Mahalo to Our Donors

From financial contributions to community engagement to individual messages, we are so grateful to our community for their expressions of support for Namahana’s mission and vision.

Mahalo to our incredible donors!

The generosity of our donors plays a critical role in making Namahana School a reality. Each donation is instrumental in shaping the future of Namahana School. So far, our pioneering donors have enabled us to fund essential pre-opening expenses, acquire a permanent home for Namahana School, and develop an innovative educational model. Their contributions continue to help us attract highly qualified volunteers and staff, provide operational support and create a nurturing environment. The benevolence of our donors has the capacity to transforms the lives of individual students and impact the broader community. Their commitment to education empowers us to inspire and cultivate the next generation of leaders. We are immensely grateful for the role that donors play in making the Namahana School dream come true, and we recognize their invaluable contribution to shaping a brighter future for our students.

Namahana School Donors

Donor names are listed in alphabetical order

*Anonymous Donors (50+)

A.J. & Carey Sutton, in honor of Leora and Mile

Al & Diana Albergate

Alan Gevins & Isabel Sam Vargas

Alice Bell

Alice Luck

Alison Chuang

Amanda Galbraith

Amalia Ruck

Andrea Gootnick

Anna Gertraud Torggler

Anne Carter

Annika Hirmke

Annika Walden

Ashley Sanchez Wagner

Avalon Gastropub

Barbara Butler

Beth & Jon Champlin

Betsy Skinner

Bill & Lucinda Robertson

Carolyn Lauro

Catherine Bruns

Catherine B. Scott & Ruth M. Osterhout

Cheryl & Bill Jensen

Christ Memorial Church

Christopher Davis

Craig & Trisha Devereaux

Conrad & Karen Schmidt

Corina & Ruddman Davis

Cyndi Ewald

Darian Parrish

David Lemon

Dave Williams

David & Sarah Goodale

David Nichols

David W. Knickel & Jennifer L. Knickel

Debbie Schenker & Skip White

Denise Kaufman

Desert Nichols

Diana Dole

Don & Laura McConnell

Donna Apilado-Schamachee

Donna Rice

Dr. & Mrs. Richard Goodale

Dr. Lee Putnam

Elliot & Bridget Thorpe

Emily Krause

Employee Leasing Company

Erin Kelley

Erik Hanson

Evelyn Brodie

Evans McGowan

Faith Blalock

Flavia & Nick Wright

Gary & Barbara Cameron

Gary & Bebe Smith

Gary Seals

Gina Lobaco

Grace Groom

Greg & Alice Greenwood

Gretchen Imdieke, ND

Hanalei Hawaiian Civic Club

Hannah Hunt

Hulali

Ian & Melissa Nelson

Irene Blechner

Island Ace Hardware

Jack Harter Helicopters, Inc.

Jan Kumasaka

Janet Ramatici

Jason & Winona Sutton

Jean Frances Flaherty

Jen Vanderlaan

Jenna Bieller

Jeremy Burns

Jeff & Barbara Goodman

Jill & Sean McAlister

Jillian Seals

Jim & Debbie Oliver

Jim & Harvest Edmonds

Jim & Lisle Stigler

Jim & Mary Luck

Joan Maas

Joan Porter

Johanna Ventura

John E. McGowan

Joseph Hughes

Jon & Angie Kissida

Jonah Sulla Menashe

Jonathan McRoberts

Jones ʻOhana

Joy Brahmst & Lynn Christensen

Joyce Mahadevi Farmer

Joyce Marshall

Joyce Kehoe Smith

Judith Smiertelny

Julie & Koko Kanealii

Julia A. Rossi

Julie Rosanova

Ka ʻOhana Rogers

Kathy Nelson

Kauaʻi Albatross Network

Karen Hutchens

Karen Smith

Kauaʻi North Shore Lions Foundation

Kaye & Mike Hurtt

Kelly Sutter

Kelsie Hammitt

Kīlauea Japanese Association

Kīlauea Paint and Feed

Kimber Family

Kukui IT

Kyle Georgina Marsh

Laird Hamilton

Lee Roversi

LEF Foundation

Leona

Lindsey Hoffman

Living in Process Network

Lorraine & Thomas Mull

Lorrie Meyercord

Lorrie Meyercord & Neil Dana

Luna Dana

Manu Nahenahe Trust

Marianne Remmy

Marion Paul

Mary Paterson Trust

Mary Roush

McAlister Family

Mckenzie Rutkowski

Mehana Blaich-Vaughan

Melanie & Scott Parker

Melinda Friedman

Michael Olman & Peter Hayashida

Michele Cagle

Mike & Erica Oliver

Mike Kaplan & Rose Contreras

Mimsy Bouret

Mona Pedersen

Mokihana Pest Control, Inc.

MotherDaugherHawaii

Nafisseh Soroudi

Natalie Baker

Nate Carden & Beth Woods

Nathan Myers

Nicole Shores

North Shore Give (KNSCF)

Orien B Wilkinson Huff

Pam Murphy & Jack Edgehill

Pancho Graham

Patricia Darcey

Paul Brewer

PayPal Giving Fund (various donors)

Pete Sidley

P. Phillips

Pure Kauaʻi

Rachel Anderson

Raquel Naomi Akeakamai Castro

Resort Stay

Rex & Pamela Burrell

Reiner & Bobi Rey

Richard Qualsett

Rick & Amy Marvin ʻOhana

Robert Abell

Roberta Jones

Rob & Sandy Baker

Robin Savage-Thompson

Rose Hayes

Rosemary Vali

Roxanne Belmonte

S.W. Wilcox Trust

Sarah A. Dinger

Sarah Konz

Scott Cantor

Sarah Herring

Sarah McIntyre

Sean Ahearn

Sheryl Kutter

Sheree & Mike Latif

Skye Dana

Steve Burrell

Steve Milter

Steve & Janine Hunt (Hunt Family Foundation)

Steve Doberstein & Elizabeth Letcher

Sue Parry

Susie Bunt

The Eckert/Van Way Family

The Nashes

The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay

The WholeSum3 Lifestyle LTD.

Thomas Daubert

Todd & Michele Rundgren

Tomlinson Foundation

Turi Widsteen & Keith White

Vehr Family Foundation

Victor Zue & Stephanie Seneff

Victoria Harris

Waldorf Family Fund

Walter & Marcia Kortschak

* If you anonymously donated to Namahana School and would like to change your donor recognition preference, please call or email us to let us know. If you would like to adjust how you/your ʻohana is recognized, please let us know.

Support from Mayor Derek Kawakami

Quote from County of Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami and his 2022 video testimony before the Hawaiʻi State Charter Commission in support of Namahana School’s application:

“I am an enthusiastic supporter of Namahana School and the diverse learning opportunities it brings to our students who will gain the skills to empower themselves to actively contribute to a resilient future on Kauaʻi.”

"Namahana School is evolving to fulfill its promise for the ‘ohana of our North Shore communities, and I believe this remarkable opportunity has appeared in part because we are now ready for it."

Dr. Mehana Vaughn, Namahana School Governing Board Member
“We know the challenges faced by north shore families, having to send their children to middle and high schools quite far from their homes. The idea of the charter school is something that we had hoped would one day be a reality, and wanted to help in any way possible.”

Anonymous Donors
“The creation of a middle and high school for local children on the North Shore has long been a need in our community. There is so much about this project that excites and inspires me, both as a Kīlauea resident and a parent of two young children. I think the team that has been assembled to build Namahana is exceptional and I look forward to supporting their efforts to elevate educational opportunities available for our keiki.”

Līhau Paik, Kīlauea Resident
“We’ve been watching closely from the beginning as this inspiring project has evolved, and we know just how much it will lift up our community. Having an accessible middle and high school for local children is a goal that has mobilized North Shore families for years, and we believe that Namahana has the perfect team to make it happen.”

Mike Kaplan & Rose Contreras, Namahana Donors & Kīlauea Residents

Mahalo to our amazing community who have been part of Namahana’s vision from the very beginning.

There were many community members and volunteers who took part in Namahana’s initial community engagement, outreach and due-diligence. From 2019-2020, we conducted 1:1 meetings with community leaders, including teachers, students, kūpuna (elders), cultural advisors, and local nonprofits. We also hosted five Listening Sessions in Kīlauea, Hanalei, Hāʻena and two Student Listening Sessions at Kīlauea and Hanalei elementary schools to gather feedback. Participation at these various sessions helped us hone in on our shared values and vision of the type of school experience we, as a community, want for our keiki (children). The support from our community drives the dream of Namahana School forward— we are so grateful to each person who has given their time, energy and aloha to this initiative!

Family names listed in alphabetical order

Adams, Anderson, Andrews, Audo-Beliov, Augerot, Avilla, Baker, Bartholomew, Bayless, Belz, Blaich, Bowen, Brahmst, Bresnahan, Brown, Butker, Cadiz, Calig, Carril, Carlson, Catley, Champlin, Chandler, Cherry, Chung, Concepcion, Connors, Cornell, Correa, Covan, Cowden, Crisler, Cullen, Davies, Davis, Debonet, Dinenberg, Distefano, Drolson, Dunford, Edmonds, Fatupo, Fendentz, Fleming, Fonseca, Forgey, Forrest, Frazer, Fu, Funaro, Heen, Herington, Herring, Hermstad, Gerding, Giorgio, Gochros, Gomez, Goodman, Goodwin, Gottfried, Grooms, Gross, Guerrero, Guilbault, Guy, Hadley, Ham Young Haneberg , Harada, Harburg, Hayden, Hedstrom, Hicks, Inanod, Joyner, Jones, Kaleiohi, Kanehe, Kaʻaumoana, Keefer, King, Kissida, Kiyak-Boughton, Kocak, Krovoza, Lamore, Lantagne, Lathrop, Laughlin, Layaoen, L’Hote, Lindman, Listman, Lowry, Low, Malandruccolo, Marston, Martin, Marvin, Massey, McCarthy, McHugh, McRoberts, Medeiros, Mersberg, Miller, Molina, Nagendra, Nakazawa, Nebre, Nelson, Obrien, Olanolan, Oliver, Padilla, Paik, Paterson, Patrizio, Paul, Petchu, Potter, Prieto, Randall, Repetto, Reid, Rider, Rodger, Roversi, Rowan, Ruck, Sausen, Schwartz, Seals, Shaw, Shea, Sitzler, Smith, Spellman, Sproat, Squire, Steed, Stein, Stewart, Takahashi, Tay, Thayer, Torio, Tranbarger, Vastola, Vesely, Waipa, Wann, Whitfield, Willis, Wong, Woodward, Worley, Wright, Yokotake, Young, Zabek, Zimmerman, Zietz