By Robert Camilleri
Special to the Herald
The Hawaii State Council of the Knights of Columbus held its 47th annual convention and banquet April 25, the feast day of St. Mark.
Bishop Larry Silva, a fourth-degree Knight, celebrates the opening convention Mass at St. Jude Church in Kapolei. During his homily, Bishop Silva thanked the members and their families for their volunteer service in the aftermath of both the Maui wildfires in 2023 and the recent Kona low storms that wreaked havoc across the state.
After Mass and breakfast prepared by the Hawaii State Council’s Women’s Auxiliary, council delegates assembled inside St. Jude Church and state deputy Lito Alvarez opened the meeting.
Bishop Silva offered the opening prayer. Delegates then watched a video message from Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly in which he encouraged every Knight and his family to have an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in their home.
A Supreme Council representative, board of directors member and supreme director Colin Jorsch Jr. of North Carolina, also addressed the delegates. He congratulated the Hawaii Knights for contributing $500,000 to various charities — an average of $146 per member.
During the convention, the following Knights were elected to serve as State Council officers for the 2026-27 fraternal year:
- State deputy Lito Alvarez
- State secretary William Castillo
- State treasurer Joshua Kapika
- State advocate Alberto Morales
- State warden Galo Camacho
In the evening, more than 180 Knights and their families gathered at the Kroc Center in Ewa Beach for the annual Hawaii State Council banquet and awards presentation.
Kapika, who served as master of ceremonies, welcomed the Knights and their families.
State chaplain Father Peter Miti gave the invocation and blessed the buffet dinner. During the meal, the keiki of the Kroc Center’s Ha‘a Hula halau under the direction of kumu Tammy Silva gave a beautiful performance. Following dinner, Bishop Silva again addressed the attendees.
The awards portion of the banquet began with a presentation by Alvarez of a check for $2,475 from the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council to Special Olympics Hawaii and its CEO Dan Epstein.
Alvarez then announced the “Faith in Action” awards: family of the year, Michael and Nichole DeWitt of Council 6307; Faith Award, Council 10475; Life Award, Council 14620; Family Award, Council 12935; and the Community Award, Council 14663. The Blessed Michael McGivney Award, honoring the chaplain of the year, went to Father Romple Emwalu of Council 16741.
Earning special recognition were the Immaculate Conception Council 6734 on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, and the Father Jose Reyes Nacu Council 12935 on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.
Since 2005, the Hawaii State Council has awarded its lifetime achievement award to a worthy Knight and, if married, also to his wife. On the 20th anniversary of the presentation of this honor, state Sen. Mike Gabbard, a 2009 recipient of the award along with his wife Carol, spoke about joining the Knights of Columbus and receiving the lifetime achievement award.
After his remarks, Gabbard presented a Senate honorary certificate commending the 35 recipients of the lifetime achievement award to Alvarez, who accepted it on behalf of the Hawaii State Council. Former state advocate and Grand Knight Robert B. Camilleri also read the names and councils of all 35 recipients, several of whom were in attendance.
The closing prayer was offered by Father Emwalu, who is also pastor of St. Michael Church in Waialua.
Above: State deputy Lito Alvarez presents the family of the year award to Michael and Nichole De Witt and their four children. (Courtesy Cameron Datanagan)