Leaders with the Kauai United Way (KUW) will host a magical journey into the Kaua’i of old with the first in a series of Hidden Treasures events, they said.
“Our community has always given so generously, and we wanted to find a way to tap into new sources of income, to appeal to residents who have not traditionally given to the Kauai United Way,” stated Scott Giarman, Kauai United Way executive director.
On Saturday, Oct. 1, donors giving $500 apiece will be treated to an elegant reception and dinner at ‘Iliahi, a restored, historic plantation home on the slopes of Kilohana Crater.
The home was built for Caleb Burns and his wife, Florence. Formerly with Pioneer Mill on Maui, he was asked to manage one of Kaua’i’s early sugar companies, which eventually became Lihue Plantation.
When he agreed, plantation leaders here agreed to build him a home in a location of his choice.
He chose a spot two miles into cane fields, surrounded by nothing by sugar and other vegetation. That home is now called ‘Iliahi and, after being vacant for several years, it has now been restored to its original luster, Giarman said.
The Hidden Treasures event was spearheaded by Michele Hughes, who felt there were many newer residents on Kaua’i who would give generously to KUW if given the opportunity.
“Who wouldn’t want to see such a magnificent home, which is not often open to the public, and give to a worthy cause at the same time?” Hughes asked.
Grove Farm leaders, who own the property, made it available to KUW officials for the fund-raiser. As cochairs of the event, Hughes and former Mayor Maryanne Kusaka have been pleasantly surprised at the over-whelmingly positive response, they said.
In addition to the dinner, guests will be provided tours of the property by volunteer do-cents for the evening: members of Delta Kappa Gamma International, the Honorary Society for Women Educators.
“My Delta Kappa Gamma sisters were so enthused to be a part of this,” said Kusaka.
“They not only get to learn about the property themselves, but they get to share that knowledge with our guests for the evening,” stated Kusaka.
Positioned more than two miles into the cane fields, ‘Iliahi (which means “sandalwood” in Hawaiian) remains a wonderful example of pre-war plantation culture, Giarman explained.
The house has been virtually unaltered, with all the fixtures, drawer pulls and such still intactc.
The 9,000-square-foot home features handpicked ‘ohi’a flooring, stone chimneys, a rock-pillared porte cochere, and a glass-walled living room. KUW’s annual fund-raising efforts currently benefit 24 non-profit, social-service agencies on Kaua’i.
Its mission, “Providing leadership to unite the people of Kaua’i to share resources so that they may better care for one another,” is accomplished by lifting the burden of fund-raising from the shoulders of those hard-working folks with the agencies it serves, Giarman explained.
A limited number of tickets are still available for the Hidden Treasures event at ‘Iliahi, at $500 each. For more information about “Hidden Treasures” or Kauai United Way, please call the KUW office at 245-2043.
