The first troop in the islands, appropriately numbered Troop 1, was founded by a British Scouter just recently relocated, and chartered to Kawaiahao Church. One Saturday, former Queen Liliuokalani was driven past Kapiolani Park in Honolulu, and noticed this troop going through Scouting drills. She stopped and enquired what manner of military play this was, and the Scouts eagerly explained the concept of Scouting to her. On a following Saturday a month later, the Queen reappeared, and presented to the troop a Hawaiian flag. Emblazoned upon the red-white-and-blue stripes were the Hawaiian royal crest and the lettering in gold The Queen's Own Troop, which she had labored at herself. As the Scoutmaster was an Englishman, in their tradition of naming rather than numbering troops, the appellation stuck. The unit claiming longest continuous charter is Troop 1. Troop 5 up until the early 1980s held the distinction of the longest continuously chartered unit in Hawaii. It was Troop 5 that was known as "The Queen's Own Troop" that received the flag which was made by her own hands. The flag was held by the Liliuokalani Trust until it was given to the Aloha Council BSA by a previous Assistant Scoutmaster, David Jeong of Troop 5. The flag was given as part of the Centennial Celebration of Scouting in 2010. One of Troop 5's Scoutmasters, "Kimo" James Austin Wilder was also a founder of the Sea Scout program. David McHattie Forbes was the founder of Scouting in Waimea in the early 1900s. In 1946, Scouts helped re-introduce the endangered nene into the Haleakala National Park by carrying young birds into the Haleakala Crater in their backpacks. The Honolulu Council was founded in 1914, and became the Honolulu County Council in 1924. In 1957, the council became the Aloha Council.
History since statehood
In 1972, the third Hawaiian council, Kilauea Council based in Hilo merged with the Aloha Council.
Maui County Council was founded in 1917, and is one of the very few councils that have not undergone a name change or merger in their entire history. With headquarters in Wailuku, Maui, the council serves the islands of Moloka'i, Lana'i and Maui, and may eventually serve Kahoolawe, as it reverts to civilian control from being the Navy test range.
Camps
Camp Maluhia
Order of the Arrow
Maluhia Lodge 554, chartered in 1962, is made up of Arrowmen from the Maui County Council. The lodge totem is a Hawaiian warrior wearing an ipu mask that represents the Hawaiian god Lono. Given that the word "maluhia" in Hawaiian means "peace", it is fitting that Lono, the Hawaiian god of peace, be represented as the lodgeʻs totem.
Aloha Council
The Aloha Council of the Boy Scouts of America is headquartered in Honolulu, and supports Scouting units around the Pacific Basin. The Aloha Council encompasses Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau. The Aloha Council covers the largest geographical area in the world, over, spanning on both sides of the equator and international dateline. In 2004, Scouts attended local council camps on American Samoa, Hawaii's Big Island, Guam, Kauai and Oahu. Aloha Council Pacific Basin District outreach efforts in the Pacific continue to grow with over 835 Boy Scouts and 240 Cub Scouts attending camps on Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Saipan, Kwajalein, Rongelap, Majuro, Yap and Palau. In 2018, the 45-year-old council badge was changed to include a green sea turtle and names the three primary locations serviced, "Hawai
Camps
Camp Alan Faye
Camp Honokaia
Camp Pupukea
Order of the Arrow
The Nā Mokupuni O Lawelawe Lodge 567, chartered in 1973, serves 300 Arrowmen as of 2017. The lodge totem is a pu'eo, the lodge symbol is a Hawaiian outrigger canoe, and the name translates to "Islands of Service" in the Hawaiian language. In 1973, Kamehameha Lodge 454 and Achsin Lodge 565 merged with Pupukea Lodge 557 to form the larger lodge.
Hawaiiana Award
The Hawaiiana Award is offered by the Aloha Council and is dedicated to the perpetuation of the skills crafts and legends of old Hawaii. The award was established in 1973 and has been offered continuously by the Aloha Council to its members and Scouts visiting the Hawaiian islands. The requirements for Hawaiiana include the composition of a 750-word essay on the pre-European history of the Hawaiian people; the collection of at least five representative leaves or flowers of native fauna from four specific zones of the island; the development of a sketchbook detailing five native birds; the recitation of the Scout Oath, Law, Motto and Slogan in Hawaiian and offer its English translation; the recitation of twenty five Hawaiian place names and their meanings; the recitation of 25 common Hawaiian terms and their meanings; participation in a series of Hawaiian games; participation in six methods of Hawaiian cooking; preparation of traditional foods without cooking; the demonstration of a Hawaiian method of fishing; the construction and demonstration of a number of Hawaiian implements; the oral recitation of names and facts surrounding five famous Hawaiians from the years before 1779; the demonstration of two forms of hula and accompanying chants; the conduct of a Hawaiian play; visitation to at least two historical sites and the completion of a report detailing the visit. These broad and comprehensive requirements are detailed in the 168 page guidebook published by the Aloha Council and available at the Council offices. The Hawaiiana award itself is in the form of a base metal medal with polished highlights suspended from a red and gold ribbon, featuring a poipounding stone with a flaming torch in front. There is also a corresponding 3" embroidered patch that may be worn on the right pocket of the Scout shirt.
Girl Scouting in Hawaii
Girl Scouting started in Hawaii in 1917 with two troops in Oahu. Troop 1 at the Kamehameha School for Girls completed their paperwork first, but Troop 2 in Kaka‘ako asked for the sponsorship of Lili'uokalani, the last monarch of Hawaii, and were promised her own flag that was given after her death. The Oahu council was established in 1918 and chartered in 1919. Other islands followed until Kauai had its first troop in 1936. In 1963 the Girl Scout Council of Oahu expanded to include all of Hawaii as well as Wake and Midway and was renamed Girl Scout Council of the Pacific. Wake and Midway were later dropped and in 1990 the council was renamed Girl Scout Council of Hawaii.
Girl Scouts of Hawai'i
The Girl Scouts of Hawai'i has about 5,500 girl and adult members.
The Aloha Council has designated a full-time senior Scout District Executive for American Samoa, John A. Mills, in efforts to elevate the local Scouting program. In addition, there are USA Girl Scouts Overseas in Pago Pago, serviced by way of USAGSO headquarters in New York City.
Guam has had BSA Scouting for decades, as part of the Aloha Council Chamorro District. Prior to the early 1970s, a separate Chamorro Council serviced the island. In addition, there are Girl Scouts of the USA Overseas on Guam, serviced by Guam Girl Scout Council in Hagåtña.
Scouting in the Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands are developing BSA Scouting as part of the Aloha Council Pacific Basin District. In addition, there are Girl Scouts of the USA Overseas in Ebeye, Kwajalein, and Majuro, serviced by way of USAGSO headquarters in New York.
The Northern Mariana Islands have had BSA Scouting for decades, as part of the Aloha Council Pacific Basin District. In addition, there are USA Girl Scouts Overseas in Rota, Tinian, and Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School on Saipan, serviced by way of USAGSO headquarters in New York.
Scouting in Palau
is developing BSA Scouting as part of the Aloha Council Pacific Basin District. In addition, there are USA Girl Scouts Overseas in Koror, serviced by way of USAGSO headquarters in New York.
