September Newsletter: Charity Walk Success, Expanded Hula Lessons & Digital Museum App
Updated: 2 hours ago
Aloha and welcome to our September newsletter! As we transition into the vibrant rhythms of autumn, the Oni Foundation is excited to share a season packed with inspiring achievements, new opportunities, and enriched cultural experiences.
This month, we’re embracing the spirit of community and growth with initiatives that celebrate our shared heritage and look toward the future. From expanded hula classes and cultural education to innovative ways of connecting through digital storytelling, we’re deepening the connections that make our ohana strong. We’re also opening our doors wider to cultural practitioners eager to contribute and collaborate, and we remain deeply grateful to our partners and donors whose support breathes life into all we do.
Read on to discover all the exciting details about these updates— mahalo for joining us on this journey as we continue to nurture the aloha spirit throughout Maui and beyond!
Together We Walked, Together We Excelled: Charity Walk Raises Over $11,000!
A big mahalo to everyone who laced up their walking shoes and supported our cause! 30 passionate walkers proudly represented the Oni Foundation in the annual 2.5-mile Charity Walk. Thanks to your incredible dedication, energy, and fundraising efforts, we achieved fantastic final results.
We are thrilled to announce that our team raised a grand total of $11,031.53, a figure that includes a generous matching contribution from the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association (MHLA).
On August 7th, we celebrated alongside 74 other local nonprofit recipients at a beautiful brunch reception hosted by the Fairmont Kealani Resort. It was an inspiring day of community solidarity, showing just how much we can achieve when Maui's organizations and supporters come together for a common goal.
These funds will go directly toward fueling our cultural and community programs at the center. We are deeply grateful to our walkers, donors, and MHLA for investing in our mission and helping us keep the spirit of aloha thriving.
Step Into the Rhythm: Expanded Hula Lessons Now 4 Days a Week!
Hula is far more than a dance—it is the heartbeat of Hawaiian storytelling and an excellent point of entry to experience our local culture. We believe the beauty and connection of hula should be shared by all, which is why our classes are designed for everyone and all ages. Whether you are a total beginner or looking to deepen your practice, there is a place for you in our circle.
To meet growing interest from our community, we are thrilled to announce that we have expanded our hula lessons to four times per week.
You can now join us every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 11am. With more sessions available, it is easier than ever to fit this cultural practice into your weekly routine. Come move, learn the stories behind the movements, and connect with fellow residents and visitors alike.
Spaces fill up quickly, so we encourage you to secure your spot in advance!
Share Your Art and Heritage: Paid Opportunities for Cultural Practitioners at WWoA
The Wonderful World of Aloha (WWoA) has quickly become a vibrant hub for both residents and visitors to explore unique cultural entry points in our community. As our center grows, we are actively expanding our network of cultural practitioners who can share their knowledge, traditions, and passion with an eager audience.
If you are an expert in your field, we invite you to collaborate with us. We are currently seeking practitioners to offer engaging programs, workshops, and performances. We provide paid opportunities for experts to present their craft, dance, or music, with flexible scheduling available for either ongoing or occasional presentations.
Whether you teach a traditional art form, share history through song, or guide hands-on craft workshops, your voice belongs at WWoA. By partnering with us, you help preserve essential cultural knowledge while connecting directly with both locals and global visitors who are eager to learn.
How to Apply:
If you are interested in sharing your talents, please reach out to our team at the center or visit this page HERE and include:
A brief description of your craft, dance, or music
Your experience as a practitioner
Your preference for ongoing series or single presentations
Help us continue to grow this special cultural space. We look forward to creating something wonderful together!
Digital museum (Stqry) Announcing the Wonderful World of Aloha Migrations Digital Museum App!
We are very excited to announce a project we’ve been developing for many months, which has been one of our core intentions for our Cultural Ambassador Program to onboard new members to our team.
The Wonderful World of Aloha Migrations Digital Museum app, powered by Stqry, is officially live!
This interactive digital experience brings our history directly to your fingertips. Whether you are a new team member or a long-time supporter of our community, this app is designed to deepen your connection to the rich tapestry of cultures that shape Hawaiʻi.
Here is what you can explore in the app:
Virtual Tours: Tour the museum's displays from anywhere.
Rich History: Learn the deeply moving history of migrations to Hawaiʻi.
Interactive Quizzes: Test your knowledge after exploring the exhibits.
Badges & Rewards: Collect digital badges as you learn and earn rewards like free bookings and special discounts.
We invite you to dive into the stories, test your knowledge, and share this wonderful resource with your ohana.
Check it out and explore the app today at https://wwoa.stqry.app!
Maui News “Best of Maui” Campaign
The Maui News "Best of Maui" Campaign is officially underway, and we are absolutely thrilled to announce that the Oni Foundation has been nominated in three major Arts and Entertainment categories:
Best Cultural Program
Best Live Theater
Best Museum
Being recognized in these categories is a massive honor, and it reflects the hard work of our team and the incredible community support at our Wonderful World of Aloha center. From expanding our cultural hula programs to launching our new digital museum app, we strive every day to provide meaningful entry points into local heritage for both residents and visitors alike. Now, we need your help to bring these titles home!
Voting is quick, easy, and makes a tremendous difference in helping us share the spirit of aloha with an even wider audience. Every single vote validates the dedication of our cultural practitioners, musicians, dancers, and volunteers who pour their hearts into our programs.
How to Cast Your Vote:
Head over to the official Maui News "Best of Maui" voting portal.
Navigate to the Arts and Entertainment section.
Cast your vote for the Oni Foundation in all three categories: Cultural Program, Live Theater, and Museum.
Thank you for your continuous support, your belief in our mission, and for standing with us as we celebrate and preserve the vibrant traditions of Hawaiʻi. Let’s show everyone the strength of our ohana!
Stronger Together: Support the Partners Who Make Our Mission Possible
At the Oni Foundation, our work to preserve cultural traditions and serve the Maui community is fueled by collaboration. We are incredibly proud to collaborate with local businesses, organizations, and sponsors who share our deep commitment to the spirit of aloha. Today, we are thrilled to unveil our brand-new Community Partner & Sponsor Page.
This dedicated page is designed to highlight the incredible network of supporters standing behind the Oni Foundation and our programs at the Wonderful World of Aloha center. These businesses and individuals do more than just sponsor our initiatives—they actively invest in the cultural education, arts, and heritage that keep our community vibrant and resilient.
Our corporate partnerships directly support:
Cultural Practitioners: Providing paid opportunities for local musicians, dancers, and historians to share their crafts.
Community Access: Keeping our expanded hula lessons and educational programs accessible to residents of all ages.
Innovative Preservation: Funding projects like our interactive digital museum app to keep history alive for generations to come.
We firmly believe that a strong community thrives on mutual support. We warmly encourage our residents, visitors, and extended ohana to give back to those who give so much to us. When you choose to patronize our sponsors, you are directly reinforcing the foundation that keeps our cultural entry points open to everyone.
We invite you to explore our new page and discover the fantastic organizations we stand alongside. Let’s continue to support local and lift each other up!
Explore Our Community Partners & Sponsors Now at https://onifoundation.org/partners.
A Heartfelt Mahalo to the World Indigenous Science Network (WISN) for Supporting Our Cultural Ambassador Program!
The Oni Foundation extends its deepest gratitude and a warm mahalo to the World Indigenous Science Network (WISN) for their extraordinary and continued support of our mission. We are incredibly honored to announce that WISN has awarded a generous grant of $15,200 to directly fund and advance our Cultural Ambassador Program (CAP).
This vital funding comes at a pivotal moment as we expand our outreach and education efforts at the Wonderful World of Aloha center. The Cultural Ambassador Program serves as a cornerstone of our organization, dedicated to training and empowering leaders who preserve indigenous traditions, foster deep cultural entry points, and bridge historic wisdom with our modern community.
WISN’s ongoing partnership and belief in our work allow us to deeply enrich this program. With this $15,200 grant, the Oni Foundation will be able to:
Train New Team Members: Support our core intentions to onboard, mentor, and initiate new ambassadors into our cultural lineage.
Expand Community Reach: Empower these ambassadors to facilitate our newly expanded cultural programs, interactive museum experiences, and community workshops.
Preserve Indigenous Wisdom: Strengthen our capacity to document and share the rich, authentic history and migrations of Hawaiʻi with residents and global visitors alike.
WISN has long been a global beacon for preserving, protecting, and revitalizing indigenous knowledge systems. To have their continued backing is not only a tremendous honor but a testament to the shared vision we hold for a culturally vibrant and connected Maui community.
From the bottom of our hearts, mahalo nui loa to the entire WISN team for standing with us, investing in our ambassadors, and helping us keep the spirit of aloha thriving for generations to come.
Join our community of supporters by donating at https://onifoundation.org
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