ASSOCIATION OF HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUBS
A RESOLUTION
NO. 2020 – 28
COMMEMORATING AND RECOGNIZING THE TIRELESS WORK, DEDICATION, AND VOLUNTARISM OF “ISLAND” EMORY NIHIPALI ON THE LITTLE GRASS SHACK RADIO SHOW
WHEREAS, Emory Nihipali, originally from Hauʻula, Hawai’i, entered the field of radio broadcasting in 1998 as part of a Hawaiian radio show on KLAV Las Vegas for which he raised money from sponsors to be able to broadcast talk and Hawaiian music; and
WHEREAS, “Island” Emory Nihipali began the Little Grass Shack radio show on KUNV/91.5 FM broadcast from Greenspun Hall, Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies, University of Nevada-Las Vegas on August 14, 1999, to bring music and laughter, and spread the Spirit of Aloha across Southern Nevada and especially to Las Vegas; and
WHEREAS, “Island” Emory has conducted his broadcasts of the Little Grass Shack for 21 years purely out of love of doing the work to share his Aloha Spirit, island culture, lifestyle and traditions with listeners without any compensation; and
WHEREAS, the Little Grass Shack show is one of the longest running Hawaiian radio shows in the 49 states broadcasting, in the past on Saturdays and later all week, and now specifically every Sunday; and
WHEREAS, the Little Grass Shack will be inducted into the Nevada Public Radio Hall of Fame in 2021 for 20 years of broadcasts perpetuating the Hawaiian culture genre; and
WHEREAS “Island” Emory broadcasts talk story, traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music along with music from around the Pacific, and ‘ōlelo Hawaiʻi segments to keep sharing and continuing to build a stronger foundation of Aloha on the continent; and
WHEREAS, “Island” Emory Nihipali develops and broadcasts special features such as Topics in the Tropics, WTF: What the Fact, and WikiWiki Sports to provide an experience for his listeners that promotes aloha and a feeling of “being there” for those not in Hawai‘i; and
WHEREAS, the Little Grass Shack has supported the annual Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club’s Pacific Islander Festival and Hoʻolauleʻa by broadcasting information and details of when past year’s events would occur to let the local Las Vegas Hawaiian Community know of the event including conducting a live broadcast on-site at the 2015 Hoʻolauleʻa in Henderson, Nevada; and
WHEREAS, “Island” Emory Nihipali developed an annual scholarship program for Pacific Islander students attending the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and awarded three $500 scholarships in 2019; and
WHEREAS, “Island” Emory Nihipali mentored and provided oversight of his co-host Angel Tabalba on her development of a program for Asian American Pacific Islander students to intern on the Little Grass Shack radio show.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs at its 61st Annual Convention held online, in the malama of Makali‘i and the rising of ʻOlekūkolu, this 22nd day of November 2020, commemorating and recognizing the tireless work, dedication, and voluntarism of “Island” Emory Nihipali on the Little Grass Shack radio show; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to Emory Nihipali, the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club, Nā Lei Makalapua (Mainland Council), the Governor of the State of Nevada, the Mayor of Las Vegas, the Mayor of Henderson, the Mayor of North Las Vegas, President of the Nevada State Senate, Speaker of the Nevada State House of Representatives, Speaker of the Nevada State Assembly, Chair of the Asian American Pacific Islanders National Committee, Chair of the Clark County Asian American Pacific Islanders Community Commission, as well as the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, President of the State Senate, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, Chair of the State Senate subject matter committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the State House subject matter committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and all County Mayors in the State of Hawai‘i.
The undersigned herby certifies that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted in the malama of Makaliʻi and the rising of ʻOlekūkolu on the 22nd day of November 2020, at the 61st Annual Convention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs held online.
Hailama V.K.K. Farden, President