During World War I, Hawaii’s Department of Civilian Relief played an essential role in supporting military families and maintaining social stability across the islands.
1. Supporting Military Families
Established in early 1918 under director John R. Galt, the department focused on assisting the families of enlisted men. It offered practical advice, financial help, and other forms of support to ease the challenges faced by those left at home.
2. Protecting Soldiers from Exploitation
To protect returning service members from predatory lenders offering fee-based bonus applications, the Red Cross distributed multilingual warnings in Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Hawaiian, Filipino, and English. Instead, the department helped with these applications free of charge, even handling submission to Washington.
3. Expanding Field Operations and Training Volunteers
Led by executive secretary Lena Waters, the department established branches on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai. Each island had a dedicated secretary and team of 120–135 volunteers trained in a six-week home service course. These volunteers became the front line of relief work.
4. Managing a Large, Diverse Caseload
Relief workers navigated Hawaii’s multicultural landscape, assisting families from various ethnic backgrounds. By the war’s end, they had managed 529 cases on Oahu, 128 on Maui, 120 on Kauai, and 316 on Hawaii island.
5. Providing Dignified Financial Assistance
Aid typically came in the form of interest-free loans. Many families repaid the loans, preserving dignity while ensuring financial accountability.
6. Working in Partnership
The department coordinated efforts with other agencies, including the War Risk Insurance Bureau and Camp Services, especially after the Hawaiian National Guard was deployed to Schofield Barracks and Fort Shafter.
The Department of Civilian Relief exemplified how wartime communities could organize to care for their own, even across islands and languages.
About the Author
