NEWS RELEASE

Kamehameha Schools, Kaunamano Farm donate a total of $10,000 to ‘Iolani Palace

HONOLULU (April 6, 2021) – Kamehameha Schools (KS) and Kaunamano Farm donated a total of $10,000 to ‘Iolani Palace as part of a fundraiser in support of the ongoing operations of the historic landmark that has been severely impacted by the downturn of tourism as a result of COVID-19 global pandemic.

Kaunamano Farm owner Brandon Lee, a past Mahia‘i Match-Up and Scale-up winner, raises organic Royal Berkshire hogs on ‘Āina Pauahi in Umauma on Hawai‘i island. The farm offered a special promotional fundraising package of locally-raised products last summer through its “Eating with Impact” page on its website.  Kaunamano Farm offered to donate $20 of each purchase to The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace and eventually raised $5,000.  KS matched Kaunamano Farm’s donation.

Launched on July 31, the fundraiser was designed to coincide with the Hawaiian national holiday known as Lā Ho‘iho‘i Ea (Sovereignty Restoration Day), linking the fundraiser to the history of Hawai‘i’s ali‘i and the palace. 

Fronting the iconic Iolani Palace, KS Trustee Lance Wilhelm, and Kaunamano Farms’ Lee, Chef Keoni Regidor and Ka‘ikena Scanlan presented The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace Executive Director Paula Akana with a ceremonial check for $10,000 this morning.

“I’m honored to stand with Kaunamano Farms in giving back to this special place. In its grandeur, ‘Iolani Palace stands as a staunch reminder of its connection to our storied past, our ali‘i and our founder Ke Ali‘i Bernice Pauahi Bishop,” Trustee Wilhelm said. “The well-being of our lāhui is deeply connected to the health and condition of the ‘āina. E mālama ‘oe i ka ‘āina, e mālama ka ‘āina iā ‘oe, take care of the land and the land will take care of you. As we strive to steward our lands to be resilient and productive, it is times like these that remind every kānaka of the ever-sustaining relationship between ‘āina and our people and its foundation to a thriving lāhui.”

KS stewards nearly 364,000 acres of land across the pae ‘āina. Of that amount, about 181,000 acres are classified as agriculture. KS has more than 800 agricultural leases on about 66,000 acres of actively-managed agricultural leased lands.

“Kalākaua is smiling with content because a local pig farm is supporting The Iolani Palace. Someone told me that the reciprocity between kānaka and ‘Ᾱina must be the foundation,” Lee said. “Hawaii needs to Eat with impact.”

“We want to mahalo Brandon Lee, Kaunamano Farm and Kamehameha Schools for this generous donation, said Akana, a 1980 KS Kapalama graduate. It was exciting when Brandon first approached us with this idea of an Eating with Impact fundraiser.  Food security and sustainability is important to Hawaii so is sustainability of our cultural resources, like the Palace. Plus, it’s appropriate that Brandon raises hogs. In 1883, King Kalakaua won first place at the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society, for having the fattest native pig!”