The Kapa Book Project

Kahilu is excited to announce plans to commemorate our 2024 Cultural Heritage Exhibition, E Ola Ke Kahua o Ka Hana Kapa, with a book- and we need your help! 

Generous sponsors have already pledged $3000 to launch the project, and we seek another $5,000 in new donations to reach our funding goal. An anonymous donor has stepped forward with a $5,000 dollar-for-dollar matching challenge. That means we need to raise $5,000 to unlock the full match to fully fund the publication of this book!

Become a sponsor by giving $500 or more, or support with any amount. Every bit helps us bring this project and a piece of our community to the world!

This book will be more than a keepsake—it is a legacy project, a cultural offering, and a testament to the power of art and education in our community. Roen Hufford has been sharing her knowledge of kapa making here in Waimea for over a decade. She has turned her home and farm into a community gathering space where wauke (the trees from which kapa is made) is cultivated, raw materials are processed, relationships are nourished, and culture is preserved. In November 2024, Roen and her students, along with other kapa luminaries, brought their artwork to Kahilu’s Simperman and Suli T. Go Galleries to showcase traditional techniques and a contemporary approach to kapa making. 

E Ola Ke Kahua o Ka Hana Kapa translates to: “the foundation of kapa making thrives/lives.” Every contribution helps bring this project to life and ensures the inter-generational knowledge carried through kapa is honored and presented to the world.

Thanks to the visionary support of artist and patron Lisa Rodondi, world-class design and production by Datz Press in Seoul, South Korea, and the hard work of Kahilu’s staff, the project is officially underway—with a target release in November 2025, just in time for the holiday season.

We are seeking funding to cover the costs of printing 500 copies of a 100+ page softcover book with over 100 color images of artworks from the exhibition. Datz Press is a world-renowned publisher of art books, and will bring their signature design aesthetic to the exhibition under the guidance of Kahilu’s Gallery Director, Andy Behrle. Your investment in the project will allow the retail cost of the publication to remain low, while the proceeds from sales will cover Kahilu’s expenses and raise money for our Kahilu Exhibits programming. 

Remember, your gift today will be doubled—every dollar brings us closer to celebrating and preserving the art of kapa for generations to come. Mahalo to the visionary patrons who are helping make this legacy project a reality.

To learn more or join us as a sponsor, please reach out to [email protected] before the August 1, 2025 deadline.

We’d be thrilled to include all sponsors giving $500 and above in our commemorative book as official supporters of this meaningful project.

Mahalo for considering being a part of this special endeavor!