Seabury Hall Pivots to New Virtual Fundraiser with Inaugural Maunalei Giving Day

Seabury Hall will be hosting an inaugural event, Maunalei Giving Day, a virtual fundraiser combined with a drive-through Mother’s Day Marketplace, on Saturday, May 8, 2021.  The new event is named in part for the school’s campus, Maunalei.

With the traditional Craft Fair not being held for the second year in a row, the school has pivoted to a new style of fundraiser, bringing the event both into the 21st century and creating a safer way for the people of Maui to support the school.

Maunalei Giving Day will be streamed on the school’s website from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will highlight the talents of the students, teachers and alumni. Donations of any amount will be welcomed through the new online giving platform.  Companies interested in sponsoring a portion of the broadcast, are asked to email: [email protected].

Historically, the Craft Fair was the school’s largest fundraiser event, drawing thousands of visitors from around the island, and raising over $150,000 for the school’s financial aid programs. 

Head of School, Maureen Madden said, “the need for financial aid has never been greater.  Living through this pandemic and economic downturn, especially on an island so dependent on tourism, our families are requiring more assistance than in the past. In pivoting to an online platform, and being able to highlight our students and alumni to our ‘ohana around the world, we hope to make this our most successful fundraiser ever.” 

The event will also feature the Maunalei Mother’s Day Marketplace, which will offer selected favorites from the past Craft Fairs that organizers say will be easy to order online and pick up in a drive-through event on the school’s campus located in Upcountry Maui. 

Organizers say this gives them the ability to “gather all of the items that always made the Craft Fair the best place to buy treats for Mother’s Day.” 

Kaimana Brummel, the school’s Director of Advancement, said this part of the event will offer “the best of craft fair as we knew it, with grab-and-go meals, lei, flower bouquets, plants, and of course, the ability to visit the campus, which is really beautiful in May.  We’ve been able to hold a couple of drive-through events on campus already, and we’re excited to combine the success of those events with all of the craft fairs of the past, into one exciting new event.”  

The Maunalei Mother’s Day Marketplace will also feature an online-only Craft Fair during the month of April, so shoppers from around the world can order from their favorite crafters and have them shipped and delivered just in time for Mother’s Day.  

The impact of the financial aid is two-fold according to administrators:  (1) to provide deserving students an opportunity for a high-quality college preparatory education which might otherwise be unobtainable for them, and (2) allow for a well-qualified student body reflecting a broad social and economic mix. 

The Seabury Hall Craft Fair started in 1973 as a gathering of arts and entertainment on the school’s Upcountry campus. It is always held on the day before Mother’s Day.

Over the years, it grew to be a well-attended event, featuring more than 100 artists and crafters, including Maui-based woodworkers, traditional Hawaiian artists, jewelers, ceramists, and weavers. In addition, the fair offered specialty foods, live music, fresh produce, cut flowers, children’s games, rummage sale and a silent auction.

In the fall of 1964, Seabury Hall began its service as a college preparatory school for girls with an enrollment of 51.  Fifty-six years later, Seabury Hall has a co-educational enrollment of 456 students and 90 employees.  The school is dedicated to providing a college preparatory educational experience for diverse, bright students from all segments of the Maui community.