"WE SERVE: The Legacy Of The Hawai'i Lions," a documentary slated to air next month on KHNL-TV, details how a group of Hawai'i volunteers fought to have a "whites only" clause deleted from the Lions Clubs International bylaws in 1926.

By succeeding, the multi-racial Lions Club of Honolulu opened the doors for people of all races and nationalities to join the Lions, resulting in the largest service organization in the world, with 1.4-million members in over 200 countries. It would take over 40 years for other noteworthy civil rights struggles on the Mainland to completely open the doors for people of color.

The film also covers a number of other events that have made the Lions Clubs a part of Hawai'i's legacy, such as the "Bullets for Hitler War Bonds Drive"; Waikiki's First Snowball Fight; Mayor Fasi's Bus Stop Building Brigade; Honolulu's Largest & Most Expensive Parade; and, Helen Keller's 1937 visit to Hawai'i that inspired the Lions Clubs' efforts as the Knights Of The Blind.

Gov. Linda Lingle, Mayor Mufi Hannemann, City Councilman Charles Djou and others will appear in the documentary along with scores of rare film clips and photos.

The film was written and directed by local producer/screenwriter, Jim Bryan, and narrated by KHNL-News8 reporter/anchor, Diane Ako — both Lions members. The documentary's original music was written, performed, and donated by slack key award-winner Steven Espaniola, and, local pianist and composer John Tussey.

The documentary was funded entirely by grants and donations from the Kamehameha Lions Club Foundation, Hawai'i Lions Foundation, First Hawaiian Bank, and private benefactors. It will be made available on DVD to all schools, libraries, and community organizations after its premiere, which is set for 7 p.m. April 20 on KHNL, Channel 8.