From: Maja S. <majamonkeybrains2@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, April 8, 2024 11:55:15 PM (UTC-10:00) Hawaii
To: BFED Committee <BFED.Committee@mauicounty.us>
Subject: Testimony – STRONG SUPPORT for funding Upcountry Winter Fest 2025

Aloha Maui County Councilmembers,

My name is Maja Szpunar and I am part of the King Kekaulike High School graduating class of 2023. I am currently a freshman at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a recipient of the 2023 Susan Scofield and Debbie Hisashima Memorial Scholarships by the Kekaulike High School Foundation.

I am testifying in strong support of the Kekaulike High School Foundation’s Upcountry Winter Festival 2025.

The inaugural Upcountry Winter Fest took place in November 2023. The festival included a craft fair, holiday display, food trucks and booths, non-profit information booths, keiki games, and entertainment – not to mention that Santa and Mrs. Claus graced us with their presence!
Here are a few stats from 2023:
55 - Small businesses/vendors participated
9 - Kekaulike complex clubs and organizations participated from 4 of the 7 schools within the complex
60 - Volunteers came from the Upcountry community to make this festival successful
9 - Non-profit organizations provided information to festival goers on their mission and impact on the community
1,096 - Attendees were counted!!!
For the 9 Kekaulike complex clubs and organizations that participated at the food booths and keiki games, they were able to generate almost $7,000 in sales. These clubs and organizations range from Kaiapuni Class of 2024 to Pukalani Elementary School Robotics to Na Ali’i Boys Soccer. Of the other 55 vendors and small businesses this festival supported, based on our after-festival survey, the vendors were very pleased and are looking forward to coming back this year.

The Kekaulike High School Foundation aims to support the ENTIRE Kekaulike complex, through scholarships for students and grants for teachers. In 2022, their initial year of supporting the community, they have facilitated providing $8,500 in scholarships to seniors pursuing higher education and $1,000 in grants to Upcountry public school teachers. This increased in 2023 to $9,700 in scholarships, with $500 of that total coming directly from funds the Kekaulike High School Foundation was able to raise, and $250 in grants to Upcountry public school teachers.

Because of the success of the 2023 Upcountry Winter Festival, the Kekaulike High School Foundation was able to allocate $1,000 in scholarships and $1,500 in grants to Upcountry public school teachers for this year. This event also serves as the Kekaulike High School Foundation’s main fundraiser for the year.

Personally, the KKHS foundation has vitally impacted my higher education. As with many students coming from low income families, scholarships and grants are what determine how far we can take our education journeys. As someone who has always wanted to attend university, the stress of the cost of attendance was nerve racking. The KKHS Foundation scholarships I received therefore allowed me to begin my education goals. Scholarships such as those provided by the Foundation can give many students hope to attend the schools of their choice. Encouraging the next generation to pursue their college and trade goals is important to the futures and successes of the students of Hawai’i. My KKHS Foundation scholarships helped me to start my journey at UH Mānoa, with goals to give back to my community in the future. I hope that one day I can provide to the KKHS foundation through donations, to support other students such as myself, as the foundation once did for me. Because I understand the importance and security this scholarship has provided to myself and fellow classmates.

Mahalo for the opportunity to testify in strong support of the Kekaulike High School Foundation and Upcountry Winter Festival 2025. Have an amazing day.

Maja Szpunar
majamonkeybrains2@gmail.com