Oni Foundation December, 2025 Newsletter

Aloha and welcome to the December edition of the Oni Foundation newsletter! We’re delighted to share recent highlights and new developments at our Wonderful World of Aloha Cultural Dance & Activity Center.

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Be a Cultural Guardian

Join a special circle of individuals committed to preserving Hawaiʻi's rich multicultural arts. Become a guardian of our traditions, a patron of our artists, and a partner in our mission. We've seen the power of community generosity firsthand, from successful Giving Tuesday campaigns to online auctions. Now, with a monthly commitment, we can create an even more powerful, lasting impact.

Protect the heritage and future of Hawaiʻi's cultural arts. Visit our donation page to set up your $25 monthly contribution today. Mahalo nui loa for your aloha.

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Gift Cards

We are excited to announce our new Gift Cards available just in time for the holidays. Visit this page to purchase your Gift Cards to share Hawai’i’s cultural history and crafts with your love-ones. Cards will be available in $25, $50, and $100 increments, our you can set your own value to fit your recipient. 

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Year-End Letter

As 2025 comes to a close, we at the Oni Foundation reflect with gratitude on a year of growth and cultural celebration at the Wonderful World of Aloha Center. Thanks to your support, we’ve expanded youth programs, secured vital funding, and continued to share Hawaiʻi’s rich multicultural heritage through dance, arts, and storytelling.

If you haven't already, read our Year-End Letter to learn more about our meaningful efforts to ensure our community’s vibrant traditions remain alive for generations to come.

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Visiting Kupuna Tour

This past month, we hosted a group of 28 active seniors from the mainland who spent four days experiencing Maui earlier this month. They chose Wonderful World of Aloha as one of their destinations this day along with lunch and helicopter rides. They spent part of their morning with us, making Ti leaf, Kukui Nut and Lauhala Bracelets to take home. 

They also enjoyed a tour of our museum where Ku’ulei shared some of the history of the Islands. 

Mahalo to Connie Anderson of Sports Leisure Vacations for bringing her group to our center.

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Our Entertainment Tonight Spotlight

Oni Foundation was invited to teach ET host, Nischelle Turner some hula for their week-long visit on Maui. Vice-President Kuʻulei Pridgen and President Keoni Manuel, took Nischelle through some basic steps to close out ETʻs exploration of things to do on Maui that included visits to Surfing Goat Dairy and Maui Ocean Center. Oni Foundation would like to thank the Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau for including us in their programming, we’re delighted to have been a part of it.

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Coming Soon: A USA Today Feature

Coming this month, Oni Foundation will be featured in an USA today article by Kathleen Wong about Maui’s Recovery efforts 2 years since the fires. We’ll tell you all about it in our January newsletter.