Waialua Community Association

Waialua Community Association

See 'about your association' for article

See 'about your association' for article

About our association

Officers and Trustes of WCA

Pres. Jeff Alameida........
1st VP Alan Leigh..........
2nd VP Patrick Vega........
Treas. Meryl Andersen......
Sectry, Duane Leach........

Trustee, Tom Kuhn..........
Trustee, Ryan Ishimoto.....
Trustee, Richard Galius....
Trustee, Walter Tonai......
Trustee, Kamika Gut........
Trustee, Josh Heimowitz....

Office location and hours of service

Waialua Community Association
66-434 Kamehameha Highway
Hale'iwa, Hawaii 96712
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-1 pm
Telephone (808) 637-4606
Fax (808) 637-4606 (during office hours)
E-mail: wca96712@hawaii.rr.com

WCA History

A Brief History of the WCA
by Laura Bolles, reprinted with permission from the
North Shore News

Who was responsible for.....
*Waialua Branch Library ?
*Waialua High School as a four- year school ?
*House-to-house mail service ?
*Street names and house numbers ?
*Haleiwa Beach Park ?
*Dial phones.....Who?
The Waialua Community Association! During my involvement with the association many people have asked me what is the Waialua Community Association, and what does it do? The Association is a non-profit organization of concerned North Shore residents giving of their time and effort for the betterment of the community. Over the years the Community Association has completed many projects and sponsored many activities. I would like to highlight this history of the Association so the next time you drive thru Hale’iwa you;ll know what the big, white building on Kamehameha Highway is and what it stand for many hours of hard work and a better place to live.
Mahalo, Waialua Community Association.
On December 17th, 1934, a group of local residents met to hear proposals from Mr. Frank Midkiff to form a Waialua Community Club. At that time, no one realized the the Waialua Community Association would someday have its 44th anniversary and that the Community Club of Waialua would be the grandaddy and model for more than sixty Community Associations on Oahu and the neighbor islands.
Mr. Midkiff’s idea was to make rural life more attractive. Two projects were to be undertaken first - cooperation with the Honolulu Academy of Arts and with the Library of Hawaii.
In 1939, plans were made for a Community Center building. The first contribution of $3000 was donated by the Waialua Japanese Civic Club. The building was constructed in 1937 and dedicated in October of that year. The Waialua Community Association Building is in constant use today. It houses the Association’s office, Area wide Senior Citizens, and recently has granted use of the second office to the North Shore Neighborhood Board #27. The building is also used for karate practice, luaus, birthday parties, basketball, a town meeting hall and the business office of the Waialua Community Association.
Incorporation papers were granted in 1937, and the bylaws the following year. The bylaws state, “The object of the Association shall be to develop a unified community spirit. To study the needs of the community and to support such projects as will further its interests, culturally, morally and physically.” The Association is working toward these goals today.
During the years 1939-41, the Association sponsored three kindergartens and the annual carnival. Also, the Waialua Park of Haleiwa was opened. THe park was later renamed Haleiwa Beach Park.
The Association’s building was turned over to the USO during the war years of 1942-1946. Recreation was provided for servicemen and women. The Association did not function as an organization during this period, but the work carried on by the USO is what the Association would have done under similar circumstances.
The work of the Association was resumed in the later war years. $50,000 was allotted for the Waialua Branch Library. A Juvenile Delinquency Committee was formed in 1947, under the leadership of Jack Robello. The Committee assisted in curbing delinquency in the area. Their efforts were very successful according to the Police Department and former secretary Edna Reese.
In 1948, a Chest X-ray Survey was conducted. Eighty five percent of the community over age 15 were given X-rays. The Waialua Blood Reserve was also started and more than 1000 people have since benefitted. Waialua High School was changed from a two-year to a four-year school. At a joint meeting of the Waialua Community Association and the Waialua Athletic Association, it was decided that both Associations would sponsor a combined carnival.
The year 1949, long before Civil Defense was established, saw the formation of a Community Association Disaster Committee. Street lights were installed and signs were put up to mark the entrance to Haleiwa Town.
In 1950, the Annual Dinner Meeting as held for the first time in the Community Center. John Midkiff was honored on his birthday, and 225 people came to extend their best wishes. During the summer, an organized Summer Fun Program was held at the Community Center. The women of Waialua and Haleiwa formed their own Outdoor Circle in December in order to have closer cooperation with the Community Association.
Major repairs were made to the Community Association Building in 1951 and in 1952; the grounds were planted by the Waialua Outdoor Circle and 101 volunteers.
When Dr. A.L.Davis retired from the Waialua Hospital in 1952, one of the largest, community parties ever was given in his honor. It was estimated that 1200 people attended the festivities at the Community Center. In February, a long-awaited Association project was completed when the Waialua Branch Library was dedicated.
In 1953, the Blood Bank Drive ws one of the biggest community projects ever organized. The entire community was visited in a house-to-house canvas for donors. A committee was also formed to have every street, road or name in the district given as appropriate Hawaiian or Caucasian name, without duplication.
!954-55 were busy years for the Association a cafeteria and agricultural building at the High School were added, a breakwater in Hale’iwa Bay was built, and additional classrooms at Waialua Elementary School were completed.
These are just a few highlights of the first twenty odd years of the Waialua Community Association. The Association has been just as busy for the past twenty years, but a book would be needed to detail all its accomplishments. For the present, the community Association is home for the many senior citizens of the North Shore. Lunches are served and people keep busy with many activities. The seniors are known for their great hula dances.
The annual Waialua Country Fair, in its 34th year, is still a large cooperative community effort of the Association. Hundreds of people are working to put the fair together with many thousands enjoying it. This year’s carnival work has been in progress for months, under the direction of co-chairmen Joe Leong and Justo dela Cruze. Past chairman Dave Pallistar is lending his expertise.
The Waialua Community Association holds monthly Board Meetings and quarterly general membership meetings on the third Wednesday of January, April, July and October at 7:30 p.m. All interested community members are invited to attend either the general of Board meetings.
So the next time you drive thru Hale’iwa and see the white plantation style building, you’ll know what it is and what it stands for and you;ll echo my words, “Thanks, Waialua Community Association, and keep up the good work!”

Email us
wca96712@hawaii.rr.com