When the Outrigger Canoe Club moved to its Diamond Head Clubsite in January 1964, this dedication plaque was hung at the front entrance to the Club. It was written by John Cline Mann who chaired first the Planning and then the Building Committee for the Club. Each time we enter, we are reminded of his wish for the Club. Today we consider the words as the official mission statement of our Club.
The Outrigger Canoe Club
Let this be a place
where man may commune with sun and sand and sea,
where good fellowship and Aloha prevail, and
where the sports of Old Hawaii shall always have a home.
The history of the plaque as told by Cline Mann:
It was about the middle of 1966. The new Club facilities had been dedicated January 11, 1964 and the final report of the Building Committee of 1963 had been presented to the Board of Directors in February 1965. The Building Committee, although officially defunct, had continued to meet from time to time as items of unfinished business arose. It was at such a meeting that the committee realized it had overlooked a long-planned but unfulfilled obligation, namely, the design and installation of an appropriate dedication plaque.
Meeting No. 1
A meeting was scheduled immediately to discuss a course of action with all members in attendance: Ward Russell, Keith Wallace, Walter Collins, Buck Schmuck, Tom Wells and I (Cline Mann). The agenda was selection of the site of installation of the plaque and discussions of its design and contents.
The decision with respect to the site was quickly made. It would be affixed to the Diamond Head face of the Column on the Ewa side of the entrance into the Clubhouse. Next came a decision concerning the contents, which began easily–the Club name, emblem and founding date.
Discussion then focused on the need for the plaque to commemorate the entire project associated with the new site, members, guests, and especially our neighbors on both sides, that the Club’s responsibilities had not been limited to our own land boundaries but had extended makai into the public domain for the construction of the entire beach fronting the Elks, Outrigger and Colony Surf, also the lagoon and groin. Accordingly, the following line was composed:
This building, beach and lagoon dedicated January 1964.
The foregoing matters were handled with ease. Not so the matter of whose names should be included on the plaque. For precedent we reviewed the old plaque which was on the previous Clubhouse dedicated in 1941. On that plaque were the names of the entire Board of Directors and no others. This situation clearly was not befitting the new plaque. We reviewed the complement of the two main committees in the years 1961-1962:
Planning Committee: Cline Mann, Ward Russell, Walter Collins, Tom Wells, Hal Whitaker and Dickey Thacker.
Beach Development Committee: Keith Wallace, Buck Schmuck, Ward Russell and Cline Mann.
After due deliberation it was decided that the efforts of the 1963 Building Committee (an amalgamation of the former planning and beach development committees) in expediting construction pursuant to an almost impossible nine-month schedule which successfully allowed use of the new site for the members’ Christmas party in 1963 justified selection of that committee alone. This included all four members of the former Beach Development Committee, and four of six members of the former Planning Committee. Moreover, the Board was well represented: Russell (president), Mann (vice-president), and directors Collins and Wallace. (Editor’s note: As a matter of record this committee had met regularly at least two times a week during the entire period the new facilities were under construction.)
The committee (Russell not participating) insisted that Ward Russell’s name be included on a separate line, as President, in recognition of his four-year term in that office during one of the most critical times in the Club’s history.
Although, in retrospect, the foregoing decisions with respect to names might be regarded by outsiders as being self serving, they have apparently withstood the test of time, as I am unaware of any criticism from any quarter.
Finally, it was the feeling of the committee that the plaque contain a sentiment (if that is the proper word) articulately expressing the character, atmosphere and purpose of the Club. We concurred with Buck that it be expressed in the imperative mood.
Difficulty, or rather impossibility, set in. Not one of us was capable of making a start. In frustration, that first meeting ended with the decision that I be directed to come up with an initial draft for submission to the committee at a meeting to be held one week later.
That was no simple task, as I was soon to find out. For six consecutive evenings I floundered aimlessly. Nothing I attempted was satisfying to me. On the evening before the scheduled meeting I seriously considered asking the committee for more time, but suddenly I had a brainstorm. Remembering the impressive prayer given by the Rev. Abraham Akaka, pastor of Kawaiahao Church, on the occasion of the dedication of the new Club site.
I opened my Building Committee file, and there it was, like a gift from Heaven. Reading it again after two years recalled to mind that the historical references in that beautiful composition were based upon the thorough briefing given to Kahu by Ward on the purpose of the Club and the accomplishments of its members in sports and community service. Everything was there. All that were needed were a six-pack of Budweisers and a determination to grasp the right words, phrases and thoughts and reorganize them in a manner that would meet the hopes and expectations of the committee.
Following are the steps I took in composing that first draft of the sentiment, reference being made to Kahu’s dedication prayer as it appeared on page 3 of the February 1964 issue of the Forecast.
First Clause :
(a) For the opener I adopted the first six words of the second sentence, paragraph 4, “Let this be a place where . . .” thus establishing the imperative mood with the first word.
(b) Inspired by the word mankind in the first sentence, paragraph 1, then giving initial consideration to and rejecting a number of other nouns that came to mind, such as the repugnant persons, I selected ” . . . man . . .”
(c) I was inspired by the phrase find their peace in a deeper unity with nature in the first sentence, paragraph 5, and tired a number of different phrases for an agonizing hour or more to complete the clause. Finally I was satisfied with ” .. . . may commune with sun and sand and sea,”
Second clause:
The next two clauses proved much easier. Inspired by the phrases aloha and friendship in the first sentence, paragraph 4, I repeated where and composed “where good fellowship and aloha prevail”
Third clause:
I was inspired by the word purpose and phrase may be continued in paragraph 2, the individual words promote sports, old and Hawaii in the first sentence, paragraph 4, and the word forever in the second sentence, paragraph 6. I reached outside Kahu’s prayer to pluck from the English version of the motto of Hawaii the word perpetuated, preferring a strong synonym for continued forever. Again I utilized where and composed “and where the sports of old Hawaii shall be perpetuated.”
I was not out of Budweiser and to be honest, if not humble, quite proud of my initial effort, which seemed to follow the guidelines. The sentiment was expressed in the imperative mood (the third clause being actually a double imperative, as the word shall compounded the very first word let), and there was an expression of the character, atmosphere and purposes of the Club. However, I was uncertain how it would be received by my colleagues.
Meeting No. 2
It was with some trepidation that I faced the committee the next afternoon with my pencil draft and no copies for the others explaining that I preferred to make my presentation by reading aloud. With anxiety I faced my five-man jury and read the first clause, then stopped. Lifting my eyes from the paper to catch their reaction, I saw all smiles on five heads nodding in exuberant assent. “Emboldened, I proceeded through the second clause, again stopped and caught the same reaction. With premature confidence, I concluded by reading the third clause. This time exuberance was lacking.
Fortunately the atmosphere was not one of disapproval or displeasure bur rather one of incomplete satisfaction. A critique ensued, and it was the consensus that while the third clause contained the perfect theme, there was something missing in the closing words. It seemed awkward to end with a verb, especially one in the passive voice. In short, the finale had no punch. For a while we all groped for something better, but the words we wanted eluded us. Finally, in desperation Tom declared “we should say something poetic — something like always have a home. Almost in unison, the rest of us shouted “NOT something like! That’s it”
So, with the substitution of Tom’s gem for my insipid be perpetuated the entire sentiment was approved as follows:
“Let this be a place where man may commune with sun and sand and sea,
where good fellowship and aloha prevail, and
where the sports of old Hawaii shall always have a home.”
A happy committee then charged Tom with carrying on with the design of the plaque and adjourned.
Meeting No. 3
A few weeks later the committee met to consider several versions prepared and presented by Tom. We liked the one which utilized all capital letters, except in the Club name. The design was beautiful and all of us were very pleased indeed. Thereafter Tom engaged Oregon Brass Works in Portland, Oregon to manufacture the plaque.
Meeting No. 4
Within a few months Tom received a rubbing from the actual plaque. This was approved at a brief meeting of the committee.
Meeting No. 5
Many months later, the plaque finally arrived in Honolulu. Again the committee met, this time to discuss the logistics of the actual installation. This was very important, for it was desirable that the plaque be affixed unnoticed, as if it had been there from the very beginning. Tom engaged Hawaii Marble and Granite to perform the installation, which was to be done on an early morning so as to minimize the drawing of attention.
Taking no chances, we accepted Buck’s offer to supervise the installation so that he could select the proper height and insure the absolute plumbness of the plaque. Also he could ward off any persons who were too curious or a source of potential trouble. There was always the danger that a member of the official Buildings and Grounds Committee might blunder upon the scene and throw up an officious road block.
According to Buck the installation was done by Tommy Fink, and the whole operation went off smoothly without a hitch. As previously agreed upon, Buck notified us all about 10:30 a.m. that the deed was done, whereupon we proceeded individually to the Club, casually viewed the plaque in sneaky fashion, then hastened next (Meeting No. 6) door to Michel’s, our previous post of daily construction surveillance, where we joyfully indulged in mutual congratulations, spirits and lunch.
All still was not “clear sailing” as the question then arose as to what might happen when the Club received the bill for the plaque’s installation at such a late date. As Ward recalled, he OK’d and signed the vendor’s bill and delivered it to the Club manager explaining it was for a previously approved but unfinished project of the 1963 Building Committee. No questions were raised – the bill was paid.
Well, now, where does “Elegancia” fit into this story? At another meeting shortly after the installation of the plaque, the group, still gloating over its successful performances, agreed that the name “Building Committee” was really quite mundane and most certainly did not adequately portray their accomplishments or the camaraderie, loyalty and close friendship that had been established. Another — more befitting — name should be adopted. After numerous and fruitless attempts, the group finally resorted to the language of ancient Latium and came up with the title “Komite Emeritus Elegancia”. This was soon shortened to “Elegancia”.
Even prior to adopting its new name, the Elegancia had agreed that its existence should continue in perpetuity and to this end it should conduct an official annual conclave at which the rites of Bacchus would be observed and the affairs of the Outrigger reviewed and commented upon. However, everything had to be conducted in “the grand manner” in keeping with established Elegancia tradition. Important aspects of “the grand manner” were the requirements that the conclave must be held in the finest of locations, with the epitome of cuisine and the choicest of beverages. Most important — the dress would always be aloha attire — no coats or neck ties, ever!
The Elegancia continued to meet annually in official conclave usually during the winter months when Buck was in residence in Honolulu — and the requirements of “The Grand Manner” were observed religiously. For example, this year’s (1985) event was held in the Kamaaina Room of the Willows (no coats or ties required). The “best of locations” has presented a problem at times such as when it included the Kahala Hilton and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. However, even there the required wearing of coats and ties was successfully circumvented with management approval and conivance (a story in itself).
As of this date (1985) two of the original Elegancia members, Keith Wallace (1978) and Walter Collins (1975) are deceased. At each annual conclave, places are set for all six and the remaining four, Ward, Cline, Buck and Tom Wells offer a simple but nostalgic toast to the vacant members. It is always Elegancia.
Addendum by Ward Russell:
As of this writing (1998) there are only two Eleganica members still alive. Remaining are Donald “Buck Schmuck and I. Tom Wells passed in 1986. In 1995, before the untimely demise of Cline in 1997, we had recognized that as the years went by, it would become prudent to appoint an official “Medical Consultant” to advise and assist us in the pursuit of longevity. Accordingly, Dr. George O. McPheeters, Cline’s doctor and very close friend, was selected and — by official resolution appointed to serve in that capacity. As such, he now attends the annual conclaves.
Editor’s Note: Russell passed away in 2001 and Schmuck in 2004 closing the book on one of Outrigger’s most dedicated and successful team of volunteers in its history.