Today is the 120th birthday of YWCA O'ahu, which originally started as “Honolulu YWCA” in 1900.
On this day 120 years ago, a group of women gathered at Mrs. B.F. Dillingham’s residence located at the “Woodlawn” corner of Punahou and Beretania Streets at 7:45pm to discuss “whether or not there was a real necessity for such an institution (YWCA) in Honolulu.”
A letter appeared in the Advertiser, prompting like-minded women to call for a meeting. Notices about the gathering appeared in local papers. (The Honolulu Advertiser: April 23, 1900, The Hawaiian Star: April 28, 1900)
Nearly fifty women met at Mrs. B.F. Dillingham’s residence on April 30, 1900
Our original board minutes from 1900. They tell a lot of stories of our early days.
The major topics of the meeting suggest how progressive or forward-thinking those women were.
Proposal of YWCA building
“The proposed building might probably provide many things which would be welcome to other women beside newcomers, such as lunchrooms, parlors for meeting friends, rooms for public gatherings, and a gymnasium.” Also “a first-rate place to bathe, with swimming tanks.”
Construction of Laniākea in 1926
Physical work
“Mrs. Frear put if to a vote to see how many of the ladies present wanted a gymnasium in the future Young Women’s Christian Association, in case one should be founded, and nearly everyone favored it enthusiastically.”
Exercise class in 1918
A temporary home or a board home for working women and aids and protection for women and girls visiting/moving to Hawai'i.
Our first home for girls “Homestead” opened in 1908 followed by two Fernhurst buildings
Education classes including languages such as Hawaiian, Japanese and Chinese
A woman who had been on the island for a few months said that “she had a great desire to learn the Hawaiian language; but there was no chance for this in the case of women. The men had classes in Hawaiian at the Young Men’s Christian Association, but the women of the City did not want to be always asking their brothers of the latter organization for favors and opportunities.”
English class in 1924
Headquarters for women “for social sympathy and extra helpfulness.”
Honolulu residents enjoying the parlor of the YWCA office in early 1900’s
After the discussion, a motion was made that we organize a YWCA association in Honolulu and the decision was made with a majority vote among the group.
Those women not only identified what they wanted but they took specific action towards attaining those goals.
One example from Mrs. Frear in one of her writings:
“Athletics is a subject to be taken seriously. The regulation bathing suit of alpaca with waist, skirt and bloomers, plus long black stockings, is doomed. Give it a farewell! Education in athletics is provided in capital letters by a secretary imported to arrange and direct classes in accord with the times.”
While the nation was still debating what the make or style of women’s bathing suits should be, YWCA O'ahu started offering swim instruction in 1912.
Julia Morgan gave us a beautiful regular size, outdoor pool where women and girls could swim.
The attire pictured above were not dresses but proposed bathing suits for women.
(Honolulu Star-Bulletin: February 22, 1913, Richmond Palladium and Sun-Telegram: June 7, 1916)
Miss Margaret Tupper, Physical Director of YWCA O'ahu showed how to resuscitate a drowning person. (The Honolulu Advertiser: August 17, 1913)
Over the past 120 years, we have had many encounters with our community members and have enjoyed their support as well as that of our women leaders.
Those who empathized with our mission have joined our cause.
YWCA O'ahu membership card of Queen Liliʻuokalani. She supported our movement until she passed away in 1917.
Those who had knowledge of skills came forward and shared their gifts with other women.
Hawaiian language expert and educator Mary Kawena Pukui taught Hawaiian language at Laniākea. She was posthumously honored at YWCA O'ahu LeaderLuncheon in 1987. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin: June 14, 1928)
Those who needed the support of other women and community members gathered at YWCA O'ahu.
Patsy T. Mink, the first woman of color elected to Congress, met her supporters at Laniākea over the years. She was also honored at YWCA Oahu’s LeaderLuncheon in 1987 together with Mary Kawena Pukui. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin: November 7, 1990)
Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership (MCBL) opened at YWCA O'ahu in 2013 – providing business and leadership development opportunities to women and girls of Hawai'i.
Our YWCA is a movement started by a small group of women that has been nurtured through the years by other extraordinary women. And thanks to the broad support of our members and the rest of our community we continue to grow 120 years later. Thank you for being part of our ohana.
-Noriko Namiki, YWCA O’ahu CEO