FEATUREYO COMPAN HERE
WhenyousponsorHawai‘iOperaTheatre,you’renotjustbuyingad space you’retakingcenterstageasakeystonesupporterofthe community.Yougainaccesstomomentsthatmostwillneverseeand standasaleaderinpreservingHawai‘i’screativefuture.Yoursupport bringsworld-classartistsintoclassrooms,increasesstudents’ accessibilitytomusicandperformance,andcreatesmomentsof discoverythatlastalifetime.Inreturn,yournameistiedtoworkthat advanceseducationthroughart,thusensuringyourimpactfor generations.Thisishowsponsorshipbecomeslegacy.
A LETTER FROM BOARD PRESIDENT StevePrieto
AlohaOperaLovers,
AsIwritethis,Iamremindedoftheremarkableachievementsofthepastyear UnderAndrew’s leadership,thestaffseemedtothriveonthechallengesandhardshipstheyenduredlastyear.We,asa company,navigatedthroughuncertaintiesandcelebratednumerousmilestones,allofwhichhave strengthenedourcommitmenttotheartsandthecommunityweserve.
Ourpartnershipwithlocalschoolshasflourished,providingstudentswithuniqueopportunitiesto engagewiththearts Workshops,masterclasses,andbehind-the-scenestourshaveinspiredthenext generationofperformersandpatrons,ensuringthefuturevitalityofourbelovedartform Ouroutreach initiativesareexpandingwithplanstobringthemagicofoperatomoreschools,andcommunity eventsacrosstheisland
Throughcarefulmanagementandthegenerosityofourdonors,weareworkingtowardsastable financialfooting,allowingustoinvestintheenhancementofourfacilities.Thisbringsmetoanexciting developmentthatIamthrilledtosharewithyouall.
OurambitiousplansfortherenovationofourofficespaceandSTUDIO101isunderway!STUDIO101,the heartofourrehearsal,performanceandeducationalactivities,isbeingtransformedintoafacilitythat willenhanceitsfunctionalityandaccessibility
Thisinvestmentinourphysicalinfrastructureisatestamenttoourfuturevisionwhereourimpactisfelt farandwide,andwhereourcommitmenttoexcellenceremainsunwavering Asweembarkonthis newchapter,Iwanttoextendmydeepestgratitudetoeachofyouforyourunwaveringsupportand dedication.Together,wehaveachievedsomuc inspireaudiences,andnurturethetransformat
Thankyou,andIlookforwardtooursharedsuc
Steve
M A H A L O T O O U R I N D I V I D U A L D O N O R S
I N M E M O R
O F I N H O N O R O F
General Director & CEO REPORT
byAndrewMorgan
Staffing
I’mpleasedtointroduceourneweststaffmember,KaseyNahlo Development&EventsManager Kaseystartedjustonemontha jumpedrightintothefrayandhelpedmakeitabigsuccess.Kas voiceandoperaandperformswiththeOahuChoralSocietyas CathedralChoir.YoumighthavealsoseenthemintheroleofTe SpringproductionofMasterclass.
WealsocelebratefourstaffmemberswhohavebeenwithHOT BlytheKelsey,ArtisticManager–12yearsinJuly
EricSchank,EducationMusicSpecialist–19yearsthispastJa LoreRamiro,BoxOfficeManager-23yearslastfall
ErikHaines,DirectorofEducation–33yearsasofJune1
Tributes
HOTalsosaidgoodbyetotwovitalandlongtimemembersofo Dr PhilipMcNamee(1936-2024),amemberofourboardofd SarahM Richards(1941-2025),anactiveleaderforHOTfrom instrumentalinestablishingHOTasanindependentnon-pro servedasourfirstPresidentoftheBoard.
Hawai
iOperaPlazaRenovations
HOT’sbiggestassetisHawaiʻiOperaPlaza,ourbuildingat848S giftedtothecompanythroughagenerousbequestsomedeca vitalroleinhousingouradministrativeoffices,costumeshop,Ac providesasignificantsourceofincomefromthevaluedtenants building We’realsogratefultohaveSTUDIO101onthegroundflo throughouttheyearforperformances,mainstagerehearsals,m g , , specialevents,andmore.Italsohasthepotentialtoincreaseincomeforthecompanyfrom outsiderentals.
ThebuildingrequiressomeTLC,includingupgradestotheinfrastructureandcosmeticwork includingpaintingtheexteriorandrefreshingcommonareas.Andtomaximizethepotentialof STUDIO101,renovationstothatspacearerequiredtoimprovefunctionality,includingnewHVAC andelectrical,theatricallighting,andnewrestroomsforpubliceventsandperformances.
Tofundtheseprojects,andcreateareserveforfuturecapitalprojects,we’velauncheda$35 millioncapitalcampaign I’mthrilledtosayweareapproaching60%to-goal,allowingusto beginworkonSTUDIO101thissummeralongwithpaintingthebuilding
THEPROJECT
Modernization&Sustainability
UpgradeHOPinfrastructure, includingHVAC,plumbing,electrical, andelevator
Refreshcommonareasthroughout thebuilding
EnhancedWorkEnvironment
BringingallHOTstaff“under oneroof”inSuite400
HOT’sLegacy:Enhanced Alandmarkofmidcentury architecture
HOPastheveryvisiblephysical representationofHOT
Capital Campaign BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
SCANHERE todonate! Include“Capital Campaign”inthe NOTESsection.
General Director & CEO’s REPORT
(continued)
2024-2025MainstageSeason
WebegantheseasoninOctober2024withStuckElevator byByronAuYongandAaronJafferisinaninsightfuland engagingproductionfromNashvilleOpera Thisintense andsurprisinglyhumorouspiece,basedontrueevents, tellsthestoryofGuang,anundocumentedChinese immigrantworkingasadeliverymanforaChinese restaurant,whogetsstuckinanelevatorintheBronxfor 81hours.
ItwasapowerfulmomentforthecompanyandI’mstill gettingpositivefeedbackfromaudiencemembers The castwasmostlyfromtheNashvilleproduction,withthe exceptionofsopranoHelenZhibingHuang(whostarred inAnAmericanDreamthepreviousfall)andHOT favorite,tenorTakaKomagataintheleadrole.Itwasa tour-de-forceperformanceforTaka,ashischaracteris “stuck”onstagefortheentire90-minuterun-time
WefinishedtheseasoninAprilwithsold-outperformancesofBizet’smost famouswork,Carmen,inourtriumphantreturntotheBlaisdellConcertHall afteralengthyclosureforrenovations.Itwasthrillingtoseeandhear mezzo-sopranoAliceChung(MadameButterfly;AnAmericanDream) makeherroledebutasthefierygypsy.Additionalprincipalartistsincluded tenorWonWhiChoi(DonJose)andbass-baritoneRichardOllarsaba (Escamillo)intheircompanydebuts.Ourstagedconcertwasdirectedby RichardGammon(AnAmericanDream)andconductedbyBenjamin Makino(MadameButterfly;TheElixirofLove)
General Director & CEO’
(continued)
4-2025STUDIO101Season
growthofSTUDIO101hasbeen dibletowatch LedbyArtistic ctorandcreativevisionary,Jamie nbachandArtisticManager(and asionalstarinbothmainstage 101productions)BlytheKelsey, DIO101producedafullseasonofcomple 5season FromHOTholidayclassicsand Valentine’sDayspecialsandjazzloungepro capturedtheheartsofsomanynewHOTpatrons Withtheupcoming renovations,wecannotwaittoraisethebarAGAINandinviteeveryonebackto enjoyfresh,newSTUDIO101shows!
BlaisdellConcertHall,thedecisionwasmadetopresenttwomainstageproductions p g erFallFestivalinSTUDIO101.
Webeginwithnotoneortwo,butthreeuniqueofferingsaswelaunchourfirst-everfestivalofvocalmusic, presentedbetweenSeptemberandDecember.Thevariedprogramming,craftedbyArtisticDirectorJamie Offenbach,includesthereturnofoneofthebiggesthitsfromourdigitalseason,BonAppetit!,acomicculinary extravaganzathattapsthewitandcharmofoneofAmerica'sbest-lovedtelevisionpersonalities,chefJuliaChild InOctober,STUDIO101presentsanoriginalproductioncalledDivasofDarkness,anall-classicalprogramfeaturing dramaticariasandchillingensemblesthatdelveintothedark,deliciouslytwistedsideofoperaandclassical music InNovember,webringBewitched,Bothered,&Bewilderedtolife Thismagicallywickedeveningfeatures iconic20th-centuryjazzstandards,hauntingshowtunes,andtimelesspopularsongsthatshimmerwithintrigue andemotion.Unfortunately,therenovationstoSTUDIO101willnotbecompleteintimeforourFallFestival,but theproductionswillnowtakeplaceattheScottishRiteCathedral.(1611KewaloSt#101,Honolulu,HI96822)
InFebruary2026,we’refinallyabletopresentRossini’scomicmasterpiece,TheItalianGirlinAlgiers,inaproduction thatwaspushedfromthepreviousseasonbecauseofdelaysinconstructionatBlaisdell Aspreviously announced,theproductionwilluseahilariousEnglishadaptation,TheRiotGrrrlonMars Itfeaturesthesame characters,thesamestory,andthesamegloriousmusic ButwhileAlgierswasanappropriatelyexoticsettingin Rossini’stime,itlacksthesamemystiquefor21st-centuryaudiences Marscertainlyprovidesthatinspades!Or is it,inspace?
RiotGrrrlrepresentsmymainstagedirectorialdebutwithHOT,aproductionIdirectedsome20yearsagointhe SanFranciscoBayArea.I’mthrilledtobebringingthisdelightfulcomedytoourstage.Wehaveaterrificcastledby mezzo-sopranoTaylor-AlexisDuPont,makingherHOTdebutinthetitleroleandHOTfavoriteTakaKomagataas herlover,Mosquito(Lindoro).OtherreturningartistsincludesopranoLeslieGoldman(QueenofMars/Elvira),Robert EllsworthFeng(TheProfessor/Taddeo);andSarahLambertConnelly(Zulma).
General Director & CEO’s REPORT
(continued)
TheseasoncomestoathrillingclosewiththeworldpremiereofKamalehua:TheShelteringTreeinMay 2026byHawaiiancomposerHerbMahelonaandHawaiian-SamoanlibrettistVictoriaNālaniKneubuhl This representsthefirstoperacommissionedbyHOT,andthefirsttrulyHawaiianoperaevercommissionedbya professionaloperacompany
KamalehuaisbasedonthetruestoryofanunsungHawaiianhero,TimoteoKamalehuaHaʻalilio,whowas sentonamissionaccompaniedbyWilliamRichardstosecurerecognitionofHawaiʻiasasovereignnation intheearly1840s.
HaʻalilioandRichardsweresuccessful,garneringsupport–thoughnoformaltreaties–fromtheUS,Great Britain,France,andBelgium Butsadly,Timoteosuccumbedtoillnessonly30daysaftertheirshipleft Boston SimilartothereturnofKalākaua,theHawaiianpeopledidn’tlearnofhisdeathuntiltheshipdocked inHonolulu
Theopera,directedbyKumuHulaPatrickMakuakāneandconductedbyLanceInouye,willbesung primarilyonŌleloHawaiʻi,alongwithEnglishandFrench.Theimpressivecastisheadedbyourown Hawaiianbaritone,internationaloperastarQuinnKelseyinthetitlerole.AdditionalcastincludesHawaiian sopranoTashaHokuaoKoontzashiswife,Hana,baritoneJoshuaJeremiah(GianniSchicchi)asWilliam Richards,andTongantenorManaseLatuasKamehamehaIII.
General Director & CEO’s REPORT
(continued)
Allofouraccomplishmentsthispastseasonweremadepossiblebyyourdedicated supportofHOT,andyourbeliefthatagreatcommunitydeservesagreatopera company.Mahalonui!
Butwecan’ttakeanythingforgranted.Inmylengthycareerinartsmanagement,I’veneverfelta greaterthreattoourveryexistence.Thisincludesthelossoffundingatthefederallevelwiththe threatenedeliminationoftheNationalEndowmenttotheArts,alongwiththeNationalEndowment fortheHumanities,andsomanyotherimportantsupportorganizationsthatmakeitpossibleforus tocontinue.
Thesecutswillhaveanimpactatthestatelevel,withreducedfederalfundingfortheHawaiʻiState FoundationonCultureandtheArts–anorganizationthatprovidesvitalsupporttoHOTforour criticallyacclaimedResidencyprogramthatallowsstudentstocreatetheirownopera That’sontop ofthenominalsupportHawaiʻialreadyprovides,withonlyfiveartsorganizationsapprovedfor fundinginthisyear’sGrantsinAidprogram–andIunderstandeventhatfundingisbeing reconsideredinthefaceofotherbudgetarypriorities
YourHawaiʻiOperaTheatreneedsyoursupportmorethaneverifwe’retomakeittoourseventh decadeandbeyond Howcanyouhelp?Herearefourvitalways:
Makeasgenerousadonationasyoucanthisyearandeveryyear
ConsiderincludingHOTinyourestateplans
Invitefriendsandcolleaguestoourperformancesandevents–wordofmouthismorepowerful thananyadwecanbuy
Advocatefortheartswithyourelectedofficialsandthelocal,stateandfederallevels.They won’tknowtheartsareimportanttotheirconstituentsifyoudon’tsaysomething.
Mahalonuiforallyoudo!Withmuchaloha,
Andrew
governancecommitteereport
MEMBERs OF THE HOT BOARD NOMINATIONs
LYNNEJOHNSON STEVERODGERS
NicholasKeoneLee DirectorofMusic, TheCathedralofSt.Andrew CommunityVolunteer ChiefInvestmentOfficer, FirstHawaiianBank
MEMBERs OF THE HOT BOARD RENEWALS
JoeBock,GeneralManager,NMGNetwork
PamelaAndelinCameron,Artist
StevenPrieto,CommunityVolunteer
JuliShaindlin,CommunityVolunteer
DavidY.Takagi,Owner&FinancialAdvisor,Takagi&Takagi
CurtisT.Thompson,M.D.,MedicalDirector,CTAPathology
CarolynA.BerryWillson,CommunityVolunteer
LeightonYuen,Attorney,GoodsillAndersonQuinn&StifelLLP
THANK YOU TO OUR DEPARTING BOARD MEMBERS!
LinnAlber
JuliaFrohlichCherry
HOT BOARD OFFICERS
President
Steve Prieto
Vice Presidents
Linda c. Nelson
Curtis t. Thompson, m.d.
BeverlyKravitt JasonKravitt
Secretary Marrie Schaefer
Treasurer and Chair of Finance & Audit Committee
Linda C. Nelson
NEW HOT EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERS
LinnAlber
JuliaFrohlichCherry
JamesT.Leavitt,Esq.
JamesT.Leavitt,Esq. DanielNishikawa
General director & CEO
Andrew Morgan
Dr.PhilipMcNamee,inmemoriam
SarahM.Richards,inmemoriam
F U N D R A I S I N G I S H O T
Development committee report
byRegiLammers,Dir.ofDevelopment
FY25HighPoints
ACTIIResaleShopraisedover$106k
ThankyoutovolunteersJoyceTomonari,LouiseKuba,ErinR Choy, MarianConroy,&NaomiLoeweforrunningtheshop!
Foundations/grantsraised$444k
New&unbudgeted
$25kClarenceTC Chingfoundation(StuckElevator)
$57k2-yearfromHCFEquitableAccessGrant
OperaBall
Donationsraised$230k(170%ofgoal)
Fund-A-Needraised$90k
FY23-$13k,FY24-$7k
OperaBallnet$373k
FY24-$311k(16%increase)
FallFundraiser
Newevent,willberepeating!(STAYTUNED!)
Net$33k
Newyoungertargetdemographic
Individualgiving-16%increasefromFY24
Overallfundraising-11%increasefromFY24(withoutbequests)
FY25LowPoints
OperaBallauction:$55k,74%togoal
OperaBalltablesales:$280k,67%togoal
Corporate:$23k,48%togoal
LookingForwardforFY26
Focusingonupwardtrajectory
Reallysolid,hardworking,passionateteam
Bigyearaheadofuswiththeworldpremiereof Kamalehua:TheShelteringTree
Alreadyraisedover$100k!
Weinterviewedour2025OperaBallchair,NiklausThrapp,tohearmoreabouthisexperienceandthe “Behind-the-Scenes”ofHOT’sannualgala.
NiklausisamemberoftheHOTBoardofDirectors Heisagovernmentcontractorwhovolunteerswithmany localorganizationssuchasShrinersHospitalforChildren.HehasalsoservedasHOT’sOperaBallchairin2025 andwillalsochairtheballagainin2026.
HowdidyougetinvolvedwithHOT?
MywifeistheDirectorofMarketingandsoIstartedhelpingoutatHOTfordifferentshowsandeventsbartending,set-up,mailers-andfellintohelpingoutwiththesilentauctionforthe2024OperaBall.Afterthat,I decidedIwantedtojointheboardanditfeltnaturaltohelpcontributebychairingtheOperaBall,sincethat wastheeventIhadbecomethemostfamiliarwith
WhatwasthemostchallengingpartofchairingtheOperaBall?
Honestly,itwassogreattoworkwitheveryoneandlearnwhateachpersonwasexcitedtocontributetothe effort.Butbecausewewantsuchadiverseteamofcommitteemembers,it’ssometimesdifficulttoworkwith everyone’sscheduleswithoutburningpeopleout
WhatisyourfavoritepartofOperaBall?
Oh!SeeingElizabethandRegidothe“Fund-A-Need”presentation! ThemostrecentOperaBallwasthefirsttimeHOThadalivedonationportionoftheball,anditwasincredibleto seetheendlessgenerosityfromeveryoneinthecrowd WehadaliveperformancefromoneofourHOT Educationstudentsandthenmadeanaskforsupportatdifferentfinanciallevels Ibelievewemadeabout $100,000in10minutes Theartsaresoimportantandit’salwaysencouragingtoseethattherearepeoplewho arestillpassionatelysupportingtheartsinourcommunity.
Ialsoloveddressinguptothethemeandjustgettingtoknowtheattendees Themainnerve-wrackingpart, day-of,isactuallyjustmyshortspeechatthebeginningofdinner Afterthat,everythingjustkindofbecomesa beautifulblur.
Whatresponsibilitiesdocommitteemembersh Committeemembersaretheoneswhocanreal contracts,andotherthingslikethat Buttheeffor manypeopleattend.Thecommitteehastofully individualswhowanttodonatetoorattendtheO donations,especiallywhensomanyotherimpor Butwithouttheoutreachandfollow-upthatour successful
Howdopeoplegetinvolved?Whatcanyoutellu Thethemefor2026is amIallowedtosaytheth
Yes!
Okay,cool TheOperaBall2026themeisAGolde ofopera,thehistoryofHOT,andtheimpactofco platformforunderservedvoicesinourcommuni years,butthe“golden”ideaisthatartisimporta Buttherearealsosomanynewworksthattellst thethemereallyillustrateswhereHOTis,asabu It’sreallyanexcitingtimetobeinvolved
Youcanseephotosoflastyear’sOperaBallont moredetailswillgooutsoon!Thereisabuttono Up”thatallowsyoutosignupforHOT’snewslett committee,orhaveanyotherHOTrelatedquest events@hawaiioperaorgorcall(808)683-7209
M A H A L O T O O U R O P E R A B A L L S U P P O R T E R S
EDUCATION committee report
byErikHaines,Dir.ofEducationPrograms
AlohaEveryone!
TheEducationteamhasputtogethersomestatstosharewithyouontheworkthecompanyhasdoneinthe communityatlargeoverthepastyear.Operahasbeenheardinschools,libraries,theaters,cars,stairwells, playgrounds,bathrooms,andlivingroomsonOʻahu,KauaʻiandtheBigIsland YoumaythinkIʻmkidding,but parentstellustheyheartheirkidssingingthetunesthatweteachthemsooftenthattheyknowthesongstoo At oneofourresidencyschools,ateachertoldusthattheyhadindoorrecessonedaybecauseofrainandthekids startedspontaneouslysingingtheiroperasongstogether
HOT’sEducationTeamcontinuestobringadiversesetofprogramstothekeikiofHawai’i Theprogramsinclude:
Atouringprogramofanabridged,keiki-friendlyversionofMozartʻsTheMagicFlutetodozensofschoolsacross thestate
Aresidencyprogramat5elementaryschoolsonOahu,wherestudentsdeveloptheirownoperastoperformat theendofthe8weekprogram.Theseschoolsdonothavetheirownformalmusicprograms,sowetrytobring asmuchmusiceducationandfunaspossible!
“OperaForEveryone”inconjunctionwiththemainseasonoperas,offeringdiscount$7ticketstoeducators, students,andfamilies
TheMaeZ OrvisOperaStudio:atrainingprogramforadultsingers AndtheOrvisYoungVoicesprogramforhighschoolsingers
WealsorecentlypartneredwiththeHawai'iYouthOperaChorusinthesummerOPERATUNITIESprogram This programhasbeenrunningforover30yearsandhasgivenanumberoflocalcomposerstheopportunitytogain experienceinoperacomposition.Thisyear’sproductionwastitledSCALES,andtoldthestoryofMo’o(Dragons)who liveonMauiandtakeonhumanformwithspecialabilities.
Ittakesalotofpeopletodothiswork,soIwouldliketogiveashouttoourteachingartistswhoworkwithusinthe schools,thetouringperformerswhogetontheroadat5:30inthemorningtobringoperatoschools,EricSchank andKawaiolaMurraywhogoaboveandbeyondtokeeptheseprogramsgoing,toBlytheKelseywhohelpscoach studioclasses,andtherestoftheHOTstaffwhodosomanythingstosupportusinwhatwedo Ialsowouldliketo thankJuliShaindlinforherinvaluablehelpinguidingtheEducationCommitteeandNolaNāhulu&MaliaKa'aiBarrettforleadingHYOCandparteneringwithHOTeveryyear
HerearesomeHOTEducationstats!
Performances:89
HoursofLivePerformance:47
HoursTeaching:288
CoachingSessionsbyGuestClinicians:84
PeopleReached:approximately15,000
MahalotoallofyouforbeingapartoftheHawai’iOperaTheatreOhanaandfor keepingoperaaliveinHawai'i
Erik Haines Dir ofEducationPrograms
INDUSTRY ANALYSIS
5,000Printed•12,300Digital Views
WHOATTENDS THEOPERA?
SOMEDEMOGRAPHICSAREMORELIKELYTO ATTENDAPERFORMANCETHANOTHERS. SPECIFICALLY:
65yearsorolderare135%morelikely
Thosewithsomecollegeeducation,211% morelikely Collegegraduatesare362%morelikely
Thosewhocompletedgraduateschoolare 442%morelikely
Householdswithincomesover $100,000are 20.8%morelikely,andthehighertheincome, themorelikelytheyaretoattend. 46%ofourpatrons/donorscomefrom householdswithincomesatorabove$100k
OTHERIMPORTANTFACTORS INFLUENCINGATTENDANCEARE:
Thosewhoengagein philanthropy/charitablecontributions
Thosewhohavehadanymusicorartistic educationare22%morelikelytoattend. Adultswhoparticipateinartscreation(an averageof41.1%ofadults)
Thosewhoattendotherculturaleventsor activities
1,200householdssubscribingtoitsprograms
6,500Printed•18,750Digital Views OPERABALL&STUDIO101
1,500Printed•10,210DigitalViews
DEMOGRAPHICS
AgeBreakdown
18–34:19%
Youngprofessionals,students,andemergingarts supportersattractedbycontemporarythemesand accessiblepricing.
35–54:38%
Mid-careerprofessionalsandfamiliesseekingunique culturaloutings.
55+:43%
LongtimeHOTsupportersandseasonedartspatrons withhighengagementinsubscriptionanddonor programs.
Gender
Female:58%
Male:39% Nonbinary/Other:3%
HouseholdIncome
Under$50K:20%
$50K–$99K:34%
$100K+:46%
TOPDONORS&PARTNERSHIPS
BankofHawai’i Hawai’iPublicRadio SheratonWaikiki& Kyo-yaHotels GiorgioArmani Hawai’iNewsNow City&Countyof Honolulu MerrillLynch
StarAdvertiser Ko’olauDistillery RoyalHawaiianCenter International Marketplace
FirstHawaiianBank HalekulaniCorp
Ko’olauDistillery LeahiSwimSchool
MARKETING committee report
byElizabethWilson,Dir.ofMarketing& Communications&JoeBock,Marketing CommitteeChair
1.ExecutiveSummary
Weareseeinggrowthinticket/adsalesandincreasedbrandloyaltyforthefirsttimeinovera decade.
Meetingpeoplewheretheycurrentlystandbyadaptingtosocialchangesandembracing technologicalupgradesisvitalforoursuccessinupcomingseasons.Additionally,weplantoadd morefrequentbenchmarkingandcostanalysistoensurethatourexpensesareyieldinghighreturns.
InFY25,welaunchedournewbranding,unveiledanewwebsite,andexperimentedwithnewwaysto connectwiththecommunityandwelcomethemtoHOT.Weparticipatedinfestivals,(Mid-Autumn, BonFest,Pride)conferences,(ChamberofCommerce,MadeinHawai’i)andattendedtheproductions andfundraisinggalasformanyofourcommunitypartners(HSO,BalletHawaii,ManoaValleyTheatre, DiamondHeadTheatre.)WesawrecordattendanceatEducationevents&recitals.Wehadmore newscoveragethan…ever!
OurhopeistokeepthatmomentuminFY26,(especiallywiththegreatundertakingofthecommission andworldpremiereofKamalehua:TheShelteringTree)byworkingcloselywiththeDevelopment team,nurturingnewandexistingcommunityrelationships,andputtingmoreenergyintoinitiatives thatsawsuccessinFY25.
Evenwithmildticketpriceincreasesandhighreturnratesforcurrentticketholders/subscribers,itwill stilltakeanaverageofa20%increaseinticketsalestoreachourFY26goals.Whileweareconfident intheabilitytoreachthesegoalsbasedonFY25attendance,wewillalsobeimplementingnew benchmarkingandprogresstrackingtoolsthatwillallowustopivotifnecessary.
M A R K E T I N G I S H O T !
MARKETING committee report
(continued)
2.Marketing&SalesPerformance
2024-2025Mainstage&STUDIO101Season
FY25Totalticketsales:$285,788(FY24:$286,021)
~75%ofprojection($383,000)
Totaluniqueattendees:3,641(FY24:3,577)
Firstseasoninoveradecadewithvirtuallynodeclineinticketsalescomparedtotheprior fiscalyear
DespitehavingoneLESSmainstageproduction
AllSTUDIO101performancesSOLDOUTorhitticketsalesgoal ExpandingSTUDIO101offeringsthisyear
FY25STUDIO101ticketincome:$46,128(FY24:$11,710)
159%ofprojection($29,000)
ProjectedFY26:~$70,000
Carmen’sSundayperformanceSOLDOUT
Higherpercentageofreturnattendees;manycitingthereturntothe ConcertHall
Newinitiativessawgreatsuccess;
Carmen’s150for150GiveawayCampaign
Gaveaway150giftcards,tickets,andexperiencestoCarmenticketpurchasers. 127wenttosingleticketholders,23wenttosubscriberswhoboughtadditionaltickets 93/127ofthesingleticketpurchasersindicatedinasurveythattheyintendto becomesubscribers,especiallyifthereweregiveawayopportunitiesforsubscribers only
FY25Newtofileticketpurchasers:606(FY24:860)
76%ofnewtofilefromFY24returnedinFY25
33%becamesubscribers,5%becamedonors
130newattendeesweretoSTUDIO101performances 114ofthosealsoattendedamainstage(eitherStuckElevator,Carmen,orboth)
3.CommunityOutreach&In-kindRelationships
TicketingEducationEvents
Acquiringattendeedata/statistics
Addeddonationoption
Gettingattendeesaccustomedtovisitingourwebsite,theticketingprocess,andHOT’sconstant contact
Alsoeasier-to-shareinformation
Translatingintonew101/mainstageattendeesand/ordonors
PressReleases:SharingOurInitiativeswiththeCommunity Quarterlystoriesaboutresidencies,Studiosingers,“wherearetheynow,”inter-islandtours,etc. Broadenourreach,makecommunityconnections
IncreasedFocusonFamily-FriendlyProgrammingandEvents
AddingOperaExpressperformancetoSTUDIO101schedule
GreaterprioritizationofFamilyDaymarketing
Addedsurveyinquiriesforsuggestionsfromthecommunity
CommunityPartnerships
DowntownArtCenter(DAC)
Mainstageproductionpreviews
91%ofattendeespurchasedtickets;77%arenew-to-file
Ko’olauDistillery
Eventliquorsponsor(Currently2024-2026)
Eventsponsor:Bartenders,eventspace,tastings&tours,fundraisers,exclusiveHOTdiscounts
HoMA
Revivedpartnership;hopesforco-hostedeventsfortheupcomingseason
GiorgioArmani
Newluxurypartner,attendedOperaBall2025
HawaiiNewsNow(HNN)
Priorityplacement&spotaccess
Ex.MerrieMonarch
Discountedadplacement,complimentaryinterviews,greatpartnership!
MARKETING committee report
4.OtherMarketingIncome
TICKETSPONSORSHIPPROGRAM
Provided200+ticketstochildreninfoster care,healthcareworkers,low-income families,andeducatorstoattendHOT productions PlantocontinuethisprograminFY26
AD&MERCHSALES
AdSalesFY25:$12,500(FY24:N/A)
CommittedFY26:$16,750
MerchSalesFY25:$4,924(FY24:N/A)
Onlineshopactive,newforFY25
MahalototheentireMarketing/BoxOfficestaff, MarketingCommittee,HOTboard&staff, patrons&donors,andcommunity relationships/partnershipsthatmadethe successofFY25possible.OntoFY26!
SPECIALSHOUTOUTTODAVIDTAKAGI& TAYLORCULLENFORTHEIRINCREDIBLE PHOTOGRAPHYTHROUGHOUTTHESEASON!
Investment committee report
byAndrewMorgan,GeneralDirector&CEO andAndreaZannoni,InvestmentCommitteeChair
TheInvestmentCommittee’sprimary responsibilityistosetandmonitorpolicieson howHOT’stwoinvestmentfunds(Endowment FundandOrvisFund),andareallocated amongvarioussecurities.
Theapprovedassetallocationpolicyisset atthe“moderate”rangeofriskandreturn.
Currentpolicyonassetallocation:25-65%in DomesticEquities;0-30%inInternational Equities;25-45%inFixedIncome;small balanceinCash
EndowmentFundassetallocationasof March31,2025:48%Domestic;16% International;33%FixedIncome;and3% Cash
OrvisFundassetallocationasofMarch31, 2025:50%Domestic;15%International;34% FixedIncome;1%Cash
EndowmentFundperformance,asof 3/31/25
Balance:$5,630,930 12-monthreturn:+5.52%
Returnsinceinception(1/1/92):+8.80%
OrvisFundperformance,asof3/31/25
Balance:$1,453,443 12-monthreturn:6.09%
Returnsinceinception(4/30/17):+6.36%
finance&Audit Committeereport
byLindaC.Nelson,Treasurer
FISCALYEAREnding5/31/2025
Positivenetincomeisestimatedforthisfiscalyear Bequestsof$1.8M
BEQUESTS
BigThankyouinmemoryof: LeonandGloriaMunson
SarahM.Richards HaighRoop
DONATIONS,SPONSORSHIPS&GRANTS
Bigthankyoutoeveryone,asticketsalesonlycoverabout12%ofcosts (samesituationfortheperformingartsfor100’sofyears)
HAWAI’IOPERAPLAZA
RentalBuildingownedbyHOT
Vacanciesforcommercialspacesfrom542sqftto2,279sqft. Goodlocation,spreadtheword!
MAINSTAGE
AnEnglishadaptionof TheItalianGirlinAlgiers
MusicbyGioachinoRossini
ItalianlibrettobyAngeloAnelli EnglishadaptationLibrettobyDavidScottMarley RecitativesbyJonathanKhuner,afterRossini
TheEarth-obsessedKingofMarshascaptured anexplorernamedMosquito,onlytohave Mosquito’sfearlessRiotGrrrlcrash-landina rescueattemptthatcouldendtheking’sreign forever
STUDIO
Ourcabaret-styleserieswith pupus&themedcocktails ScottishRiteCathedral 1611KewaloSt#101,Honolulu,HI
SEPT.19-21,2025
MAY1-5,2026
TheWORLDPREMIEREofa newHawaiianopera
MusicbyHerbMahelona LibrettobyVictoriaNãlaniKneubuhl DirectedandChoreographedby PatrickKeʻaniniʻulaokalaniMakuakāne
ThetruestoryofTimoteoKamalehuaHaʻalilio, RoyalSecretaryandclosefriendtoKing KamehamehaIII,whosediplomaticmissionto theUS andEuropesecuredrecognitionof Hawaiʻiasasovereignnation Starring internationallyacclaimedHawaiianbaritone QuinnKamakanalaniKelsey
OCT.17-19,2025
NOV.14-162025
J O I N T H E F U N
President
StevePrieto
VicePresidents
CurtisT.Thompson,M.D.
LindaC.Nelson
Secretary MarrieSchaefer
Treasurer
LindaC Nelson
BOARD OF DIRECTORS STAFF
GeneralDirector &CEO
AndrewMorgan
ADMINISTRATION ChiefofStaff
StuartZwagil
FinanceManager
ElginCaballa
ARTISTIC
ArtisticDirector
JamieJ Offenbach
ArtisticManager
BlytheKelsey
ArtisticAdministrator
KarenUehara
SPECIAL THANKS
RuthO.Bingham
TaylorCullen
PonoFernandez
LeeGordon
Hawai’iSymphonyOrchestra
HonoluluMuseumofArt
LynneJohnson
Ko’olauDistillery
NolaA.Kapualehuaopaneʻewa
Nāhulu
KeanuNguyan-Asuega
ScottishRiteCathedral
GraemeStieglitz
DavidTakagi
NiklausThrapp
Counsel
JohnL.Knorek,Esq.
PresidentEmeritus
JamesH.McCoy
Directors
JoeBock
PamelaAndelinCameron
SuzanneB.Engel
DavidFranklin
EmilioGomez
BrettHoward
LynneJohnson
KeithKalway
Directors(CONT.)
DavidKeliʻikuli
Floria“Lori”Komer
NicholasKeoneLee
DoretteP.S.Luke
NoreenMulliken
SteveRodgers
JeanE Rolles
AaronJ.Salā
JuliShaindlin
DavidY Takagi
NiklausThrapp
CarolynA.BerryWilson
VeronicaWong
LeightonYuen
AndreaZannoni
DEVELOPMENT
DirectorofDevelopment
RegiLammers
Development&Events Manager
KaseyNahlovsky
EDUCATION DirectorofEducation Programs
ErikD Haines
EducationOperations Manager KawaiolaMurray
EducationMusic Specialist
EricSchank
Ann&StephenTurner
PhyllisWong
TerrinaWong
ACTIIVolunteers
ErinR.Choy
MarianConroy
LouiseKuba
NaomiLoewe
JoyceTomonari
OperaBall2025Volunteers
KennedyAmerino
SydneyBranch
BonnieChockBurke
Bonnie-BellChun
NanaClemons
MakenaCusick
SuzanneB.Engel
PatFrank
SophieGralapp
PilarKirk
RobKuntz
EvelynLance
VictorLevine
PauleneMarcello
IanMcMillian
OliveNgokion
ObiOkechukwu
SusanPalmore
MARKETING& BOXOFFICE
DirectorofMarketing &Communications
ElizabethE.Wilson
BoxOffice Manager LoreRamiro
Office&Marketing Assistant
YsabelleCerrafon
PRODUCTION
DirectorofProduction
GordonP Svec
MarrieSchaefer
ErichSchrottke
MikiShattuck
JonathanSonnier
GhislaineSopherPhillips
KathleenSullivan
RichardSullivan
NikitaVolveras
Pumehana
Wadsworth
Joan&PerryWhite
DorindaWon
RachelWooler M A H A L O
