A History of The Outdoor Circle

Cherilla Storrs Lowrey, first President of The Outdoor Circle, with the Executive Committee, 1916
Founders of The Outdoor Circle
​Anna Rice Cooke  |  Mrs. Isaac Cox   |  Francis Lawrence  |  Cherilla Lowrey  |  Laura Sherman  |  Kulunanu Ward  |  Ida Waterhouse
The Outdoor Circle was started in 1912 by the seven women, whose names are listed above.
Their united goal was to beautify Hawai‘i. They started in Honolulu by planting trees and creating a campaign to oppose billboards which dotted the landscape at the time. Their efforts grew to include the entire island of Oahu as well as other islands across the state.

Over 113 years later, The Outdoor Circle is responsible for planting hundreds of thousands of trees, establishing public fountains, park, playgrounds, and gardens across the island chain while championing the conservation of native trees and shrubs, spawning generations of environmental stewards, and working to keep
unsightly outdoor signage and visual blight under control.

Would you like to learn more about The Outdoor Circle's First President,
Cherilla Storrs Lowrey, as well as a list of the President's throughout the years?

The Hawaiian Gazette: ( Honolulu [Oahu, Hawai‘i] ) 1865-1918
​April 05, 1912

TOC: The First 50 Years
by Alice Spalding Brown ~ September 1962

The Roots of the Circle
by Cynthia M. Steele ~ May 1976

The Outdoor Circle: 65 Years of Service to Hawai‘i
The Star-Advertiser ~ 1977

Digging into The Outdoor Circle
The Sally H. Edwards Archive of The Outdoor Circle

​The Sally H. Edwards archive contains materials about The Outdoor Circle from 1911 to 2004.

The Outdoor Circle ~ Its Legacy and Lasting Impact on Hawai‘i

Interactive Maps of The Outdoor Circle Environmental Stewardship 
The Outdoor Circle and its branches have provided our communities statewide with a wealth of environmental improvements and beautification projects over the past century. Many of these stewardship efforts are displayed on our website via a series of interactive maps. Clicking on the map icons will bring up photos and information about The Outdoor Circle activity at that site. 

Highlights of The Outdoor Circle's History