Big Promise of Little Things Change Comes From Everyone
A Life’s Passion, a Tapestry of Gifts to Future Generations ELLEN HAMADA SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR FASHION DESIGN & SEWING
Ellen Hamada didn’t think of it
One hard-working woman
as leaving a legacy. For decades,
with a vision is still
she followed her passion and
sharing her art,
made a living at it, founding the
simply because she
Fashion Center of Honolulu
had an idea — one
and teaching generations the
little thing — that
art of meticulously designed
today delivers big
and hand-sewn fashion. But
promises to future
when she put her will together,
designers and
she quietly worked with her
fashion icons.
financial advisor to leave her life
The big promise of
insurance policy to the Hawai‘i
little things, one stitch at
Community Foundation to
a time — that’s the power of
establish a scholarship fund
“She was such an inspiration. I want to give back, just like she did.” -KAMALANI PICO Scholarship Recipient
for students pursuing a career in fashion and design.
philanthropy. on her knowledge, working with students at her design center even when they couldn’t afford
“She worried
tuition. “When they couldn’t pay,
that sewing was
she’d say ‘That’s okay. We’ll find
a dying art,” says
a way,’” Asato remembers. She
her grandniece Kim Asato, and she wanted to do something to keep it alive and share her passion with
future generations. As Hamada got older, her eyesight prevented her from navigating a needle and thread with the same precision she’d wielded in her youth. But
found a way then, and continues finding it now and into the future. When Hamada passed away at the age of 91, her plans to keep the art alive were realized with the Ellen Hamada Scholarship Fund for Fashion Design & Sewing. Now, students, like Moloka‘i-native Kamalani Pico,
that didn’t stop her.
are studying fashion and planning
Asato recalls how Hamada
“She was such an inspiration,”
believed it was her duty to pass
Pico says. “Now I want to give
clothing lines with their own vision.
DID YOU KNOW: Great wealth isn’t a requirement of philanthropy — just great dreams. The Hawai‘i Community Foundation serves countless communities across Hawai‘i — from our keiki to our kupuna, our environment to our schools — through the generosity of everyday people just like Ellen Hamada. That’s the big promise of little things.
back, just like she did.”
To Leave a Leg a cy Visit: Hawa i i Co mmu n ityFoundation.org/Legacy HICA-16389_AdvertorialTemplateFNL.indd 1
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