LIHU‘E – The Outdoor Circle celebrates its hundredth revolution around the sun today, and the public is invited to join in on the celebration starting at 5 p.m. at Waumull Plaza.
Considered Hawai‘i’s oldest environmental organization, The Outdoor Circle is a volunteer, nonprofit association with a mission to provide and promote environmental education in order to develop a more beautiful state, freeing it from disfigurement, conserving and developing its natural beauty.
Environmental advocate and community organizer Martha Townsend has been chosen to lead The Outdoor Circle’s centennial event.
“Martha was selected from a large group of applicants,” said Joel Kurokawa, president of the Board of Directors. “Her legal background and unique skills make her the perfect choice to lead our organization into its next 100 years.”
The Outdoor Circle is known to get involved in court battles to protect the scenic environment when needed.
Whether keeping Hawai‘i billboard free (the bill was passed in 1926), saving trees, pushing for proper land use, protecting view planes or the many other issues that Hawai‘i faces today, The Outdoor Circle’s actions are guided by the challenge of keeping Hawai‘i clean, green and beautiful for future generations through the educating of the community about issues that help preserve and protect the beauty of Hawai‘i.
These efforts include working with children as well as adults, and often involve using radio, television and newspapers to help reach broader audiences.
Cherilla Lillian Storrs Lowrey is one of The Outdoor Circle’s founders and its first president.
Lowrey came to Honolulu in 1882 to teach second grade.
During her years there she successfully grew vegetables, fruits and flowers. In 1909 she became a civic leader and devoted herself to beautifying Honolulu.
Many inspired women joined in on her philanthropic mission, and by 1912 the Outdoor Circle was created. Lowrey’s vision ended up inspiring more than 400 women to join her cause, which she usually summarized in one sentence: “Do something for the city in which you live and you will do something for yourself.” Lowrey died of a stroke in 1918. Her legacy lingers in The Outdoor Circle, The Women’s War Council, the Hawai‘i Promotion Committee, the Chamber of Commerce of Honolulu and the Palama Settlement.
The public is invited to join The Kaua‘i Outdoor Circle’s Centennial Celebration at 5 p.m. under the Banyan tree at Watumull Plaza. For more information, call (808) 742-7393.
• Laurent Canalejas, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 241) or lcanalejas@ thegardenisland.com.
