In Hawaii, “Aloha” is much more than a greeting or farewell. It’s a feeling, an energy – a way of living and treating each other with love and respect. The “Aloha Spirit” is the coordination of mind and heart within each person, and it teaches us lessons of peace, kindness, compassion and responsibility to future generations.
The Spirit of Aloha Estate Art Auction benefiting Book Trust emanates this belief with all proceeds supporting the advancement of early literacy in Hawaii.
Over the course of 30+ years, Jill and Doug Schatz have curated a unique collection of Hawaiian art, which was displayed in their home on the island of Maui. They are donating a wide variety of art from their collection to Book Trust, which is being sold through this online auction. The diverse selection of original art available includes oil paintings, pastels and watercolors, wood sculptures made from the highly prized ‘Kou’ wood, ceramics, mixed-media art, and more. All of these one of a kind works of art were inspired by the unique and rich culture and the natural beauty of the Hawaiian Islands. All proceeds from the online auction will go to Book Trust.
Here’s how the online art auction works:
During the 2021/2022 school year, the Book Trust program in Hawaii had:
Nearly 4,000 students
choosing books
7,500+ books
added to home libraries
215 teachers
supporting interest-based choice
13 schools
participating in the program
At Book Trust, we believe literacy is a human right. It is the foundation for lifelong learning. Book Trust aims to increase book choice and ownership, inspire a love of reading, and promote a culture of literacy in communities. Book access is the single biggest barrier to literacy in low-income communities. Book Trust acts as an equity game changer, ensuring that students who need them most have access to books and the agency to make their own choices about what they read.
All children in Hawaii deserve access to books and the joy that reading brings. Join us in partnering with local communities to invest in the youth of Hawaii.