About Us

The 'Ewa Villages Historical Society (EVHS) was registered as a Hawaiʻi Domestic Nonprofit Corporation in August 2021. It is recognized as a Hawaii charitable organization by the State Attorney General's Office and by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 c 3 tax-exempt organization. It is a nonprofit, charitable, and tax-exempt organization for the following approved purpose and key programs:

Purpose

• To operate as a historical society for ʻEwa Villages

• To foster community vibrancy within the Historic ʻEwa Villages through interpretation, preservation, and enhancement of its natural, cultural, and plantation resources

Key Programs

1. To plan and develop storytelling events in multimedia format

2. To plan and implement interpretive signs on ʻEwa Villages' Renton Road, and

3. To plan, develop, and operate a museum/heritage center about ʻEwa Villages, focusing on, but not limited to its ʻEwa Plantation heritage

EVHS began in 2016 when its three co-founders met at the Franciscan Vistas ʻEwa library, where a large, restored photo of the ʻEwa Sugar Mill is displayed. They decided to organize as a historical society and eventually found that starting a new organization was the best way forward.

During the 2020-2021 pandemic lockdown, they earnestly hammered out the articles of incorporation and bylaws then filed for incorporation. Carolyn agreed to serve as President, Agnes as Vice-President, and Lori as Secretary-Treasurer. They have been setting sail with others' help. The ʻEwa Orchid Society let EVHS have an information and outreach table at the 2019 ʻEwa Orchid Show. The Kapolei Library and Friends of Kapolei Library supported two one-month exhibits of the old ʻEwa Plantation Town photos.

In August 2019, the Office of Councilmember Ron Menor and the City Department of Land Management granted the EVHS founders and guests took a tour of the Ewa Plantation Manager's house interiors. In September 2021, the Civil Beat online news published an article by Kuʻu Kauanoe entitled "Can the Rich History of Ewa Villages Spark a New Sense of Community?". It is an insightful article on why the EVHS was created.

On March 12, 2022, the EVHS and its volunteers joined the rest of the community in the daylong event, Celebrate ʻEwa, at the Mahiko District Park. EVHS shared its directions and received support and feedback in return.

In November 2022, the EVHS welcomed additional board members and an advisory board.

In 2023, the EVHS finally started its Talk Story Project, with Emy leading the way. It also applied for, and received funding from, the Atherton Family Foundation for capacity building and the Ewa Beach Community Fund for Oral History Project support. All requirements were also completed for a State grant-in-aid (GIA) for an interpretive sign planning project and a city GIA for a community work day/age-friendly community project. It ended the year receiving its first generous gift and donation in honor of the late Dr. Yoshinobu D. Oshiro, Ed.D.

EVHS now has an expanded board of directors, a new set of officers, and the launching of this new website.