Please note that this is not our home lodge but is a lodge that one of our brethen has visited. Our lodge is located in the San Fracisco Bay Area.

   On this trip, I was announced by the Grand Lodge of California and I was awaited by the Grand Lodge of Hawaii! Most Worshipful Brother Grand Secretary Randy, Past Grand Master had sent an email to the Masters of each lodge on the island to be on the looked-out for my visit and grant me the fraternal welcome if I visited their lodges.
   As a courtesy, I still presented myself to the GL of Hawaii to present my credentials. There I met with MW Brother Randy with whom I had a great and relaxing conversation. He confirmed when the lodges were meeting during that week and I decided to visit a lodge that same night.
   I presented myself at the time agreed to Makiki Temple and was welcome by many brethren. Bro. Aylett, the Jr. Deacon spent a great deal of time with me to explain the history of Freemasonry in Hawaii. The 2 oldest lodges in Hawaii are described below (History from GL of Hawaii Website)

Lodge Le Progres de l'Oceanie

Freemasonry was formally established in Hawai by Joseph Marie Le Tellier, Captain of the French whaling barque "Ajax" when he warranted Lodge Le Progres de l'Oceanie No. 124, of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Supreme Council of France on April 8, 1843, in Honolulu. This was the first Masonic Lodge to be instituted in the Sandwich Islands as we were known in those days, and quite likely the first Lodge to be founded in the Pacific, West of the Rocky Mountains. Captain Le Tellier sailed the Ajax into Honolulu Harbor on March 30, 1843, to have the ship refitted. It was during the period when the vessel was undergoing repairs that Joseph Marie Le Tellier, Sovereign Prince Rose-Croix, 18th Degree, and Special Inspector of the Supreme Council, instituted Lodge Le Progres de l'Oceanie, No. 124, A.A.S.R., in the store of Jules Dudoit, a businessman and French consul at the time. Dudoit Lane in the Waikiki section of Honolulu is named for him. He hailed from Port-Louis, Mauritius.

Hawaiian Lodge

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.

   I was particularly impressed by the pedigree of the PMs of Le Progres. This royal lineage is commemorated by a plaque outside of the Temple.
   We started with a festive dinner composed of the traditional Hawaiian roasted pork and plenty of seasoning and sides for everyone to enjoy.
   Then we moved to the lodgeroom for the Stated Meeting. A visitor from Colorado was also presents and we did compare a few differences in ritual.
   Before the meeting, I realized that The Most Worshipful Dennis S.A. Ing, Grand Master of all Masons in Hawaii was actually in the room. Right before entering the room, after signing the tiler’s book, he took me apart and gave me the GL of Hawaii lapel pin. What an honor! I was very impressed by his humility but also charismatic aura, like a reassuring presence.
   WM Alex E:. did a great job driving the meeting and since the ritual in Hawaii is based on the California ritual, it was extremely easy to remember. Under the visitors’ announcement, we met west of the altar with WM Alex and he presented to both visitors a bolo tie with the coat of arms of Hawaii Lodge. I presented him in return with the token of our lodge (125^th anniversary) which seemed quite small in regard to their reception.
   WM Alex, also asked me to present the official Fraternal and Kind Regards of Hawaii Lodge to the WM and the Brethren of Peninsula Lodge #168 which I did at our last Stated Meeting in April.
   Again, the GL of Hawaii may be young but the history of FM on the islands is long and impressive. The ritual was familiar but the curiosity to learn more on the historical side will probably drive me back to Hawaii. Well, and also for the great location…and also for the great warmth of its inhabitants and brethren.

Fraternally,
Sebastien Taveau, P.M.