Aloha,

My name is Alan Akaka, and I am the Chairman of the Board at HIMELE, The Hawai'i Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences. HIMELE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose educational work promotes and perpetuates Hawaiian music, culture, and musical instruments. HIMELE plays a vital role in generating interest in and developing a worldwide following for the Hawaiian steel guitar, an important part of Hawaiian music and culture, and we work with our partners to produce annual free-to-the-public steel guitar festivals across the Hawaiian Islands. We livestream the concert portions of these festivals over YouTube and FaceBook to a global audience and, where possible, include school classroom presentations, cultural workshops, open-stage performances, and hands-on learning opportunities. HIMELE also promotes Hawaiian music and culture by providing music training scholarships to serious, deserving young musicians.

To do this work, HIMELE relies entirely on donations, grants, and in-kind support, which is why I am writing to you today. Your tax-deductible gift will enable us to continue and expand our cultural activities and events. Your contribution of

• $65 will provide a steel guitar lesson to a deserving youth musician
• $300 will cover the costs of promotional materials and audience surveys for a steel guitar Festival
• $1000 will pay for livestream videography for a steel guitar festival
• $1700 will pay for a sound engineer for a steel guitar festival

Your tax-deductible gift of any amount is appreciated and will help us continue and expand our cultural activities.

You can make a donation on HIMELE's website using credit card, Venmo, Zeffy, PayPal or download a form to mail. http://www.himele.org/give.

HIMELE depends entirely on donations, grants, and partner in-kind support to offer Hawaiian steel guitar festivals to the public at no cost, provide youth music scholarships, and bring educational programming to local schools. During this holiday season we at HIMELE humbly ask that you consider including HIMELE on your shopping list. We thank you in advance for your ongoing support. Working together we do make a difference. Mahalo nui loa! Me ke aloha pumehana (with our warmest aloha),

Alan L. Akaka
HIMELE Chairman of the Board