HISTORY OF HCEE

Born of grassroots concern and civic collaboration, the Hawai‘i Council on Economic Education (HCEE) traces its origins to a powerful, community-driven movement in the early 1950s. Recognizing the critical importance of economic literacy for Hawaii’s future, visionary leaders Dr. Thomas Hitch of First Hawaiian Bank and Robert Craig of the Hawaii Economic Foundation successfully persuaded the Territorial Department of Public Instruction in 1950 to establish an Advisory Council on Economic Education and dedicate full-time staff to the cause.

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This momentum quickly took root. In 1951, more than sixty teachers, farmers, businesspeople, and engaged citizens from the Hamakua Coast gathered for a two-week grassroots workshop exploring the fundamentals of Hawaii’s local and national economy. Their goal: to better understand regional economic challenges and translate this understanding into classroom-ready materials. This spontaneous effort, fueled by civic spirit and educational purpose, laid the foundation for what would soon become a formal statewide initiative.

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In 1952, the Hawaii Economic Education Advisory Council (HEEAC) was officially formed—bringing together leaders from business, labor, government, and education, under the leadership of Territorial Superintendent of Schools, Dr. W. Harold Loper. Over the next decade, HEEAC’s influence grew, and in 1963, Malcolm MacNaughton, CEO of Castle & Cooke, helped convene a cross-sector gathering that led to the formal creation of the Hawaii Joint Council on Economic Education.

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In 1965, a Memorandum of Intent was signed by the University of Hawaii, the Department of Education, and the economic community—solidifying a public-private partnership that played a significant role in shaping Hawaii's educational and economic landscape. Now known as the Hawai‘i Council on Economic Education (HCEE), the organization remains rooted in this legacy of collaboration, community initiative, and a steadfast commitment to equipping Hawaii’s students with the economic understanding essential for informed citizenship and collective prosperity.