Stories


This Week at Rotary: Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day & our Guest Speaker! Aloha Rotarians, We have an exciting meeting planned this week and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone there. Don't forget to invite your friends and family! This week, we’ll be celebrating Chinese New Year as well as Valentine’s Day. Aileen Fong has been planning activities for these two festive occasions that bring joy, reflection, and connection. We encourage everyone to wear something red, festive, or Valentine‑themed to help us celebrate in true Rotary spirit. In addition to the celebrations, we are thrilled to welcome our guest speaker who will be joining us to share valuable insights. Join Keli‘i Akina with the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to learn how grassroots advocacy turned into real legislative wins in 2025 and what lies ahead in 2026. The presentation highlights key efforts on tax relief, housing, rebuilding reforms, and government accountability, explains the challenges ahead, and shows how citizens can get involved in shaping Hawaii’s future. We hope you’ll join us on Wednesday February 11, 12 PM at the Waikiki Yacht Club for this lively and meaningful gathering! Mahalo, Claire Parcon Program Chair Read more...	This Week at Rotary: Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day & our Guest Speaker!		2026-02-11 10:00:00Z	0
Rotary at the Start of the United Nations Rotary and the United Nations have a shared history of working toward peace and addressing humanitarian issues around the world. During World War II, Rotary informed and educated members about the formation of the United Nations and the importance of planning for peace. Materials such as the booklet “From Here On!” and articles in The Rotarian helped members understand the UN before it was formally established and follow its work after its charter. Many countries were fighting the war when the term “United Nations” was first used officially in the 1942 “Declaration by United Nations.” The 26 nations that signed it pledged to uphold the ideals expressed by the United States and the United Kingdom the previous year of the common principles “on which they based their hopes for a better future for the world.” Read more...	Rotary at the Start of the United Nations		2022-04-26 10:00:00Z	0
Rotary’s Response to the 1918 Flu Pandemic An estimated 500 million people worldwide became infected. Many cities closed theaters and cinemas, and placed restrictions on public gatherings. Rotary clubs adjusted their activities while also helping the sick. This is how Rotary responded to the influenza pandemic that began in 1918 and came in three waves, lasting more than a year. The Rotary Club of Berkeley, California, USA, meets in John Hinkel Park during the 1918 flu pandemic. Photo by Edwin J. McCullagh, 1931-32 club president. Courtesy of the Rotary Club of Berkeley. Read more...	Rotary’s Response to the 1918 Flu Pandemic		2022-04-26 10:00:00Z	0
Young Inventor Eco-Friendly Bricks Come Full Circle Every hero has an origin story. “I was 10 years old when the entire journey started,” explains Binish Desai. It began with a cartoon called Captain Planet, an animated TV series from the 1990s about an environmentalist with superpowers. Desai can still recite the show’s refrain: Captain Planet, he’s our hero / Gonna take pollution down to zero! “That tagline stuck in my mind,” he says. “I wanted to do something to help Captain Planet.” Read more...	Young Inventor Eco-Friendly Bricks Come Full Circle		2022-04-26 10:00:00Z	0