The 4-H Ahaolelo is rich in tradition. The week of “coming together” has played an important part in the development of 4-H in Hawaii. The 4-H Ahaolelo provides opportunities to make friends and exchange ideas.
 |
 |
 |
The word Ahaolelo means “To come together for a meeting” in Hawaiian. The name was adopted in 1947 when 99 4-H members and leaders participated in the 4th territorial 4-H Conference. By 1958, the number of delegates increased to 212. The conference expanded to include a delegation of 12 California members and chaperone in 1965 and again in 1967 when 10 members and two leaders attended. In 1968, delegates from Canada, Guam and another delegation from California attended Ahaolelo. In 1988, Micronesians joined us and in 1989 and 1990, Guam joined us. Japan’s LABO students were part of Ahaolelo in 1991 and 1993.
Gifts to the Alii
One of the distinctly Hawaiian features of the 4-H Ahaolelo is the annual presentation of representative products of the land to persons who symbolize the highest type of leadership in Hawaii. This is called the “Gifts To The Alii” presentation. This tradition was started in 1953 when Governor and Mrs. Samuel Wilder King were recognized. Other recipients are as follows:
- 2024 – No Event Held
- 2023 – Senator Mazie Hirono
- 2022 – Dr. Helene and Mark Zeug
- 2021 – Sen. Lynn DeCoite
- 2020 – Barry Taniguchi and Derek Kurisu
- 2014 – 2019 No Event Held
- 2013 – John Morgan
- 2012 – None
- 2011 – Dean Okimoto
- 2010 – None
- 2009 – Kenneth Lum
- 2008 – Sen. Suzann Chun Oakland
- 2007 – Roy Oyama
- 2006 – Mayor Mufi Hanneman
- 2005 – No Event Held
- 2004 – Larry Price
- 2003 – Rep. Dennis Arakaki
- 1997 – 2002 No Event Held
- 1996 – Fred Trotter
- 1995 – David Morihara
- 1994 – Jim Demarest & Morgan White
- 1993 – Dwane Brenneman
- 1992 – Walter A. Dods, Jr.
- 1991 – Frank DeLima
- 1990 – Robert J. Pfeiffer
- 1989 – UH Pres. Albert J. Simone
- 1988 – Governor John Waihee
- 1987 – Carole Kai
- 1986 – Melveen Leed
- 1985 – Andy Bumatai
- 1984 – Mrs. Jean Ariyoshi
- 1983 – Rep. Daniel K. Akaka
- 1982 – Henry F. Rice
- 1981 – Judge Betty Vitousek
- 1980 – Clorinda Lucas
- 1979 – Nora Cooper, Maui News & KMVI
- 1978 – James Y. Shigeta
- 1977 – Checkers & Pogo
- 1976 – Governor George R, Ariyoshi
- 1975 – Mayor Frank F. Fasi
- 1974 – Al Harrington
- 1973 – Mayor Elmer Cravalho
- 1972 – Mayor Shunichi Kimura
- 1971 – Police Chief Dan S.C. Liu
- 1970 – Rev. Abraham K. Akaka
- 1969 – Rep. Patsy T. Mink
- 1968 – Mayor Neil S. Blaisdell
- 1967 – Rep. Spark Matsunaga
- 1966 – Y. Baron Goto
- 1965 – UH Pres. Thomas H. Hamilton
- 1964 – Duke Kahanamoku
- 1963 – Governor John A. Burns
- 1962 – Alexander Spoehr
- 1961 – Herbert Cornuelle
- 1960 – Sen. Hiram L. Fong, Sen. Oren E. Long, and Rep. Daniel K. Inouye
- 1959 – Governor William F, Quinn
- 1958 – UH Pres. Laurence H. Snyder
- 1957 – UH Regent Chairman, Philip Spaulding
- 1956 – Governor Samuel Wilder King
- 1955 – Dr. Frederick G. Krauss
- 1954 – Mr. Morley L, Theaker
- 1953 – Governor and Mrs. Samuel Wilder King