Kona Historical Society T-shirt fundraiser a success thanks to community support

We know that times are tough, but there are still reasons to smile. Thanks to the immense support and aloha of 138 donors, two special T-shirt fundraisers generated more than $3,000 in 20 days for Kona Historical Society.

“Thank you so much to all of you who purchased shirts from the Kona Historical Society’s online T-shirt fundraisers! Your outpouring of support means the world to us, especially in this difficult time for everyone,” said Kona Historical Society Board President Lisa Greenwell Hummel. “The funds will go directly to Kona Historical Society and will allow us to continue with our mission and to share the stories of Kona. I can’t wait to see the shirts being worn out in the community!”

Hummel designed the shirts, with the help of Kona Historical Society Programs Director Kuʻulani Auld, and made them available only on Bonfire, an online print-on-demand custom apparel company. The appealing apparel instantly took off and became a way for people to share and communicate their connection to our community, history, nonprofit and even with each other. In less than a month, 304 shirts have been sold!

But one shirt surpassed its fundraising goal in just one week. That shirt displays some of the brands that were registered in 1856 with His Excellency, John Young, Minister of Interior, in Kona, Hawaiʻi. The document, showing the brands, came from Kona Historical Society’s collections inside the Jean Greenwell Library & Archive. Thirty of the registered brands were selected for the design on the back of this shirt. Each brand represents a family business, is in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, and is one of Kona’s heritage traditions. Also, featured on the shirt are a saddle and the words “Kona Historical Society,” “Kona’s Ranching Heritage,” and “Kona Cowboys 1856.”

The shipping of shirts is anticipated to begin in September and individual orders can be tracked at www.bonfire.com/track.