History Statement:
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"Na `Opio o Ka `Aina (NOOK), which translates to "The Youth of the Land", was started in 1985 by several students from Hawai'i. The original purpose of NOOK was to ease the transition of Hawai'i students to the mainland lifestyle, as well as college life. Since Hawaiian students are so far away from a culture completely different than the one found in Irvine, it is sometimes hard to adjust to life on the mainland. The idea behind the club is to be a social support group so students from Hawai'i wouldn't feel homesick and would have things to do outside of the classroom.
Soon, club began to grow as members started to share the Aloha spirit and spread Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to the surrounding UCI community via cultural workshops, performances, and other social events. With each year, each new member brings something special to the club.
As a club, we hope to be able to help as many students from Hawai'i feel welcome and at home on the mainland. Together, our goal is to share the Aloha spirit with as many people as we can. If you can't go to Hawai'i, we will try to bring it to you. Whether you want to learn a little bit about Hawaiian and Polynesian culture or just want to kick it with friends, NOOK is the place for you. Welcome to our `Ohana!"
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Early History Objects:
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- Recovered from Special Collections: Box #86 - A88-049
- Recovered from Special Collections: Box #124 - A97-031
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Mission Statement:
"Na `Opio O Ka `Aina exists to ease the transition of students from Hawai'i and with the goal of spreading the aloha spirit."
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Website link
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Notable Annual Events:
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Annual Luau (27 years' worth - as of May 2018)
