Hawaiʻi Community College Launches E ʻImi Pono Fundraiser to Support Students

For some Hawaiʻi Community College students, staying enrolled after this season's Kona low storms came down to a rent payment or a tank of gas. The college's first-ever E ʻImi Pono fundraiser, set for April 18 in Hilo, gives the Big Island business community and its neighbors a direct path to change that equation.

Chancellor Susan Kazama framed the event as the clearest expression of the college's purpose. "This inaugural event represents the very heart of Hawaiʻi Community College—our commitment to uplifting students, strengthening our island and creating pathways to success for all," she said. "E ʻImi Pono is more than a fundraiser; it's a celebration that allows our community to come together in support of our students—their goals, their growth and their futures."

Proceeds will fund scholarships, equipment and supplies for career and technical education programs, workforce development and non-credit training opportunities, and resources that strengthen trade and professional pathways across the island. Emergency aid for students at risk of stopping out mid-semester due to financial disruptions is also a priority.

The evening begins at 5:00 p.m. with a live performance from Hālana, followed by Harold Kama Jr. at 6:30 p.m. The dining experience is anchored by Chef Ryan Brannigan of Hilo Benioff Medical Center, whose resume spans Nobu and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Brannigan will present A5 Kagoshima Wagyu striploin with local oyster and lion's mane mushroom risotto, alongside a sushi bar featuring Hokkaido uni, ikura zuke, spot prawn and blue crab.

Hawaiʻi CC culinary students and faculty will share the kitchen, plating hamachi with ponzu, Korean pork lettuce wraps, lilikoi butter tarts and mini malasadas, dishes that reflect the island's range and the hands-on training the college delivers.

"It's an honor to be part of the very first E ʻImi Pono," Brannigan said. "Food brings people together, but what makes this event special is the impact Hawaiʻi Community College has across the island."

Individual tickets are $150, and a table sponsorship covering six seats is $1,500. Those who cannot attend can make a 100% tax-deductible donation through the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, designated for Hawaiʻi CC. Tickets are available on Eventbrite, and the development office can be reached at (808) 934-2696.

Kazama said she expects the night to be the first of many. "We envision E ʻImi Pono becoming a signature event that brings our community together year after year in support of our students and their dreams."

The college plans to report on fundraising totals and the distribution of proceeds after the event, providing donors and sponsors a direct accounting of impact.