Palama Settlement among honorees of church league

Central Union Church Women’s League is honoring Palama Settlement and similar organizations at its biannual general meeting and luncheon, “From Seeds to Trees,” today in the parish hall.

The league is honoring community, church and school organizations whose beginnings connect significantly to Central Union’s history of “planting seeds” in the community, said program chairwoman Evelyn Aczon Hao in a news release.

“Many years later, those seeds have become trees which bless the community every day. Palama Settlement is one of those trees,” she said.

According to the release, Central Union Church once ran what was Kalihi Settlement for immigrants and people who had lost homes in the Chinatown fire of 1900.

“In 1910, it became Palama Settlement, an independent organization with no specific religious affiliation and more social services. Palama Settlement still continues the good work,” Hao said.

“From Seeds to Trees” is the first of a series of projects before a luau Nov. 11, the culminating event of the celebration of Central Union’s 130th anniversary, she said.