LAULIMA GIVING PROGRAM

The Laulima Giving Program is not just another program; it’s a beacon of hope for our community. As one of the nineteen community-focused programs of the Keiki O Ka ʻĀina Family Learning Centers, a local, Native Hawaiian, Christian nonprofit organization in Hawai`i, it stands out for its unwavering commitment to helping the local keiki, kupuna, and `ohana facing difficult times. With the support of our media partner, KHON2, we strive to make a profound difference in our community.

Our CEO, Momi Akana, created this program with a vision of unity within our local community. She wanted each child to have at least one new toy during Christmas, and this vision thrives on the support and involvement of each community member.

Throughout the years, you have been there to help. You prove that a community can come together to support each other. Your generous support makes our mission to address the many needs of people possible. Mahalo for all you do to help. We wish you a pu’uwai filled with joy and peace as we continue to work together, serving the needs of local keiki, kupuna, and `ohana.

Our Aloha for people has been evident in so many ways.

As we say Aloha to Laulima 2024, we want to express our gratitude for your generous support, which has been instrumental in our efforts. We are one of the many community-focused programs at the Keiki O Ka ʻĀina Family Learning Centers, a recognized local Native Hawaiian Christian nonprofit organization in Hawai`i.

Here are a few highlights of our successful 2024 campaign, which had a significant impact on our local communities:

We completed our donation of $250,000 directly to `ohana in Lahaina. With help from 7-Eleven Hawai`i, our support will continue in 2025.
We delivered thousands of dollars of new toys, gift cards, and school supplies to Title 1 Elementary Schools, local shelters, Shriners Hospital Hawai`i, Kapiolani Hospital for Women & Children, Straub Hospital, Women’s Correctional Center, Oahu Correctional Center, and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Waiawa.
Our Adopt a Family and Back-2-School campaigns helped over 6,000 individuals.
We raised over $350,000 in cash and in-kind donations.

As we shift our focus to 2025, we want to assure you of our unwavering commitment to serving the underserved and helping those in need throughout the year, not just during the Christmas Season. We assure you that your continued support will make a significant difference in the lives of the keiki, kupuna, and `ohana who face difficult times.

May God richly bless you and your ohana. We could not have achieved our 2024 successes without your support, and we sincerely hope that you will continue to stand with us in 2025. Your support is invaluable to us.

ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia

No task is too big when done together by all.

Here are the four major annual events of the Laulima Giving Program:

During the summer months of June and July, the Laulima Giving Program partners with local Walmart locations in Oahu to collect donations from local shoppers for school supplies.

The school supplies are collected, inventoried, and then delivered to Title 1 schools in the same vicinity as the Walmart where the donations were collected.

We offer support because students cannot reach their educational goals without supplies. We also think we can support the local teachers, administrators, and staff who often reach into their pockets to help.

It is a win-win-win for the classrooms and their schools.

During September, October, November, and December, the Laulima Giving Program connects local sponsors with referrals from across the state.

These referrals are submitted by teachers, principals, doctors, and social caseworkers who know the backstory of a person or `ohana who faces a negative life situation but cannot receive government assistance. A person could be affected by cancer or another debilitating health issue, a traumatic accident, single-parenting, spousal abuse, or a destructive act of nature. The referred people are connected with a sponsor, who shops and delivers on the shared needs list. Kathy Muneno shares twenty stories on KHON2 to invite the participation of the community. Referrals are received from Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island.

The Kahala Hotel & Resort continues its support with its own “Laulima Giving Tree,” where the employees and some of its guests select a Laulima ornament, shop for the young person, and return their gift to the resort tree.

They also donate gift certificates for staycations, the Kahala Spa, Hokuʻs and Plumeria Beach House, and even their pool snack bar—such amazing people at the Kahala Hotel & Resort.

We have also been blessed by local schools creating their “Laulima” assembly to support other local students.

Schools like Maʻemaʻe Elementary School and KeoneʻUla Elementary School donate van-sized donations, and we are grateful for that. The third entry into the Elementary School support is the King Liholiho Elementary School.

Mahalo piha for your kind and generous support and welcome to the team. Holomua Kākou!

Held on the first Saturday in December, from 10 am to 4 pm, this event celebrates Christmas while remembering those in need. This annual fundraiser, with live music and dance throughout the day, is held at the following shopping locations:

Each December, this is not just another fundraiser but the final push for the year. Volunteers take donation phone calls from people using their credit cards, and the funds collected help support people throughout the entire year. Your participation in this event is crucial, and the impact of your contribution is felt all year round.

More ways you can help us help others

Gifting assets such as an appreciated stock or mutual fund.

Donating a stock or mutual fund to the Laulima Giving Program will allow you to owe no capital gain taxes while directing those taxes to our nonprofit organization.

You will always receive a tax donation receipt for the entire market value.

Itemize your tax return.

Ask your tax advisor how to combine two years of gifts into a single year. If you itemize your tax return, your savings may be significantly higher.

Donate from your IRA.

Donating to the Laulima Giving Program may result in generous tax benefits. Your donation is not taxable, lowering your income and satisfying your required minimum distribution. The RMD is the smallest amount you must withdraw from your tax-deferred retirement accounts every year after a certain age. At some point in your life, you may have put money into tax-deferred retirement accounts, such as Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and 401(k) workplace retirement accounts. The key word here is “tax-deferred.” You postponed taxes on your contributions and earnings; you didn’t eliminate them. Eventually, you must pay tax on your contributions and earnings.

Donation Receipts

Our tax donation receipts come with all donations: you can use these receipts when preparing your income tax each year:

We Need You!

808 979-5283

[email protected]

Please Support Us

As a non-profit, Laulima depends solely upon the kind and generous donations from the local business communities. It receives no other type of funding.