PO’IPU — King Kaumuali’i’s cape will be available for viewing. That is just one event that will take place as a result of financial support of the 2005 Takenaka Kauai Cultural and Environmental Fund, when Myles Shibata, chief operating officer
PO’IPU — King Kaumuali’i’s cape will be available for viewing.
That is just one event that will take place as a result of financial support of the 2005 Takenaka Kauai Cultural and Environmental Fund, when Myles Shibata, chief operating officer for Kawailoa Development/Tak Hawaii, presented the recipients at a luncheon at the ‘Ilima Terrace at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa in Po’ipu.
Carol Lovell of the Kaua’i Museum was one of four recipients on hand to accept the award, which will assist in the loan and display of Kaumuali’i’s cape at the museum.
Kaumuali’i was the reigning monarch of Kaua’i during the sweep of Kamehameha I’s armies through the Hawaiian Island chain. Kaua’i was the only island that Kamehameha I’s forces could not conquer by force.
Also on hand were William Trugillo, the Kaua’i director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hawaii, Barbara Robeson of the Kauai Public Land Trust, and Claire Morris Dobie, who represented Stella Burgess of the Grand Hyatt Employees Cultural and Protocol Group.
The Boys & Girls Club Waimea Clubhouse leaders will be starting up a Kaua’i Police Activities League (K-PAL) wrestling program shortly, and received an award that will help them with general operations of that program.
Deborah Rice of the Hawai’i Community Foundation, who helped coordinate the award for members of the Takenaka family, noted that the goal of the Kaua’i Public Land Trust leaders with the grant money is to develop a business plan for the island with the eventual goal of hiring a director.
Shibata noted the excellent work being done by the Grand Hyatt Employees Cultural and Protocol Group by citing an example of a visiting dignitary on a site inspection who was greeted by the group members with chant and other proper, respectful protocol on his arrival.
A similar scenario took place during the rededication of the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa to Grand Hyatt status.
Leaders of Kawailoa Development/Tak Hawaii, Inc., a subsidiary of Takenaka Corporation, established the endowed fund with Hawai’i Community Foundation leaders in November 2000.
The purpose of the Takenaka Cultural and Environmental Fund is to support projects and programs that benefit the island of Kaua’i through the perpetuation of cultural activities and preservation of the island’s special environment, Shibata said.
Shibata acknowledged the Takenaka family members’ vision and values of supporting those in the community in which their business is located.
Their interest is reflected in their generosity through their charitable gifts. 2005 marked the establishment of the Takenaka Kauai Community Fund for the purpose of supporting general charitable projects and programs that benefit the island, he explained.
The Takenaka Kauai Community Fund is an endowed, donor-advised fund established through the Hawai’i Community Foundation whose driving force is to “connect people who care with causes that matter.”
The Hawai’i Community Foundation is a statewide non-profit charitable-services and grant-making organization endowed with contributions from many donors.
Its mission is to help people make a difference by inspiring the spirit of giving, and by investing in people and solutions to benefit every island community, Rice said.
For more information, people may call the HCF Lihu’e office at 245-4585, or visit the Web site at www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org.
