We are an all-volunteer organization registered as a charitable non-profit (501c3) with the IRS. Our Mission and Purpose is to provide awareness and education about Hawaiian and other South Pacific Islander cultures and heritage.
About the Festival Organization
Besides the Festival weekend’s festivities, we:
- Provide speakers or instructors for educational programs.
- Support gifts of learning materials to education institutions or other nonprofit charities.
- Provide funding for cultural awareness and/or educational programs.
- Provide funding for eligible cultural awareness/educational projects.
- Support cultural arts learning through workshops or other venues.
Board of Directors/Officers
The Board of Directors focuses on our mission and purpose. They primarily work on strategic planning, setting goals and objectives, overseeing programs and activities, and maintaining accountability. They are responsible for maintaining our non-profit status, securing and monitoring revenues, budgeting, and all other business-related activities.
President
Varen Berryman
Vice President
Joel “Naka” Madsen
Secretary/Treasurer
Bob Bacon
Director
Patty Novak
Director
Michelle “Hana” Herrera
Director
Laupanana Iaulualo
Director
Lani Auwen
All board members and officers serve without compensation, as do all Festival Planning Team members, so that all monies raised go toward the fulfillment of our exempt purpose.
The Festival is sustained through support from the community through:
Grants & Gifts
Donations
(tax deductible)
Sponsorships
Sales at the event of souvenir teeshirts, soda and bottled water; and our raffle.
Donations from the AMAZON Smiles Program, supported by online shoppers that choose Arizona Aloha Festival as their charity.
Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to:
Arizona Aloha Festivals, Inc.
P.O. Box 24237
Tempe, AZ 85285
Planning Team
The ‘Red Shirts’ are the event leadership team. All are volunteers in charge of a Festival Committee. They are the core of the planning and operation of the Festival.
Planning Team members meet as a group year-round to coordinate programming, logistics, operations, staffing, sanitation, safety and security, and ‘the fun stuff’ you find at Festival. Each Committee is in charge of a specific Festival area and leads a team of volunteers assigned to those duties.
Please thank these dedicated volunteers - you'll find them in their red shirts!
John Auwen – Operations
Lacretia Bacon – Chairperson
Janet Foote – Set Up/Take Down
Sarena Gill – Public Relations
Brigit Taha – Aloha Corps
T.J. Teeples – Security
Nani Teeples – Operations
Malcolm Valera – Artwork
Sheri Deterding – Ohana Village
Michael Deterding – Ohana Village
Zach Deterding – Aunty Aloha’s Ukulele Corner
Shoni Burg – Hale Mana’o
Natalie Noriega – Hale Mana’o
Alana Segoviana – Keiki Activities
Marlene Day – Keiki Activities
Cardon Jones – Soda & Water sales
Justin Herrera – Soda & Water sales
Ann’e Palmer – Super Sales
John Palmer – Super Sales
Emily Madsen – Merchandise Vendors
Joe Madsen – Merchandise Vendors
Kevin Salamacha – Merchandise Vendors
Mindee Montierth – Food Vendors
Bryson Montierth – Food Vendors
Kamalu Tinnell – Performers
Alvin Pai – Stage Manager
Bob Jancoski – Assistant Stage Manager
Don Ibarra – Stage Announcers
Lourdes O’Heir – Stage Decorations
Tim O’Heir – Stage Decorations