Muslim Association of Hawaii
{{Short description|Islamic organization based in Hawaii, the United States}}
{{Infobox religious building
|image =
|caption = Muslim Association of Hawaii
|building_name = Muslim Association of Hawaii
|location = 1935 Aleo Pl, Honolulu, HI 96822
|geo =
|religious_affiliation = Islam
|website =
|architect =
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The Muslim Association of Hawaii is a nonprofit and charitable organization or a mosque in Manoa.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|title=Hawaii man with Syrian family wants to join travel ban suit|url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/02/09/breaking-news/hawaii-man-with-syrian-family-wants-to-join-travel-ban-suit/|website=staradvertiser|accessdate=March 16, 2017|date=February 9, 2017}}
Ismail Elshikh is the imam of the association, and is from Cairo, Egypt.{{cite web|last1=Ahmed|first1=Akbar|title=Journey into America: the challenge of Islam|url=http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/ID/4351/Brookings-Muslims-expel-reformer-from-Manoa-mosque-claim-Arabs-discovered-Hawaii.aspx|website=Hawaii Free Press|accessdate=March 16, 2017|date=May 25, 2011}}
Hakim Ouansafi, from Morocco, is the Arab head of the mosque committee, and is the president of the Muslim Association of Hawaii. Rashid Abdullah is the Information officer.
History
The Muslim Students' Association of Hawaii was originally composed of students from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. They were members of the East West Center and came from various parts of the world: India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and from the Middle East. They prayed at a cottage in the East West center prior to the purchase of the Manoa building, which became the Muslim Association of Hawaii in 1990. It was the first organization to represent Hawaii's Muslim population. Mohammad Asad Khan was a founding member of the Muslim Students' Association.{{cite web|title=The Muslim Association of Hawai'i – The History of the Muslim Association of Hawai'i|url=https://islaminpacific.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/the-muslim-association-of-hawaii-the-history-of-the-muslim-association-of-hawaii/|accessdate=March 16, 2017|date=January 16, 2012}}
In 1979, the MSA incorporated becoming the first official organization to represent Muslims in Hawaii.
The group helped form the mosque, which is near the University of Hawaii.
The majority of Muslim converts in Hawaii are military personnel.
Financial support
In 2011, it was reported that the organization receives funds from Prince Abdulaziz Bin Fahad Al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia and that Ouansafi said, “foreign money ... come(s) with strings attached.”{{cite web|last1=Walden|first1=Andrew|title=Hakim "Islam Day" Ouansafi to Direct Hawaii Public Housing Agency|url=http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/ID/5668/Hakim-Islam-Day-Ouansafi-to-Direct-Hawaii-Public-Housing-Agency.aspx|website=Hawaii Free Press|accessdate=March 16, 2017|date=December 15, 2011}}
See also
{{Portal|Hawaii|Islam}}