On December 8, 1851, thirteen Master Masons met at the home of Captain John Meek and decided to petition the Grand Lodge of California for a Charter for a Masonic Lodge in Honolulu to be called Hawaiian Lodge. On February 10, 1852, a Dispensation dated January 12, 1852 was received and the first meeting was held. On March 18, 1852, Michael R. Harvey and Richard Coady were the first to be initiated. The Charter, dated May 5, 1852, was received later and the Lodge was numbered 21. Meetings were held in a two-story frame building on the lower side of King Street near Smith Street until October 6, 1856. Hawaiian Lodge then moved into a three story brick building at the corner of Queen and Kaahumanu Streets, where it remained for twenty-three years until September 30, 1879.

On Saturday, January 4, 1879, the cornerstone of the first Temple at the corner of Fort and Queen Streets was laid, and the hall was dedicated on September 30 of the same year. This building was used for thirteen years when another move was made. On Tuesday, December 27, 1892, the cornerstone of the Temple at Hotel and Alakea Streets was laid, and the hall was dedicated on November 27 of the following year. Hawaiian Lodge stayed in this Temple for forty-five years. On Saturday, July 10, 1937, the cornerstone of the Temple at the corner of Makiki and Kinau Streets was laid, and the hall was dedicated on July 31st.

In 1950 Hawaiian Lodge conveyed its ownership to the Honolulu Masonic Temple Association, thereby selling 3/4 of its interest in the Temple to three other Masonic Lodges. Ever Since, Hawaiian Lodge has shared ownership of the Temple with Lodge Le Progres de l'Oceanie, Honolulu Lodge and Pearl Harbor Lodge.

Today Hawaiian Lodge is now the State's largest and most active Masonic Lodge. It has nearly 500 members on its roster, and sponsors a growing DeMolay Chapter.

Hawaiian Lodge meets every Wednesday evening, the first meeting of every month being its stated meeting. Other Wednesdays are reserved for Degree work, practices, family nights or Masonic education.

     The Masonic Lodges of Hawaii had a long association with the Grand Lodge of California going back to 1852, when Hawaiian Lodge was Chartered by California. Hawaiian Lodge No. 21, Free and Accepted Masons, was the second Lodge to be founded in Hawaii. On December 8, 1851 a meeting of Master Masons was held in the home of Captain John Meek where it was resolved to petition the Grand Lodge of California to grant a charter to the petitioners to form a Master Masons' Lodge in Honolulu, and "Hawaiian" to be in the Lodge name. The second meeting was also held at the residence of Captain Meek, where the brethren were presented with a dispensation dated January 12, 1852 to Hawaiian Lodge (as requested). The first regular meeting of Hawaiian Lodge U.D. was held on February 19, 1852. The Lodge was chartered, Hawaiian Lodge No. 21, F. & A.M. on May 5, 1852 by the Grand Lodge of California, Free and Accepted Masons, and was the first American Lodge founded in Hawaii. Its charter shows the location of the Lodge to be, the City of Honolulu, Island of Oahu, of the Sandwich Islands. Paty Drive in the Woodlawn-Manoa section of Honolulu is named for Captain John Paty, one of the founders of Hawaiian Lodge.

Hawaiian Lodge and Hawaiian Royalty

In the days of the Hawaiian Kingdom, a special relationship was enjoyed between Freemasonry and the Monarchy, including some men closely associated with the Monarchy. This favorable situation was due to several members of the Hawaiian Royalty being members of the Craft, and some Caucasian Freemasons who had settled in the islands and married into one of the Royal families.

Among those who joined Hawaiian Lodge were:

PRINCE LODGE KAMEHAMEHA V, fifth ruler of the Hawaiian kingdom, was the first native Hawaiian to become a Freemason. On February 27, 1853, he was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Hawaiian Lodge No. 21.

PRINCE WILLIAM PITT LELEIOHOKU, younger brother of King David Kalakaua was a member of Hawaiian Lodge No. 21. The young Prince was appointed heir to the throne by David Kalakaua four days after Kalakaua became King. Prince Leleiohoku died at the early age of 23. As a result of his death, his older sister Lydia became the heir apparent to the throne. So when King David Kalakaua died, the reign of Lydia Lili'uokalani began. She was the last Monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom; Lili'uokalani was deposed in January 1893.

ARCHIBALD SCOTT CLEGHORN, was Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Hawaiian Lodge. He was the husband of Princess Likelike, younger sister of King Kalakaua and Lili'uokalani; and the father of Princess Kaiulani who was heir apparent to the throne. He had been known as the father of Hawaii's Park System as a result of his designing several parks including the famous Thomas Square and the Royal Mausoleum.

(Excerpted from the Grand Lodge of Hawaii website

http://www.hawaiifreemason.org/resources/hawaiian-royalty.pdf)