DEEP ROOTS AND DEEP COMMUNITY TIES HILTON AND MARIA UNEMORI — MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON MAUI
Hard work and perseverance come naturally to Hilton Unemori. The son of a pineapple farmer, he grew up on Maui and tending and harvesting the crops. He took to scouting as a boy, ultimately earning the Eagle Scout rank, the organization’s highest achievement. At the University of Notre Dame, he earned his degree in electrical engineering and then came home to put to work everything he’d learned. Decades later and with the sale of his business in Hilo, he and his wife Maria knew exactly what they wanted to do: give back to the community that’s given so much to them over the years.
“It feels good that we can help many different people, right in our community, through organizations like Hale Makua and the Boy Scouts.� - Hilton Unemori
They created the Hilton and Maria Acacio Unemori Fund at HCF to lend a hand to the many causes and organizations that mean so much to the couple. “They give personally, of their time and their money,� says Hannah Werth, HCF’s Senior Philanthropic Services Associate
Hilton and Maria also walk the walk. Besides their generous donations to the organizations they support, they serve as the mentor couple for those looking to get married in the Catholic Church, leading weekend retreats and marriage enrichment programs. After 46 years together, they’ve learned a thing or two worth sharing.
on Maui. As a board member and contributor to Hale Makua in Wailuku, Maria understands the critical work of the nurses whose compassionate care means everything to the Kupuna who rely on the facility. When three employees needed a helping hand with their continuing education, she made their dreams possible through the couple’s fund at HCF. Hilton serves in leadership capacities with both the Maui Boy Scout Council and with St. Anthony’s School, giving back to those that helped him over the years. “St. Anthony’s starts with my mom,� Hilton says. “She made me promise to always do my best and do everything I can to support my faith.�
Building a life and a family in the community you love, giving back through your time and your money to the community’s people and its programs, leading the way for the next generation to follow — that’s the big promise of little things.
DID YOU KNOW: A Donor Advised Fund is a convenient way to support many causes and organizations. At HCF, there are 57 funds created by givers to benefit communities in Maui County.
To learn how you can transform your generosity into lasting change, visit: HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org