its history to be "Knights of the Blind". Our activities include; Vision Screening of Pre-School and Elementary School Children, the "Sight is Beautiful" Poster Contest in local Schools to promote vision awareness, and the Collection of Used Eyeglasses for use in needy countries.
Our Lions in the Mall project is done yearly in January to promote vision screening to the public. Free vision screenings are done primarily with pre-school aged children and with elementary school students. The results of the screen are explained to the parents that accompany their children.
Community/Youth Services:
We service schools in numerous ways, often to free parents to participate in school actvities; Parking attendants at fundraisers, Handle donations of items for the students' Food Bank project, Donations to student groups, and Construction or donation of equipment.
Senior Services:
Participation in Lanakila Rehab Center's Meals-on-Wheels Holiday "Food Drive" to Home Bound seniors on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The club also assists in various projects at the Hale Malamalama Senior care home. Picnics, and holiday celebrations, to name two. We have a member who dresses as Santa Claus and the Easter bunny.
International Relations:
Hosting Hawaii - International Youth Camp Participants to a lunch and hike at Diamond Head.
To support our service activities, an annual Sweet Corn Sale is held in November for the following fiscal year.
Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.
