T-shirt fundraiser supports Kona Historical Society, celebrates ranching
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For a limited time, cowboys and cowboys at heart can add a stylish new shirt celebrating history to their wardrobe while supporting Kona Historical Society.
Designed by Kona Historical Society Board President Lisa Greenwell Hummel, this unique shirt shows 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 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.”
Hummel worked with Kona Historical Society Programs Director Kuʻulani Auld to create this special shirt.
“Something that became apparent while working with Kona Historical Society's ranching committee back in the day is that Kona ranchers and cowboys referred to themselves as Kona Cowboys more often than Paniolo or Paniola,” Auld said. “There is a certain pride associated with being a Kona Cowboy, as tough and resilient as the land they know so well.”
The shirt comes in sizes small to xxx-large and in various colors, including dark chocolate, indigo, navy, maroon, forest green, olive green, dark heather, and white. The price depends on the style: $23.99 for a youth unisex tee or a classic unisex tee, $24.99 for a premium unisex tee, and $27.99 for a classic long sleeve tee.
The shirt is only available on Bonfire, a print-on-demand custom apparel company that works a lot like the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe, giving most of the sales back to the effort it honors. On Bonfire, individuals and groups alike can design shirts for causes they care about and post an accompanying story about the significance of the movement and design.
Hummel set a goal of selling 200 shirts in 20 days. Purchase the shirt online at https://www.bonfire.com/kona-historical-society-fundraiser. This fundraiser ends Aug. 26 and the shipping of shirts begin Sept. 3. Proceeds will go to Kona Historical Society, a community-based, nonprofit organization and longstanding Smithsonian Affiliate that has spent the past four decades collecting, preserving and sharing the history of the Kona districts and their rich cultural heritage within Hawaiʻi.
On Thursday (Aug. 6), Hummel launched this fundraiser to support a cause she’s passionate about: Kona’s history. Ranching is dear to Hummel because it is part of her family’s heritage. She also wanted to be an advocate by doing something that helped raise money, awareness, attention and support for Kona Historical Society while also recognizing and celebrating Kona’s vibrant ranching legacy.
For more information about Kona Historical Society, visit www.konahistorical.org. To get the latest updates regarding the Society’s programs, historic sites and special events, “LIKE” Kona Historical Society on Facebook.