UH’s most generous donors, our Hoku society members, were honored at an exclusive dinner at the Kahala Hotel and Resort. The evening’s program celebrated the power of dreams, and the lasting legacies that gifts of $1 million and more are building.
Guests arrived to warm greetings, and guitar music by UH alumnus, scholarship recipient, and now classical guitar lecturer Ian O’Sullivan on the Kahala Terrace. During dinner in the Waialae Ballroom, UH faculty and leadership greatly enjoyed having a meaningful opportunity to share with their donors how their gifts are making a unique impact on their students, programs and research. The program also recognized new Hoku society members and remembered those who recently passed away, but whose generosity continues to fulfil their philanthropic visions. Music by the UH Mānoa faculty/alumni string quartet made for a soothing backdrop to lively conversations during a delicious dinner. Ian O‘Sullivan graciously provided copies of his new CD for our special guests and the evening ended on a sweet note with everyone receiving a jar of honey from the UH Honeybee Project.
As Interim UH System President David Lassner said, “As Hoku Society members, you are our most generous donors, our stars, and your impact is demonstrated every day in support of public higher education in Hawai'i. You are truly making a difference in our ability to discover new planets, preserve the world’s corals and truly understand the impact of global warming. You are helping Hawai'i evolve into a self-sustaining ecosystem which is critical to our future as an isolated land mass in the middle of the Pacific. You are helping to honor and preserve our host culture through revitalization of native species, preserving our language and educating our native Hawaiians who are now educating the keiki of our future. That is impact.”
We are most grateful!
The Hoku Society is the UH Foundation’s top donor recognition society acknowledging the university’s philanthropic stars. Individual and corporate donors of $1 million or more comprise this most exclusive group of University of Hawai‘i philanthropists.
