Annual Fund 2025

Every day, creativity weaves its way into our world and transforms lives: keiki gain confidence and find their voices through art, music, and dance; adults and kūpuna connect with their roots, rediscover joy, and uncover new parts of themselves through artistic expression; workshops offer space for learning, reflection, and connection through the simple act of creating; and exhibitions and cultural events bring people together to share stories, celebrate diverse voices, strengthening the bonds that make us a community. These moments remind us that creativity isn’t separate from life—it is life.

Thanks to your generosity, 2025 has been another milestone year for the Mill. We celebrated our 30th anniversary, hosted the statewide Hawai‘i Triennial exhibition ALOHA NŌ, made significant progress on our master campus plan, welcomed 195 new members, and held more than 80 programs on our campus for ages 2 to 85.

This spring, a record-breaking 2,000 visitors viewed ALOHA NŌ at the Mill, which invited us to understand aloha as a living, guiding force for peace, healing, and connection. That spirit continues to shape everything we do, from youth programs to exhibitions to community collaborations, reminding us that aloha is not just a word, but an active practice.

The inspiration and lessons from ALOHA NŌ flowed naturally into our youth programs. We welcomed over 225 keiki and teens to the Mill, while our Artists in the Schools residencies reached more than 300 K–4th grade students in three elementary schools: Hōlualoa, Kahakai, and Volcano School of Arts and Sciences—bringing creativity into the classroom and showing how vital arts education is to every child’s development. Much like a pewa, the wooden patch used to repair and strengthen an object, our programs help strengthen and connect our community members through impactful, shared experiences.

But these opportunities are fragile. Spaces like ours are increasingly under threat, and the need for support has never been greater. Across Hawai‘i and nationally, arts programs face budget cuts, censorship, and a shrinking number of safe, creative spaces. Without places to create, learn, and connect, communities lose more than studios — they lose part of their spirit.

At the Mill, we work every day to nurture creativity and community with a deep sense of aloha, welcoming everyone with kindness and respect. It’s who we are. It’s what inspires us to champion arts and culture funding at the Hawai‘i State Legislature, to speak publicly about why art matters, including on PBS Hawai‘i’s KĀKOU: Hawai‘i’s Town Hall, and to continue protecting spaces where creativity and diverse voices can thrive.

Looking ahead, our recently completed feasibility study for campus expansion showed overwhelming support, with 89% of respondents agreeing with the proposed plan and saying, “Now is the time for the Mill.” The conceptual design includes essential upgrades to our historic building, new studios for ceramics, print, fiber, metals, and youth programs, expanded gallery spaces, gardens, event areas, and accommodations for visiting artists, nearly doubling our usable space to expand programs and events for our community.

With your help, we can continue moving these critical plans forward, strengthening the Mill and the pewa that binds creativity and community, and ensuring we serve for another 30 years and beyond. This is more than an expansion or renovation—your gift is an investment in the future of our community, supporting lasting access to arts and cultural education across Kona and the State of Hawai‘i.

Seventeen-year-old student artist Anela captures this idea perfectly:

“Pewa is something that is bigger than you, that will last beyond your time, something meaningful and significant that can pass on to the next generation, something that isn’t forgotten when you are.”

Like the pewa, your gift becomes part of something larger, an enduring patch that strengthens and connects us. Every gift ensures that West Hawai‘i students, kūpuna, and neighbors continue to experience the transformation of art and that creativity remains a living part of our community.

Ashley Raymond
Executive Director

Natasha Ala
Board Chair