Giving's Ripple Effect

Teresa Hughes and Puni Kekauoha

A budding opera singer, Teresa Hughes came to Hawai‘i at age 18 from New Zealand in 1880. She ended up singing her way into people’s hearts. During the latter days of the Hawaiian Monarchy, Teresa was known as Honolulu’s only “haole” opera singer. She was also a member of Queen Lili‘uokalani’s famous quartette and composer of many songs of old Hawai‘i.

Teresa was active in philanthropic work in the community. She was one of the first board members of the Kapi‘olani Maternity Hospital, and founding member of the Catholic Ladies’ Aid Society.

Teresa died in 1937 at age 74. She is remembered as one who gave of her talents generously and graciously. “Benefactor of the poor” is the inscription engraved on her tombstone in Nu‘uanu. A large portion of her estate was willed to charity, including a trust to support charitable organizations. Teresa’s spirit and life ideals live on through this trust, which continues to help those who are poor and are without benefit of family or other support systems.

A few years ago, Puni Kekauoha was a single mom and needed financial help to send her child to preschool. A friend told her about the Teresa F. Hughes Trust and although she was doubtful that she’d receive anything, she went ahead and applied.

To her amazement and gratitude, Puni ended up receiving a grant from the Trust and that was her introduction to philanthropy—that’s when she realized that there were people out there who were helping others. It was also her introduction to a community grants program at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation.

Through the program, Puni learned about the resources out there to help her community association in Papakolea, which she headed up. She was instrumental in the formation of Papakolea’s first nonprofit organization, Kula no na Poe Hawai‘i, to address the educational needs of the area’s children.

As president, Puni formed partnerships with outside agencies and worked to develop new leaders within her community. Always proud to call Papakolea home, she works to restore the sense of community from days of old and to improve the lives of family and friends there. Puni’s leadership skills also led her to receive the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s 2003 Ho‘okele Award, which recognizes outstanding leaders in the nonprofit sector.

One person’s giving inspires another. When these connections are made, we create an environment of greater optimism, where individuals will know that their involvement makes a difference. And it is the magic of making a difference that brings meaning to our lives.