Gifts that Give to Hawaiʻi
This holiday season, give back to ʻāina by shopping for gifts and experiences with companies that provide a way to make a charitable impact with your purchase! Your wallet, or how you choose to spend your money, is a powerful way to support your community. To help, we’ve created a short list of some of the companies that make it easy for you feel good about your purchases, not just during the holidays, but all year long! Below, you will find some local businesses that donate a portion of their proceeds to Hawaiʻi Land Trust.
Hawaiʻi Island
When you book a stay at the historic and gorgeous Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on Hawaiʻi Island’s Kohala Coast, the Hawaiʻi Island Conservation Fund created by Mauna Kea Resort makes a donation to support HILT’s efforts to permanently protect and revitalize Mahukona Navigation & Ecological Complex. We are grateful to Mauna Kea Resort for their dedication to ʻāina and kai stewardship on Hawaiʻi Island.
With pubs in Kona and Koko Marina (on Oahu) this local beer company has certified Ocean Friendly Restaurants which means they have eliminated Styrofoam and plastic bags, implemented proper recycling techniques, and provide reusable tableware when dining in-house. They also support HILT and other environmental organizations throughout the Islands through a variety of efforts.
Kauaʻi
As a Nā Koa ʻĀina member, Hōkūala Kauaʻi has made an annual commitment to supporting HILT and organizes an annual volunteer day bringing dozens of residents and employees for a day of service at Kāhili Beach Preserve. You can enjoy a day on the links with incredible views at the stunning Ocean Course at Hōkūala or enjoy a lovely meal with a view at Hualani’s Restaurant.
Kōloa Rum Company was founded to create superior Hawaiian rums and ready-to-drink cocktails using locally-sourced ingredients. In doing so, they provide meaningful employment opportunities for the people of Kauaʻi, while diversifying our local economy and preserving important agricultural land. Kōloa Rum Company is an annual supporter of HILT’s work at Kāhili Beach Preserve in Kīlauea.
Maui
Hawaiian Paddlesports is a 1% for the Planet member. This means that they are committed to donating 1% of their gross sales directly to environmental partners. (Hawaiʻi Land Trust is an approved environmental partner!) Hawaiian Paddlesports supports HILT in many ways: through donations, coordinating regular staff volunteer events at Waiheʻe and Nuʻu, volunteering as Island Council members, and so much more.
HILT Advisory Board Member, Gunars Valkirs, created this multiple award-winning chocolate and cacao farm, dedicating 100% of net profit to supporting Maui nonprofit organizations. Through the Chocolate Laulima program, you can directly support HILT with your chocolate purchase (chocolate makes great stocking stuffers!) You can also join us on our next Laulima Tasting weekend on February 4 and 5. 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales to these events comes right back to HILT. Yum!
Nā Hoaloha Ekolu (Star Noodle, Leoda’s Kitchen & Pie Shop, and Old Lāhainā Lūʻau)
Nā Hoaloha Ekolu, it’s founders Michael Moore, Tim Moore, and Robert Aguiar, and it’s staff have been supporting HILT for 21 years! Each year, they generously host our Buy Back the Beach benefit at Old Lāhainā Lūʻau, participate in volunteer days, and so, so much more. Gift certificates to any of their restaurants is not only a good idea, its ʻono.
Skyline Hawaiʻi
Another 1% for the Planet member, Skyline Hawaiʻi advocates for and leads environmental improvement efforts across Maui and actively promotes giving back to the community as a way of life. A gift certificate for a zipline adventure on Maui (and Hawaiʻi Island and Kauaʻi!) is a great gift idea for someone who doesn’t “need anymore stuff.”
Oʻahu
Honolulu Coffee Company’s farm in Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaiʻi Island, was protected in 2016 with an agricultural conservation easement held by HILT. You can share delicious locally grown and produced coffee with the coffee lover in your life and can tour their Honolulu Roastery.
MAʻO Organic Farms and Kahumana Organic Farms
In 2019, HILT protected part of MAO Organic Farm with an agricultural conservation easement. We admire their commitment to building community and empowering our youth. HILT protected Kahumana Organic Farm in 2022. Their farm produces more than 100,000 pounds of fresh, organic produce for our communities every year. The farm supports Kahumana’s social service initiatives in Waianae and the rest of Oʻahu.
Foodies deserve fresh local organic produce! Sign them up for a CSA and they will enjoy your gift, and healthy food, all year long. Find MAʻO Organic Farms’ CSA here and Kahumana Organic Farms’ CSA here.
ONLINE
If you’re not in the Islands, no worries! You can shop at many of the places mentioned above online and have items mailed to you. Additionally, there are other ways you can support HILT online.
This local company (gone international!) founded by local girls, Heather Aiu and Rachel Soares, donates 5% of their company’s profits to Hawaiʻi-based conservation organizations annually. We love their commitment to mālama ʻāina — and their bags are super cute!
Through it’s Amazon Smile program Amazon supports many charities, enabling you to do some good every time you shop at Amazon. Follow the steps below to support Hawaiʻi Land Trust in your holiday (and everyday) shopping!
Go to Amazon.com
We should automatically be the selected charity, however, if you have to search, look for “Hawaiʻi Land Trust”
Start shopping!
Making a donation in honor of one of your loved ones is a wonderful way to share your aloha aina and aloha for them. You can donate in any amount, at any time, here.
