Helping philanthropy blossom with Roses for Pauahi

Junior Avani Naleimaile first launched the Roses for Pauahi campaign last school year, and builds upon it with this year's efforts.

Jan. 11, 2023

Class of 2024 junior Avani Naleimaile has always looked forward to Pennies for Pauahi since she was in Kindergarten at Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi.

“Although I had little idea where my pennies were going at that time, it was exciting to carry my bag of pennies to school,” shares Naleimaile. “Now that I am a Junior, I have such a strong desire to understand why we donate and give back to our Founder and the Pauahi Foundation.”

From that seed early on, she has taken that inspiration and created an opportunity for philanthropy to blossom, with a symbolic rose wall and philanthropy campaign, where those who have and continue to be beneficiaries of Pauahi’s vision, can take the next step and become benefactors for the generations who follow. The campaign is an evolution of what has been called Pledges for Pauahi in the past, and was the next step from Pennies to Pauahi in elementary and middle school, as a donation campaign at the high school.

“I’ve learned that it is our kuleana as Keiki of Pauahi to convey our aloha and thanks to Pauahi for giving us numerous opportunities for a wonderful education, a wealth of resources and a beautiful campus,” says Naleimaile. “It is absolutely our duty to give back to our Ke Aliʻi Pauahi.”

Roses for Pauahi is a campaign where all K-12 students, ʻohana, faculty and staff, and alumni can participate if they are able to do so. Donations can be made of any amount, either online or in-person on designated collection days. That giving will be manifested into a symbolic representation of a rose wall, located outside of our Kekuʻiapoiwa Learning Center, with different color roses to recognize the different parts of our Kamehameha Schools ʻOhana. Donor names will be attached to foam roses, which are hung up periodically throughout the campaign (which kicked off in December and runs through February).

Those wishing to contribute and add their “rose” to the wall, can do so via our KS FACTS payment system via the ROSES FOR PAUAHI WALL link. That portal will continue to collect donations through 2/28/23 at midnight. There are also QR code posters around campus which can be scanned. All of the funds collected will be added to other philanthropy efforts throughout the year, and donated to the Pauahi Foundation. Recently student leaders, including Avani, presented a check for $20,000 to the Pauahi Foundation which was raised through a variety of events over the past three years.

Mahalo for participating by contributing or sharing this campaign.

I Mua Kamehameha and Mahalo Pauahi!

DONATE TO ROSES FOR PAUAHI

At this year's Founder's Day, Avani and student leaders from middle and elementary school presented KS Advancement Director Pono Maʻa with a check for $20,000.