Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 2004 — Charles Lokelani Rose: A lifetime of service to the Hawaiian commimity [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Charles Lokelani Rose: A lifetime of service to the Hawaiian commimity

This year, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs eelebrated its 45th Annual Convention. During the General Assembly, my fellow Trustees and I took the opportunity to honor the Association's outgoing President Charles Lokelani Rose for his lifetime of service to Hawaiian eommunity. We tried to capture his life within the confines of an official OHA resolution, but even with a koa frame his life's work could not be summarized to mere words. I hindsight, I felt it necessary to share those words, his life, with our readers with hopes that those of you who know of him, or have been touched by him, ean relate to and appreciate his lifetime of service. Charles Lokelani Rose Jr. was born on Jan. 20, 1934, in Hilo, Hawai'i, to Charles Leslie Rose and Emma Leilani Martin. He is married to the former Rose Marie Gomes and has two children; Crystal Kau'ilani RoseTowill and Kawika Charles Rose, and three grandchildren; Mark Kekala Towill, Ian Kupake'e Towill

and Tatum Kau'ilani Rose. Rose received his education from Kamehameha Schools for three years and graduated from Honoka'a High School. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Hawai'i at Hilo; is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy and the Secret Service Dignity Protection School. From April 1952 to March 1955, Rose was a member of the U.S. Army, served during the Korean War and received an honorable discharge. Rose has had a distinguished puhlie service career, has served for twenty-five years in the Hawai'i County Poliee Department and retired in 1980 as the Captain of the Criminal Investigation Division. Rose worked with the Hawai'i County Eeonomie Opportunity Council and developed a food service operation and a watercress farm. He helped acquire 59 acres of undeveloped land and turned it into an agricultural training facility, whieh provided jobs for the unemployed and low-ineome people. In July 1971, Rose began his

community service by founding the Hawaiian Civic Club of Laupāhoehoe, served as its first president and was awarded a lifetime membership in 1987. In 1987, he heeame a member of the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club and served as the project coordinator for the preservation of the Ulupō Heiau and helped save the heiau from destruction. He then served on the Constitution and By-laws Committee, and later as president for two years. He has served on the Association of Hawaiian Civic Club Council as both president and vice president. As president he was able to open and staff an office, develop a process to archive all records, eonduct over eighty kūpuna oral history interviews, create a web page, distribute a newsletter, partner with Chaminade University to provide a youth leadership training for credit courses and acquire and develop a building for the association's use in the future. He also served on the Association of Hawaiian Civic Club Council as its convention booklet

chair, convention coordinator, eouneil director, election committee chair and editor of the association's newsletter, Nūhou I Ka Makani. Rose founded the Kawaihae Canoe Club and served as its first president. He was a proponent of the community's participation in eanoe racing activities and further served as president of the Moku o Hawai'i Canoe Racing Association (seven years) and the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association. Rose served on the Department of Education's Hawaiian Studies Advisory Committee, whieh planned the original Hawaiian immersion and kūpuna programs in the puhlie schools. He also served on the Hawai'i Island Mayor's Alternative Energy Advisory Committee representing Native Hawaiians, whieh identified and planned for the process of reducing the use of fossil fuels in Hawai'i County. Rose served on the original Board of Directors of the Aloha See MACHADO on page 1 7

Colette Machado Trustee , Moloka'i and Lāna'i

MACHADO from page 16 Association whieh raised puhlie awareness of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy for all Hawaiians and other citizens of the state of Hawai'i. He served as president of Ha Hawai'i, and chairperson of the Aha Hawai'i 'Ōiwi the elected delegates to the Native Hawaiian Convention, the organization that began a puhlie process of forming a Native Hawaiian government.

He served on the steering committee to plan a retreat to develop the strategic plan for the Department of Hawaiian Health, John Burns School of Medicine; and currently serves on the Advisory Committee, Department of Native Hawaiian Health, John Burns School of Medicine. Charles L. Rose Jr. continues to be a pillar of strength for the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and his life is symbolic of self dedication

toward improving the political awareness and conditions of Native Hawaiians. For this, the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs acknowledges with grateful appreciation the leadership and unselfish contribution made by Charles L. Rose Jr. to the many and various Hawaiian and community organizations. ■