Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 12, 1 December 1987 — $10,878 Pledged, Donated at AOHCC Convention [ARTICLE]

$10,878 Pledged, Donated at AOHCC Convention

Dr. George Hiilani Mills Fellowship Established

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA One of the most emotional moments to take plaee in recent years at an Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs convention happened during a long pause in the proceedings Nov. 14 when convention administrator Toni Lee, who is recording secretary of the Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Club, announced the establishment of the Dr. George Hiilani Mills Perpetual Graduate Fellowship Program in Medicine.

It was a most poignant moment for the more than 600 Hawaiians gathered in the Triple Crown Ballroom of the Union Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, site of the 28th Annual AOHCC Convention. Mrs. Lee, wife of AOHCC President Benson W.K. Lee Sr., announced the purpose of the scholarship and concluded by noting that her Pearl Harbor club was kicking off the program with a donation of $500. Then followed a spontaneous rallying of Hawaiians to a purpose named in honor of a fellow Hawaiian and Civic Club member whom they so dearly love and respect. Leaders of virtually every club in attendance took the floor microphones and announced instant donations and pledges. Some had no authority to make any pledges but assured Mrs. Lee they would take it back to their clubs and eome up with something. Even winners of recreational activities such as golf and cribbage pledged their cash awards.

Many words of high tribute were given by several speakers who noted especially how deeply Dr. Mills has touched their hearts and the very movement of the Hawaiian Civic Clubs, both on a personal and general basis. Many said they were proud to be Hawaiians and in the Civic Clubs because of the leadership and inspiration shown by Dr. Mills. There were others who also noted with pride the fact that Dr. Mills, who is now retired as the Kamehameha Schools physician, was one of the first Hawaiians to become a doctor. The basic intent of the newly-estab-lished scholarship is that more Hawaiians go into the field of medicine.

Following all the accolades, pledges and actual donations, it was learned that Hawaiians who were assembled that day on the convention floor swelled the fund to a healthy tune of $10,878. The program will be administered by the Kamehameha Schools where Dr. Mills

spent a greater part of his career. There were personal donations as well, like $500 from Chris Faria of the revitalized Kailua HCC who was attending his first convention as president and alluded how impressed he was by the whole thing. Then there were $500 donations from two Office of Hawaiian Affairs leaders. OHA Board Chairman Moses K. Keale Sr., who was the convention ehaplain, explained he was not authorized to speak for his Board of T rustees or dispense any of its funds without authorization, nonetheless offered a donation from his own personal source.

OHA Administrator Kamaki A. Kanahele III, who wasn't even at the convention or in Las Vegas, gave his $500 through a pledge from his mother, Agnes K. Cope. Even smallish in membership Frincess Ka'iulani HCC, through one of its newest members, gave a cash donation of $300. And the list went on and on, like the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu giving a combined and individual pledge of $1,700; Dr. Mills' own Koolauloa club coming up with $1,000 and the newest club in the Association, Hui 'O Hawaii 'O Utah from Salt Lake City, $100. The Andersons — Whitney and Hannie — who have had a deep personal relationship with Dr. Mills, could not hold back tears in describing their long association. They pledged $500.

This is the way it went for about an hour whieh carried adjournment of the convention far beyond its scheduled time. It didn't matter to the assembly. Even Lee described his deep aloha for Dr. Mills, finding it difficult to hold back tears. In addition to the medical profession, Dr. Mills was also a public servant, having been a State Senator and a Lieutenant Governor candidate in addition to serving on several boards, commissions and community, civic, fraternal and professional organizations. A complete list of donors was not available as this issue went to press.

To All Hawaiians! Fill Up Aloha Stadium January 23