For more than seven decades, the Jennie K. Wilson Invitational has stood as one of Hawaiʻi’s most respected amateur golf tournaments. Hosted annually by the Mid-Pacific Country Club Women’s Division, the tournament is a celebration of excellence and sportsmanship—and one of Hawaiʻi women’s amateur golf’s most meaningful titles.

The Championship’s History

The tournament began in 1950, when Mid-Pacific Country Club’s Women’s Division sought to create a premier 54-hole championship for amateur women golfers. While looking to establish a competitive event, the Club’s members also sought to honor someone whose life embodied the values of aloha and perseverance. They unanimously chose Jennie Kapahu Wilson, affectionately known as “Auntie Jennie.”

Although Jennie K. Wilson was not a golfer herself, she was a beloved and influential figure in Hawaiʻi. A former dancer in the court of King Kalākaua and the wife of Honolulu Mayor John H. Wilson, Kini Kapahu Wilson (affectionately known as Jennie) was admired for her warmth, grace, and commitment to preserving Hawaiian culture. She is also remembered for using her influence to support the suffragette movement that advanced women’s rights nationwide.

Her personal motto (and that of Kamehameha Schools)—Kūlia i ka Nuʻu or “strive for the highest”—became the tournament’s guiding principle and continues to inspire competitors to this day.

Over the years, the Jennie K. Wilson Invitational has played a vital role in advancing women’s golf across Hawaiʻi. Many of the state’s finest amateur players have competed in the event before achieving success at collegiate, national, and professional levels.

The tournament’s impressive list of champions includes legendary Hawaiʻi golfers, including six-time winner Joan Damon, Jackie Pung, Michelle Wie (who famously won the tournament at age 11), and two-time winner Mariel Galdiano—not to mention countless accomplished athletes who completed on our Lanikai fairways.

Our Unique Tournament Format

One of the qualities that sets the Jennie K. Wilson Invitational apart is its unique format. Unlike many amateur competitions, the championship is contested as a 54-hole low gross medal play tournament, challenging players to maintain consistency and focus over three demanding rounds.

This format rewards sustained ability rather than playing one exceptional round, making every shot count from the opening tee-off to the final putt. The Jennie K. Wilson Invitational remains one of only two amateur women’s tournaments in Hawaiʻi to use this championship format.

One of O’ahu’s Most Scenic Private Club Venues

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Koʻolau Mountains and the turquoise waters surrounding Lanikai, Mid-Pacific Country Club provides both a challenging championship course and an unforgettable setting at one of Hawaiʻi’s most scenic private golf venues.

The beauty of the landscape is matched only by the competitive spirit displayed by generations of participants who have embraced the opportunity to test their skills on one of the state’s most iconic courses.

Today, the Jennie K. Wilson Invitational remains a cornerstone of Mid-Pacific Country Club’s annual calendar. It reflects our long-standing commitment to fostering competitive play opportunities for women. As each new generation of golfers arrives to compete, they become part of a legacy that stretches back to 1950.

Year after year, competitors answer Auntie Jennie’s timeless call to Kūlia i ka Nuʻu—to strive for the highest.