Lima Kokua was founded on July 29, 1962, less than three years after Hawaii gained statehood, as the whimsically-named and socially-minded Like Later Club. Ken Keen, Burt Rogers, Ron Lopez, Mew Michael, and Al Arnold were the original group of beach-going, brunch-munching, hangover-sympathizing friends, among others, who recognized the needs of malnourished and impoverished children in and around the United States and the Pacific Rim. They founded the club to raise funds, awareness, and to make a difference. They were also keenly aware of the need for, and sought to create, a safe social space for their larger group of friends at a time when their sexual and gender identities were considered deviant by dominant culture-at-large. The Like Later Club operated under that name until 1974 when the club incorporated as Lima Kokua, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation in the State of Hawaii. In July, 2007, our efforts on behalf of Hawai’i’s under-funded and under-served were noted at our 45th anniversary celebration via formal proclamation of then-Governor Linda Lingle and Lt. Governor James “Duke” Aiona, Jr.
Originally, the group focused on sponsoring children through national organizations such as the Salvation Army Home School for the Blind in Jamaica, and the Pearl S. Buck Foundation which worked with children throughout Asia and the Pacific. In those early years, 37 children in various countries were sponsored by Lima Kokua. Subsequently, the members decided to focus the energies of the group on causes within the State of Hawaii, and to broaden our scope to include the needs of families and the elderly, as well.
Today, our members are more united than ever in our commitment to service. When a member becomes aware of a need, they bring it to the membership for consideration. While a large portion of our work is with established organizations, members are also proud of the work we do quietly and behind the scenes with individuals. Lima Kokua salutes the family with nine children whose father was recovering from an injury and didn’t think there was going to be a festive Christmas – but there was when we gently stepped in. Children and struggling families have received surprise Easter or Christmas baskets prepared by our members. Elderly individuals who have slipped through the cracks of government bureaucracy and red tape have found new hope because our members recognized a need and stepped in to help with food and financial assistance.
The work of Lima Kokua is on-going, and our financial support comes from a variety of fundraising efforts such as our participation with the Great Aloha Fun Run, silent auctions, annual summer cook-offs, occasional bequests, membership dues, and other creative and easy-going social events. We have lent our helping hands in support of a wide variety of non-political causes for more than 50 years, without consideration to gender, race, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, age, marital status, or sexual orientation. We would be honored to make it through our next 50 years with your help.
Please take a moment to look at just a small sampling of the groups that Lima Kokua has been proud to support over the years, and consider contributing to our cause.
Lima Kokua, Inc. operates entirely on a volunteer basis with no paid staff.
Alu Like Inc • Alzheimer’s Association • Athletes Helping Kids • American Red Cross • Big Brothers Big Sisters • Brain Injury Association of Hawaii • Child and Family Service • Children’s Day Treatment Center • Christian Children’s Fund • Church of the Crossroads • Cleghorn Kids•Courageous Women Alcoholics • Dignity of Hawaii • Domestic Violence Clearinghouse • Eola Pono • Equality Hawaii Foundation • Ewa Spouse and Child Abuse Center • Family Promise • Farrington HS Journalism Club • Foodland’s Give Aloha Program • Gay and Lesbian Youth Support Project • Gay Men’s Chorus of Honolulu • Great Aloha Run • Gregory House • Hale Kipa • Hale Ola Abuse Shelter • Hawaii Community Foundation • Hawaii Family Health Center • Hawaii Gay and Lesbian Teen Task Force • HIV Rural Outreach • HomeAid Hawaii • Honolulu Advertiser Christmas Fund • Honolulu Gerontology Organization • Honolulu Men’s Chorus • Hospice for Children • Hospice Hawaii • Hurricane Iwa Relief Fund • Institute for Human Services • Kapiolani Medical Center • Kulia Na Mamo • LGBT Legacy Foundation • Leeward Food Bank • Life Foundation • Liliuokalani Childrens Center • Lokahi Tree • Lunaliho Home • Lyon Arboretum • Mahoney Hale • Malama Learning Center • Mental Health America of Hawaii • Mohala Farms • Mothers Against Drunk Driving • Multiple Sclerosis Society • Muscular Dystrophy Association • Names Project • Out and About Television Program • Pearl S. Buck Foundation • PFLAG Hawai‘i • Rainbow Family 808 • The Food Basket • UCC Transition House • Waikiki Health Center (Yo House)