A Special Year-End Report From Oni Foundation Inc

As we close out our first year, we want to take a moment to reflect and express our heartfelt gratitude to our amazing community of supporters, share some highlights of 2024, and unveil exciting plans for 2025!

Thank You for Your Support!

Oni Foundation Inc. may be a new organization, but our journey has been a long one. Wonderful World of Aloha has been a labor of love for over five years—a quest to find the right home for our vision. Along the way, we faced unexpected challenges, including the devastating Lahaina fires that disrupted many of our plans and affected countless lives and livelihoods. But despite these hurdles, our mission continues to thrive, and we are grateful for your support in helping us bring it to life.

When we first opened the Wonderful World of Aloha Center, we did so with dreams and determination. While we didn’t foresee every challenge, we never could have imagined the positive response and impact we’ve experienced. We want to sincerely thank you for your generosity—whether through donations, sharing our project with family and friends, or simply embracing our mission and vision.

Looking Back: 6 Months of Growth and Community Impact

In our first six months, we’ve welcomed nearly 10,000 new and repeat guests to our center—from our daily cultural classes to special events, private parties, community groups and Zumba fitness. In addition, we’ve supported dozens of local cultural artisans, musicians, and dance experts, providing them with new economic opportunities and helping to expand their reach within the community by making our space accessible and available.

One of the year's highlights has been the launch of our Keiki Field Trip Experience with MEO Head Start. It has been an absolute joy to introduce keiki ages 3 to 5 to the rich diversity of cultures that are a part of Hawaiʻi’s heritage. These young learners are the future, and we are proud to share the beauty of our cultural inheritance with them.

Expanding Our Reach: Online and Beyond

Our efforts to spread the word and connect with a wider audience have seen great success. We’ve built a strong online presence and can now be found across multiple platforms such as TripAdvisor, Google Things to Do, GetYourGuide, FareHarbor, and Expedia, to name just a few. Additionally, through our Google Ads Nonprofit Grant, we now receive $10,000 in monthly advertising support, helping us increase our visibility even further.

Our website is secure, verified, and a central hub for visitors to learn more about our mission, book classes, and donate to our cause. We are also excited to have launched a modest gift shop, featuring collectibles from our in-house crafters and items from the cultures we showcase. In the future, we plan to expand this offering with branded items and other local artisan products, providing an additional income stream for the talented individuals we work with.

Looking Ahead: Exciting Plans for 2025

As we look to 2025, we’re excited to continue growing and refining our efforts. Our goals include:

• Expanding our outreach to serve even more people

• Develop our Advisory Committee

• Implementing Scholarships to make our programs more accessible and support our youth

• Launching a Cultural Ambassador Program to further promote cross-cultural pursuits

• Working toward a permanent location for our museum and cultural presentations, so we can continue to preserve and celebrate Hawaiʻi’s rich heritage.

  
  

Join Us on This Incredible Journey!

This is just the beginning, and we hope you’ll continue to be part of this one-of-a-kind community experience. Together, we can build a future that honors and shares the cultural treasures of Hawaiʻi and beyond.

With sincere appreciation, The Oni Foundation Inc. Team

A big Mahalo to the following donors, sponsors, supporters and partners:

…and to the many others who generously supported Oni Foundation this year. Mahalo!