Service Above Self — Making a Difference Together
At the Rotary Club of Hilo, service is more than something we do. It's what brings us together.
Our guiding motto, Service Above Self, reflects a simple belief: when people share their time, talents, and compassion, they can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Rotary's Five Avenues of Service provide the foundation for everything we do — from strengthening friendships within our club to helping our keiki succeed, supporting our community, and building understanding across the world.
Each avenue offers opportunities to connect, contribute, and experience the rewards of serving together.
1. Club Service — Building Friendships and Fellowship
Strong relationships make great service possible.
Club Service focuses on creating a welcoming, engaging, and well-organized Rotary experience where members develop friendships, share ideas, enjoy fellowship, and work together toward common goals.
Our meetings, social gatherings, committees, and club activities provide opportunities to get to know one another, discover shared interests, and build lasting connections.
Club Service also supports the leadership, communication, and day-to-day activities that keep our club thriving.
When members feel connected and valued, everyone benefits — including the communities we serve.
2. Vocational Service — Sharing Our Skills and Experience
Every profession, skill, and life experience offers an opportunity to serve others.
Vocational Service celebrates the dignity and value of meaningful work, promotes high ethical standards in business and professional life, and encourages Rotarians to use their knowledge and talents for the benefit of others.
At the Rotary Club of Hilo, we bring this commitment to life in several ways:
Business and Workplace Visits
Members visit local businesses and one another's workplaces to learn about the people, services, and organizations that help our community thrive.
Vocational Moments
During club meetings, members share stories about their careers, professional experiences, and the paths that brought them to where they are today. These conversations help us discover the remarkable diversity of knowledge and talent within our own club.
Career Guidance for Students
We share career information and professional experiences with students involved in our Interact clubs at Waiākea and Laupāhoehoe high schools, helping young people explore opportunities and prepare for their futures.
Vocational Service reminds us that what we know and what we do can become powerful ways to help others.
Whether you're interested in sharing your experience or learning from fellow members, there's always something new to discover.
3. Community Service — Caring for Our Island Home
Community Service is the heartbeat of Rotary.
It's where our commitment to Service Above Self becomes visible through meaningful action — neighbors helping neighbors, caring for our island, and responding to the needs of our community.
The Rotary Club of Hilo holds a special place in Hawaiʻi Island's Rotary history. As the island's first Rotary club, we are the hiapo — the firstborn — with a proud tradition of service and a responsibility to lead by example.
Our community service efforts emphasize areas where we can make a lasting difference:
- Literacy and Education: Helping children discover the joy of reading and supporting opportunities to learn.
- Youth: Investing in the next generation through education, mentorship, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Homelessness and Community Well-Being: Supporting individuals and families experiencing hardship and working with organizations addressing community needs.
- Our Environment: Caring for our island home and supporting efforts to protect the natural beauty and resources of Hawaiʻi.
- Community Partnerships: Working alongside local organizations, volunteers, and community leaders to accomplish more together.
Our service comes in many forms — preparing meals, helping families, supporting community organizations, participating in hands-on projects, and lending a helping hand wherever it's needed.
And while the work is meaningful, it's also an opportunity to enjoy friendships, laughter, and the satisfaction of making a difference together.
There are many ways to contribute: your time, your talents, or your treasure. Every contribution matters.
4. International Service — Sharing Aloha Around the World
Our commitment to service doesn't end at the shores of Hawaiʻi Island.
International Service connects Rotarians with people around the world to address humanitarian needs, promote peace, and build understanding across cultures.
As part of a global Rotary network, our club has opportunities to support initiatives that improve lives far beyond our local community.
These include:
Ending Polio
Through Rotary's PolioPlus initiative, Rotarians worldwide work with international partners toward the eradication of polio, one of Rotary's most ambitious humanitarian commitments.
Building International Understanding
Rotary encourages friendship, cultural exchange, and cooperation among people from different countries and backgrounds.
Youth Exchange
By supporting students who travel abroad or come to Hawaiʻi, Rotarians help young people experience new cultures, form lasting friendships, and become ambassadors of goodwill.
Global Humanitarian Service
Rotary's international network enables clubs to participate in projects that address needs such as clean water, health, education, and economic opportunity.
International Service gives us a way to extend the aloha we experience here at home to communities around the world.
Different countries. Different cultures. A shared commitment to humanity.
5. Youth Service — Investing in Tomorrow's Leaders
Few investments offer greater rewards than the time, encouragement, and care we give our young people.
Youth Service recognizes the extraordinary potential of children, teenagers, and young adults. Through education, mentoring, leadership development, and service opportunities, Rotary helps young people discover their abilities, build confidence, and become active contributors to their communities.
The Rotary Club of Hilo supports a variety of programs that create opportunities for our keiki and young adults.
Rotary in Kindergarten — Sharing the Joy of Reading
Imagine being a kindergartner looking forward to a visit from someone who comes just to read you a story.
Through Rotary in Kindergarten, club members visit classrooms each month to share books, encourage curiosity, and introduce young children to the joy of reading.
Sometimes students even receive a book of their own to take home.
These visits are about more than reading. They're about building connections, encouraging young minds, and letting children know that members of their community care about them.
Third Grade Dictionary Project — A Book of Their Own
For some children, receiving their very own dictionary is an unforgettable experience.
Through our Third Grade Dictionary Project, Rotary members visit local elementary schools to present third graders with personal dictionaries they can keep.
Students learn to look up words, explore fascinating facts, and discover how a dictionary can become a lifelong learning companion.
The shared goal of Hawaiʻi Island Rotary clubs is to help every third grader experience the pride and excitement of owning a dictionary.
[Learn More About Our Third Grade Dictionary Project]
Interact — Young People Making a Difference
Interact brings the Rotary spirit of service and leadership to high school students.
The Rotary Club of Hilo sponsors two Interact clubs:
- Waiākea High School Interact
- Laupāhoehoe Interact
These student-led clubs provide opportunities to develop leadership skills, build friendships, and participate in meaningful community service.
Rotarians support students through mentorship, visits to club meetings, career guidance, and participation in service projects.
Our Interact students bring fresh perspectives, tremendous energy, and hope for the future.
Rotaract — Service and Leadership for Young Adults
Rotaract extends Rotary's spirit of friendship, leadership, and service to young adults.
Together with other East Hawaiʻi Rotary clubs, we support the Rotaract Club at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.
Rotaract members bring together students from diverse backgrounds who share a desire to serve their communities, develop leadership skills, and build meaningful connections.
Rotarians contribute as mentors, collaborators, and supporters of the next generation of community leaders.
Rotary Youth Exchange — Building Bridges Across Cultures
Rotary Youth Exchange offers young people an extraordinary opportunity to experience life in another country, learn about different cultures, and build friendships that can last a lifetime.
Students from Hawaiʻi travel abroad, while students from other countries come to experience life here in our islands.
Rotarians and host families help make these experiences possible by welcoming students, offering guidance, and sharing the spirit of aloha.
Each exchange helps build understanding and friendship across cultures — one young person at a time.
RYLA — Discovering Leadership and Possibility
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, or RYLA, brings high school students together for an exciting leadership development experience.
Traditionally held over three days in the beautiful setting of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, RYLA combines leadership activities, teamwork, personal challenges, and opportunities for growth.
Students discover new strengths, build confidence, and form friendships with peers from around the island.
For the Rotarians who participate, RYLA is often just as rewarding. Teaching, learning, and growing happen together, and the experience can be transformative for everyone involved.
There's a place for everyone in Youth Service. Whether reading to young children, mentoring students, supporting leadership activities, or welcoming an exchange student, your encouragement can make a difference that lasts a lifetime.
Find Your Way to Serve
There is no single way to be a Rotarian.
Some members love hands-on community projects. Others enjoy helping young people learn, sharing professional expertise, building friendships, or contributing to international humanitarian efforts.
Many discover that the most rewarding experiences come from trying something new.
Whatever your interests, abilities, or available time, there's a place for you at the Rotary Club of Hilo.
Come share your aloha, build meaningful friendships, and experience the joy of Service Above Self.