Creating
CHANGE
A Bon Dance Where Everyone’s Welcome
In the early 80’s, he was a small-town dentist, just looking for a decent tax write-off. He felt he should give back to the And for always Kaua‘i community to whom he owed his success. His wife, a regular participant in Bon dances and other cultural events, also wanted to help perpetuate Japanese “Rather than pay cultural traditions, all these taxes to the feds, not just for nisei, why not keep the money on but all residents of their island home. Kaua‘i, and give back to the
spread the money around to many smaller entities.”
For All…
people, for all that the people have done for us?”
So the couple created the Donald & Joann Kawane Donald Kawane Family Charitable Fund at the Hawai‘i retired Community Foundation. Over these past three decades, the nonprofits and individuals who have benefited from their support are almost
So when Don’s financial advisor tells him an annuity has matured, or the family sells a real estate holding, rather than keep the capital gains, some of that money is earmarked to the Kawane Fund, keeping the balance stable. Joann & Donald Kawane
too many to count: the Kaua‘i Japanese Cultural Society, Koloa Jodo Mission, annual Matsuri Festival, Buddhist temples across Kaua‘i — to name but a few. “Rather than pay all these taxes to the feds, why not keep the money on Kaua‘i, and give back to the people, for all that the people have done for us?,” says Donald. “And rather than give everything to one organization, our fund at HCF allows us to
“This lessens our tax liability, and when a temple needs a new roof or a nonprofit needs help paying the electric bill, we have enough in the Fund to cover it,” he says. “We get so many ‘Thank you’s and recognitions; no question they appreciate it. Helping the Kaua‘i community — in our own way — really feels good.” Don and Joann are excited about the upcoming Matsuri Festival in Lihue, which they
support every year. Taiko drums, kimono, soba noodles, and of course, Bon dancing. “Everyone has a great time, everyone is participating and listening and understanding — you’re right in the mix,” he says. “You can’t get that exposure from a movie. More and more people go each year and learn different things about Japanese culture. Even we learn something, too!”
DID YOU KNOW: The Hawai‘i Community Foundation administers 69 different funds to specifically support Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.
To transform your generosity into lasting change, please visit HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org