Update, Aug. 11: With the possibility of tropical storm impacts to the state this week, the Lei of Kindness Art Fair + School Supply Drive originally scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 16, has been postponed. The new date is Sunday, Aug. 30.
All proceeds from the sale of a limited-edition bag featuring a winning design by a Big Island elementary school student will go to the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu Academy for Creative Media (ACM) — and it will only be available for purchase exclusively at the upcoming Lei of Kindness Art Fair + School Supply Drive.
The event — presented through a partnership between local companies Buddah Mochi and Mandini Made, and hosted at MINI of Hawai‘i — celebrates community giveback, kindness and creativity. It will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30, at the dealership showroom at 367 Farrington Highway in Kapolei.
Both the limited edition bag and the community event are tied to UH West O‘ahu 2018 Creative Media alum Mandy Quitog, a marketing coordinator at MINI of Hawai‘i. Quitog also runs her own creative brand, Mandini Made, where she brings her designs and illustrations to life through product development and collaborations — including a collaboration with Keala Patao, owner of Buddah Mochi.
Together Quitog and Patao organized the Lei of Kindness Art Fair + School Supply Drive, a family-friendly event where attendees can enjoy interactive keiki activities that celebrate creativity and kindness, shop from a collection of small businesses and support local makers, grab delicious food from local vendors, and help “Fill the MINI” by donating new school supplies for local teachers and students. Click here to see participating vendors.
“The Lei of Kindness Art Fair + School Supply Drive is sure to be a joyful celebration of the Aloha Spirit, creativity and giving back to the community,” Quitog said. “We want to promote kindness in the most fun and creative way, and share the meaning behind supporting locals. It is our way to connect back with our community who supports us.”
UH West O‘ahu ACM Director Sharla Hanaoka noted, “Mandy has always been an exemplar of what our ACM students can become — creative, entrepreneurial and deeply connected to community. It’s really inspiring to see women like Mandy taking ideas and turning them into something meaningful, while serving as role models for the next generation.”
At the heart of the event is the celebration of the winner of the Lei of Kindness Art Contest, an idea conceived by Quitog and Patao. The contest ran earlier this year and invited keiki to share what kindness looks like through their art. The winning design — by Kaile‘a G., a student from Ha‘aheo Elementary School on the Big Island — is now featured on Buddah Mochi’s popular Bebeh Bag.
The “Kaile‘a Bag,” $17, will be available for purchase during the event and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to UH West O‘ahu’s ACM program to help support and inspire the next generation of creatives. Only about 100 bags will be sold.
Patao specifically selected the UH West O‘ahu ACM program to be the recipient for the generous Buddah Mochi giveback because of its meaningful impact on Quitog and her Mandini Made journey.
“As a graduate of the program, Mandy not only found joy in her experience, but was given the space to explore her creativity, take chances on her work and cultivate many of the skills she carries with her today through design and storytelling,” Patao said.
She continued, “The ACM program continues to create opportunities for local students to pursue their creativity while staying rooted in Hawai‘i, offering a path to higher education without leaving home. It encourages the next generation of storytellers and artists to believe in themselves and explore what’s possible.”
Patao said through the giveback, Buddah Mochi supports a program that aligns so closely with its values — opening doors for young creatives to take chances, tell their stories and break barriers right here in Hawai‘i.
“Thank you, Mandy and Keala!” Hanaoka said. “It really is a testament to the commitment to paying it forward by creating opportunities for young artists to experience the joy and importance of creative expression, while helping sustain the ACM program for future generations of students.”
For more information about the upcoming Lei of Kindness Art Fair + School Supply Drive, please contact Mandy Quitog at mandy.quitog@minihawaii.com. For event updates, please check out @mandinimade, @miniofhawaii and @buddah_mochi on Instagram.
