My Nonprofit Reviews
Ldatta
Review for Arts of Kona, Kallua Kona, HI, USA
Many organizations "talk the talk" with wonderful missions and visions. I saw Arts of Kona "walk the walk" again ysterday, as I have at all their other events. It's a Sunday afternoon, with about 60 people gathered outside in a private home. (NOTE: this was donated for the event by a local physician who supports Arts of Kona, very generous). First, a 13 year old with a becoming-a-tenor voice opened the music with a beautiful chant (an "oli") in Hawaiian, which is our island custom. This was followed by one of the most beautiful hula kahiko (traditional, ancient style dance) I have ever seen, the 15 year-old dancer expressive, graceful, doing a vigorous and demanding performance. Then a flutist and pianist shared their traditions with us: two exquisite Japanese pieces, some French classical music, ending with a czardas where notes seemed to fly faster than hummingbirds' wings. After an intermission, the 13 year old fella became Frank Sinatra and other performers from the 50s and 60s, bringing "the moves, the voice, the style" with great aplomb. "Performing," he told us, "is my passion and thank you for giving me an opportunity." Then a golden snior who had sung in opera showed she still had the verve and the voice in three arias. The grand finale was a trio of 15 year olds from a Hawaiian language immersion school who sang in complex, luscious harmonies, a polished performance where each young person was featured as well as ensemble.
Arts of Kona aspires to give performers in all the arts a place to come together, to share their talents with the public and their peers, to promote all the organziations that individually create an artistic community. With severe budget cuts---we had 17 days of public school furlough last year!---arts are almost non-existent in our schools. Arts of Kona is a 100% volunteer organization; the funds it raises go 100% to making event such as this possible. And it is 100% making a good difference in the Big Island of Hawaii (we are the one with the volcano).
Five stars plus!
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
appreciation of the marvelous opportunities for our young performers provided by Arts of Kona. These young people beam to hear the public enjoy their performances and Arts of Kona provides opportunities for them to connect across schools and organziations.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
None. They have an outstanding leader in Helen Beljean and a fine board and some awesomely dedicated volunteers. I hope, however, they will be able to gather enough support to make a transition to at least a part-time coordinator.
