Club History

Foundation and Early Years

Rotary was first introduced to Hawaiʻi on July 1, 1915. However, it was not until May 15, 1939, that the Rotary Club of Waikiki was formed and organized by a committee from the Rotary Club of Honolulu, including Chairman Wes Wilkie, Clifford Kimball, Leslie Hicks, and Charlie Frazier.

The Rotary Club of Waikiki, founded as the second Rotary Club in Honolulu, the third on Oʻahu, and the sixth in the Territory of Hawaiʻi, was officially chartered by Rotary International on June 20, 1939, as Club #5075. At that time, former District Governor Wayne Stewart installed the first charter officers and board members of the Rotary Club of Waikiki:

Charter President: Frank Van Cleve
Secretary: Mell Small
Treasurer: P.D. Bull
Sergeant-At-Arms: Fred Fanger
Board Members: Alfred Gfroere, Henry Inn, Murle Ogden, William L. Sullivan, Sam Van Culin
Other Charter Members: Chris Benny, Ernie O. Fickendy, Harry G. Good, Robert Hind, Roy C. Kelley, Paul M. Mead, Paul F. Summers, D.A. Sutherland, Ted R. Waters, Dr. William H. Wynn, George V. Minck, C.F. Camrin, George W. Brooks, and Karel H. Sheecha.

The first meeting was held at the Green Lantern Restaurant on Kalākaua Avenue, later known as the Wagon Wheel. In the late 1940s, meetings moved to the South Seas Restaurant at the corner of McCully and Kalākaua. In the 1950s, the club met briefly at the Ala Moana Hotel before relocating to the Hawaiian Regent Hotel. In the early 1980s, meetings were held at the Prince Kūhiō Hotel on Kūhiō Avenue, where the club remained until 2003, before moving to the Pacific Beach Hotel and, finally, to the Waikiki Yacht Club.

Originally, the Rotary Club of Waikiki met every Monday at noon. To better accommodate members’ schedules, meetings were later changed to Wednesdays at noon.

Rotary Club of Waikiki Members Circa 1966;
L-R Bill Wong, Ed Doty, Gil Moss, Ron Deisseroth, Kenji Okada and Phil Norris

Club, District, and Partnerships

In the early years of the Hawaiʻi Rotary District, it was not yet known as District 5000. When the Rotary Club of Waikiki was chartered in 1939, it was part of District 100. Over time, the district evolved, becoming District 150 in 1950, District 500 in 1991, and eventually District 5000 as it is known today.
Throughout these changes, the Rotary Club of Waikiki has remained a strong and active presence. Today, it is the sixth oldest Rotary Club among the 48 clubs in District 5000. For many years, the club maintained a membership of approximately 125 to 135 members, though in recent years membership has been under 100.

The club’s leadership has also made a lasting impact across the district. The Hawaiʻi Rotary District has had 10 District Governors from the Rotary Club of Waikiki, with Phil Sammer serving as the most recent, from 2013 to 2014.

The Rotary Club of Waikiki had established Sister Club relationships with 9 Rotary Clubs, starting with the Rotary Club of Tokyo-Asakusa in 1972, in four different countries (Japan, Taiwan, Australia, and Philippines). The Club maintains good relationships with several of them, with some club-to-club events held each year, as well as ongoing personal visits and friendships with others.

Located in one of the most popular destinations on the island, Waikiki naturally draws both local Rotarians and visiting Rotarians from around the world. Over the years, many across the Hawaiʻi District have come to know the Rotary Club of Waikiki as “The Friendliest Club in Hawaiʻi.” Embracing this spirit, members proudly refer to their club as “The Friendly Club.”

A big part of this welcoming atmosphere is the club’s unique traditions. Live music, played before and occasionally during meetings, along with the signature club song, “Welcome to Rotary and to Waikiki,” create a warm and inviting ambiance. These musical touches are a special hallmark of the Rotary Club of Waikiki, adding to the sense of connection and aloha that defines the club.

Old Waikiki, no date

Club, District, and Partnerships

The Rotary Club of Waikiki has a long history of accomplishments and recognition. In 2001–2002, the club achieved distinction as a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club. It earned several District and Rotary International awards, proudly displayed on the Rotary Waikiki banner at each meeting. Other honors include recognition for club achievements, Rotary Foundation contributions, and multiple first-place awards across various avenues of service. Members have also actively participated in National Polio Eradication Days and other Foundation events in developing countries.

In addition to these achievements, the Rotary Club of Waikiki sponsored the Rotary Club of Ala Moana, which was officially chartered on June 21, 1972, further extending Rotary’s reach and impact across the community.

OUR PAST PRESIDENTS
1939 – 1940: F. H. Van Cleve
1940 – 1941: John Kilpatrick, Sr.
1941 – 1942: William F. Sullivan
1942 – 1943: Scott McWayne
1943 – 1944: Karel Sheecha
1944 – 1945: Richard Kimball
1945 – 1946: Henry Judd
1946 – 1947: P. D. Bull
1947 – 1948: Owen Cunningham
1948 – 1949: Gwynne Austin
1949 – 1950: K. C. Leebrick
1950 – 1951: H. P. Sundstrom
1951 – 1952: Charles H. Davis
1952 – 1953: Stanford Espedal
1953 – 1954: Percy H. Johnson, Jr.
1954 – 1955: C. A. MacDonald
1955 – 1956: Harry G. Good
1956 – 1957: Robert A. Cooper
1957 – 1958: David R. Owens
1958 – 1959: William Kirch
1959 – 1960: Bernard H. Levinson
1960 – 1961: Kenneth O. Rewick
1961 – 1962: Samuel D. Allison
1962 – 1963: Ronald H. Deisseroth
1963 – 1964: Dr. John B. Ferguson
1964 – 1965: Chuck Smouse
1965 – 1966: Phillip Norris

1966 – 1967: Agatin Abbott
1967 – 1968: Dr. A. Leslie Vasconcellos
1968 – 1969: Dr. Paul Wheeler
1969 – 1970: Randolph M. Lee, Jr.
1970 – 1971: R. C. Dubois
1971 – 1972: Roy E. King, Jr.
1972 – 1973: Kenneth H. Wells
1973 – 1974: August Yee
1974 – 1975: Edward A. Berlin
1975 – 1976: John Q. Landers
1976 – 1977: Dr. Wilmer Cozens
1977 – 1978: Robert K. Masuda
1978 - 1979: William F. Bigelow, II
1979 – 1980: Gene Grounds
1980 – 1981: Dr. Edward M. Barnett
1981 – 1982: John S. Foote
1982 – 1983: Gerald Hennings
1983 – 1984: Richard G. Matti
1984 – 1985: Paul I. Maehara
1985 – 1986: Richard B. Tibbs
1986 – 1987: Edward J. Doty
1987 – 1988: Dr. Robert H. Kessner
1988 – 1989: Michael A. Carr
1989 – 1990: James M. Hamby
1990 – 1991: H. Pepi Pesentheiner
1991 – 1992: Charles G. Braden, Jr.
1992 – 1993: Mark H. Moore, Jr.
1993 – 1994: Antoine “Tony” Gedeon
1994 – 1995: Gene Grounds
1995 – 1996: Rafael “Ray” Aberin
1996 – 1997: Jimmy H. McCoy
1997 – 1998: Richard G. Matti
1998 – 1999: Robert S. Ostrem, Jr.
1999 – 2000: Joseph H. Blanchard, Jr.
2000 – 2001: Phillip E. Sammer
2001 – 2002: Walter Thorndike
2002 – 2003: Sally A. Blanchard
2003 – 2004: Larry Lamberth
2004 – 2005: David Hamil
2005 – 2006: Shuichi Miyasaki
2006 – 2007: David Livingston
2007 – 2008: Sarah Tenney
2008 – 2009: Carol Kozlovich
2009 – 2010: Carol Riley
2010 – 2011: Gene Gelfo
2011 – 2012: Mo Radke
2012 – 2013: Mick Miniciola

2013 – 2014: Janet M Kelly
2014 - 2015: Chad Adams
2015 - 2016: Rhodora Pagay
2016 - 2017: Joseph Gedeon
2017 - 2018: Steve Koyama
2018 - 2019: Stephen Morgan
2019 - 2020: Dr Carol Riley
2020 - 2021: Paul McGillicuddy
2021 - 2022: Patti Look
2022 - 2023 Adrienne King
2023 - 2024 Nathan Graves
2024 - 2025 Eva Gold
2025 - 2026 Chad Adams

Past Presidents who served as District Governor of Hawaii District 5000
1948 – 1949: Henry Judd
1953 – 1954: K. C. Leebrick
1958 – 1959: Charles H. Davis
1964 – 1965: Ronald H. Deisseroth
1969 – 1970: Agatin T. Abbott
1974 – 1975: Dr. A. Leslie Vasconcellos
1978 – 1979: Dr. John B. Ferguson
1986 – 1987: Edward A. Berlin
1998 – 1999: Roy E. King, Jr.
2013 –2014: Phil Sammer

Other Rotarians who served as District Governor
1996-1997: Jack Stubbs* - Past Governor