Parks Family Roots in Hawaiʻi
Blending European Heritage with Native Hawaiian Ancestry
The Parks family story is deeply woven into Hawaiʻi’s history. Our roots reflect a rich tapestry of English and Scottish heritage blended with Native Hawaiian ancestry, creating a unique legacy that continues to guide both our family and the Foundation today.
Atlantic to Pacific Origins
The Parks family’s European roots trace back to the United Kingdom. During the 1600s, our ancestors settled and farmed along the coastlines of colonial Virginia and Delaware.
Following the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, in the early 1900s our family came to the islands to serve in the Federal Judiciary and U.S. Navy, in support of the growing economy of the Territory of Hawaiʻi. Their commitment and service laid the foundation for our family’s long-term presence in the islands.
Native Hawaiian Ancestry from Maui
Through the maternal line, our family traces its Native Hawaiian ancestry to Maui. Following the formation of the Kingdom, our family emigrated to Oʻahu, settling in areas that are now East Honolulu as well as in Mākaha. This ancestral lineage connects us to the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of Hawaiʻi, including deep ties to the land (‘āina) and the values of kuleana (responsibility) and aloha. These core values underpin our Foundation.
Eva Ninia Storrs (née King) at the Queen Emma Summer Palace in 1962, representing the Daughters of Hawaiʻi.
Hon. John Parks III with Georgiana, Beth, and Kate Parks waiting for (brother) Captain Lewis Parks (USN) to descend from the USS Manchester docked at Pearl Harbor, 1951.
Photo courtesy of the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum.
The Blending of Two Worlds: A Living Legacy
The union of these two heritages during the 1900s created a blended family story integrating both European and Native Hawaiian ancestries and traditions.
This island-style fusion is reflected directly in how our family lives, works, and gives back: respecting and honoring our past while looking forward toward a hopeful and sustainable future for Hawaiʻi nei.
Inspiration for our Foundation
This living legacy directly inspires the mission of the Parks Family Foundation. Our grantmaking in sustainable agriculture, community development, and land stewardship is a natural extension of our family’s history and values. By supporting organizations that care for Hawaiʻi’s ‘āina and people, we honor our ancestors who came before us while investing in our island home to benefit generations yet to come.
This is the quiet legacy we are proud to carry forward, as an 'ohana.
Imua.