Maui United Way is inviting the community to a moonlit feast this December, with tickets and tables now available for its ʻUlana Gala: Weaving a Stronger Maui Nui. The fundraiser is set for 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 5 at Old Lāhainā Lūʻau, and it will pair a four-course dining experience with Hawaiian music and hula to raise money for programs across Maui County.
According to The Maui News, proceeds from the evening will support Maui United Way programs focused on financial security, healthy communities, youth opportunities and community resiliency throughout the county. Individual tickets are priced at $300 and include the four-course dinner along with live Hawaiian entertainment, as detailed by Maui Now. Guests are expected to enjoy what organizers describe as a moonlit feast under the stars, with a culinary lineup featuring traditional kālua puaʻa, laulau, fresh poke, poi, island-inspired entrées, handcrafted desserts and premium beverages.
Tables, VIP Perks and Sponsors
Tables that seat eight cost $2,000 and include individual-admission benefits plus logo recognition on the event website, in Maui United Way's impact report and in the program booklet, per the same account. VIP tables, also seating eight, run $5,000 and add front-row show seats, VIP parking, a social media feature and a half-page program-booklet advertisement, along with logo placement on the event website, in the impact report, in the e-newsletter and on the photo backdrop.
The report lists $5,000-level sponsors including Pacific Media Group, Coldwell Banker, the Joyce Wang ʻOhana, Dowling Company and Wailea Community Association. At the $2,000 level, sponsors include SR Partners, Dos Abogados, Line For Life, Altres, the Shanda Vangas ʻOhana and Lahaina Brewing Company.
A Name Rooted in Weaving Community Together
Maui United Way President and CEO Jeeyun Lee said the gala's name carries deeper meaning for the organization's mission across the islands it serves. “ʻUlana reflects the power of weaving together nonprofits, businesses, donors, volunteers and community members to create lasting impact across Maui, Molokai and Lānaʻi,” Lee said, as reported by The Maui News. Lee added that the gala celebrates the relationships, generosity and shared commitment that help Maui Nui thrive.
Old Lāhainā Lūʻau is hosting the event, with managing partner Kawika Freitas saying the venue is honored to partner with Maui United Way in supporting programs that strengthen the region. Freitas said Old Lāhainā Lūʻau is excited to host the gala and welcome the community for an evening of food, culture and giving.
How Other Maui Fundraisers Have Fared This Year
The ʻUlana Gala joins a busy season of nonprofit fundraising on Maui. Maui Economic Opportunity's 7th Annual Gala raised more than $150,000 in the spring, according to a Maui Now report on the event, which drew 260 attendees to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. More recently, Mele for Maui welcomed over 3,000 guests to Royal Lāhainā Resort & Bungalows in a benefit that marked the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra's first Maui performance in a decade, Maui Now reported.
Maui United Way also points to past contributions on its own impact page, noting $250,000 that helped launch Hoʻōla Iā Mauiakama, Maui's Long Term Recovery Group, and $178,000 toward rebuilding a playground and art spaces at King Kamehameha III. Tickets and tables for the ʻUlana Gala are available through mauiunitedway.org, with sponsorship opportunities still open for businesses and organizations looking to take part.
