Aloha friends,
I hope today finds you in good health and warm spirits. The new year always feels like a fresh canvas: full of possibility, clean edges, and just enough abstract, impromptu brushstrokes to keep things interesting. This is my favorite time of year to pause and reflect on all that 2025 was and all that 2026 can be.
Over the holiday break, our staff took time to recharge and gather inspiration in ways that felt meaningful to them. Some traveled, some spent quality time with family and friends, some tended their wild gardens, some soaked up sun, salt, and sea, some worked quietly, and one even welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world. However we spent the break, we now return refreshed and ready to bring energy, care, and dedication to our community in the months ahead.
We are very excited to share that in December, our board approved a new strategic plan, outlining a clear and ambitious vision for the next five years. The plan reaffirms the values that guide everything we do: creativity, transformation, community, and ho‘okipa. It also highlights key priorities: expanding our Youth Education Programs so more keiki can experience the transformative power of art; advancing facilities growth through our master campus expansion plan; investing in our people and organizational capacity to support and retain our team; and strengthening our programs to ensure they remain vibrant places of connection and inspiration. We look forward to sharing more of these plans with you in the months ahead.
While much of this work happens behind the scenes, we hope you will join us for the many programs and events we have coming up. Many classes are already full, but there are still many other ways to experience the Mill: sign up for a (non-full) class, attend an artist talk or event, or simply stop by to visit our gallery and talk story. Every visit, every bit of curiosity, and every shared moment contributes to the vibrant community we cherish.
And don’t forget to save the date for our largest fundraiser of the year, the always fun and exciting Annual Art Auction, running throughout February with the live auction event on March 7 at the OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa. It is one of the highlights of our year, full of camaraderie, friendly competition, and the joy of supporting the Donkey Mill’s mission and vision. I may be biased, but there is once again an extraordinary selection of work to bid on, from local to nationally recognized artists.
In whatever way you engage with us, mahalo nui for helping make this community more vibrant. As we look to the year ahead, we’ll remind ourselves to slow down, taste the tea, and savor the simple joys that make life and art so meaningful, just as we did at the start of the year.
With aloha and appreciation,
Ashley Raymond
Executive Director