Bidding starts Thursday, Aug. 13, for an online auction that is part of Bishop Museum’s annual fundraiser: E Ulu A Paʻa. The phrase speaks to the museum's growth and goal to continue to build from its foundation.
The fundraiser consists of the auction plus a gala dinner featuring keynote speakers Sig and Kūhaʻo Zane that recognizes the late Nālani Kanakaʻole.
“E Ulu A Pa‘a is Bishop Museum’s premier fundraising event, consisting of a gala dinner, as well as an online auction,” Janet Bullard, the museum’s vice president of advancement and marketing communications and acting director of government relations, told Aloha State Daily in a written statement. “Both are opportunities for the museum to engage with the community to collectively support our mission.”
The online auction features more than 80 items, including a handmade vintage kimono, lei hulu kāmoe made with golden pheasant feathers and custom experiences such as private behind-the-scenes tours of Bishop Museum. It opens at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, and ends at 9 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23.
“The online auction is always popular with shoppers locally, on the continent and abroad as it features many one-of-a-kind treasures made by local artisans and crafters and unique experiences,” Bullard said in a written statement. “I especially look forward to the hand-crafted items and curated experiences donated by our staff, as they showcase our employees’ many talents and diverse backgrounds.”
The E Ulu Paʻa gala dinner will be Saturday, Aug. 22. Dinner entertainment will be provided by Eric Lee, a Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winning artist. The event’s keynote speakers are featured in a new exhibit, "Ea Mai ʻEiwa: Patterns of Practice," which opened in April, and features the work of Kanakaʻole, her husband, Sig Zane, and their son, Kūhaʻo Zane.
This year, the online auction includes an opportunity to bid on a behind-the-scenes tour of the vertebrate zoology collection led by Kris Helgen, president and CEO of Bishop Museum. There is also a chance to bid on a private tour of the upcoming exhibit “Under/Ground” led by Jasper Wong, founder of World Wide Walls, she said.
Bullard declined to share how much E Ulu A Paʻa raised for the museum last year.
“Donations raise vital funds to ensure we can continue to protect, preserve, and perpetuate the rich cultural and natural heritage of Hawai’i and the Pacific,” she said. “We’re grateful for the community’s continued support and hope they enjoy the vast selection of items and experiences up for bid this year.”
Bishop Museum, which was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop in honor of his late wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, has a collection of more than 25 million items, including specimens, cultural objects, photographs and films, works of art, audio recordings and manuscripts. The museum serves more than 200,000 visitors each year.
Learn more about the 2026 online auction and gala dinner.
Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
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