Kū Ka Lau Lama 2026 Akaʻula School Fundraiser

head of school Dara Lukonen and three students sang ‘Oh, What a Beautiful World’ from Willie Nelson

By Léo Azambuja

A nearly sold-out fundraiser event last weekend at Molokai Community Health Center will help carry one of the smallest schools on Molokai for another year, subsidizing students’ tuitions and other school programs. 

“This event is Kū Ka Lau Lama. It means, ‘many torches uplifted and lighting the way for education,’ and it’s a fundraiser to help fund our student financial-aid program,” said Dara Lukonen, the head of school at Akaʻula School and a member of the school’s Board of Trustees.

Almost 200 people attended the Kū Ka Lau Lama 2026, the school’s annual fundraiser Jan. 17. 

“This is our signature fundraiser. It’s our primary fundraiser,” Lukonen said, adding the annual event is organized primarily by the parents, but everyone at the school helps, including teacher and students. 

“We all help each other to make this event happen,” said Tina Choy, who was part of the organization. “It really does take a village to make this work.”

The students played a key role in the event. They greeted the guests, sat them at their tables and provided a full dinner service. At the end of the night, they even entertained the guests.

The fundraiser started at 3 p.m. with a silent auction and buy-it-now items inside the community center and a pūpū bar in the patio. In the oceanfront stage, live music by Keaka Kamakana entertained the crowd. 

Several tables were laid out throughout the area, where a plated Chinese-themed dinner — cake noodle, beef broccoli, lemon chicken, kau yuk, rice and salad — was served at 5 p.m. by the school’s students.

After dinner, emcee Lyndon Dela Cruz led a spirited and witty live auction that added extra money to the fundraiser: $450 for a Kala ukulele, $560 for a complete SUP kit, $425 for a three-night getaway at Ke Nani Kai resort, $300 for a Shimano ulua fishing pole, $500 for a framed painting from Kealoha Pā, $300 for a 21-speed Mongoose mountain bike, $300 for a Kumulipo Stone sculpture by Todd Yamashita and his son Nohokai Yamashita, and $300 for a framed artwork by Mickey Pauole.

Besides the event tickets, the silent and live auctions, and the buy-it-now items, the school also had a Giving Tree, where donations could be made specifically to students’ requests. Those requests included things such as art supplies, snacks, movie field trips, a water dispenser, a microwave oven, gasoline for their mini-bus trips, books and gardening supplies among other things.

“We have a private donor who will match up to $3,000 in the Giving Tree,” parent Tici Horner said, adding the donations, which are ongoing, can be done through Venmo, check or credit card.

Following the live auction, the students performed a comedy skit based on the late comedian Bob Hope and his famous shows through the United Services Organizations, entertaining United States troops serving during different wars.

“The USO is a nonprofit whose goal is to strengthen America’s military service members by keeping them contacted to their family, home and country throughout their service to the nation. We are going to perform a small portion of the USO tribute show tonight in honor of Auntie Viola and Uncle Weldon. We hope you enjoy our show. Let’s bring out Mr. USO himself, our head honcho, Mr. Bob Hope,” student Nohokai Yamashita said at the start of the show.

The student playing Bob Hope delivered a round of laughs on his first lines.

“I don’t deserve all this attention here tonight. But then again, I have arthritis. I don’t deserve that either,” he said while playing the late British comedian who passed away in California at 100 years old in 2003. “I’m happy to be here tonight. But then again, when you’re my age, you’re happy to be anywhere.”

Other students also came up on the stage to add to the comedy show. 

Three students shared the stage with Lukonen, calling themselves The Willie Nelsons, before singing the American musician’s “Oh, What a Beautiful World.” 

The evening ended with a Lifetime Education Achievement Award honoring Weldon and Viola Wichman.

“The community of Molokai has been our ʻohana, and it has been such a pleasure to share with you our times and our endeavors,” Viola Wichman said. “The community, the kids at large, they have made our lives what it is today. And so, thank you for this honor. We really appreciate it.”

Akaʻula School was established in 2003. They teach grades five through 12, and currently have 22 students enrolled. Visit akaula.weebly.com to donate or for more information.