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Grand Expedition 2016 Recap

ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY’s 12th annual Spring Benefit, held mid-February, was another successful and well-attended evening with over 500 people filling the campus.  Over $150,000 in revenue was generated with proceeds supporting a myriad of programs at the school including financial aid, IPA’s Annual Fund, Project Grad (for the rising senior class), and other special future projects.

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Corporate sponsorships and generous donations of auction items help to make Grand Expedition 2016 a success.

Grand Expedition 2016 “An Evening in Tuscany” transported guests to “Italy” for the night complete with an opera singer, inspired food plates, and regional wines from Italy.

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Sienna Achong, who trained professionally in Florence, Italy, impressed attendees with her performance of several Italian opera arias.

This year’s Grand Expedition enjoyed the support of several corporate sponsors that underwrote the event; most notable were James Campbell Company, LLC and Kalaeloa Partners, L.P., both long-time and generous supporters of school.  Other event sponsors were: First Hawaiian Bank, KSF, Inc.; Par Hawaii; the Queen’s Medical Center West O’ahu; Reflections Glass; and the BizMD.

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High school students worked alongside participating chefs at the event to plate up individual dishes for guests.

“Instead of asking only for Italian food, I asked our chefs to make a dish that they love with love,” says Yvette Anseeuw, the school’s fundraising event coordinator. “It’s a play on words with our event tagline this year ‘That’s Amore!’ and especially fitting for the Valentine’s weekend.” The resulting menu included “Tuscan” Italian Sausage; Hawaiian Fricos; lasagna rolls, veal meatballs stuffed with fresh mozzarella and basil; “Pappardelle Al Ragu Di Cinghiale”; freshly prepared gnocchi; “Ribolita”; a katsu-style Caprese Salad; and for dessert tiramisu cupcakes and panacotta.

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Table side service was provided to corporate sponsor tables at the Christopher Columbus level by grade 11 and 12 students.

Participating restaurants and vendors at Grand Expedition included: Jason Schoonover and Kevin Hanney (12th Ave. Grill); Chef Martin Knaubert (Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina); Gordon Biersch; Chef Fred DeAngelo (He’eia Kea Pier General Store); Chef Donato Loperfido (Flavors of Italy and Il Lupino); Honolulu Cupcakes; J n J Food and Beverage; Lee Anne Wong (Koko Head Café); Le Bistro; Adam Gilbert (Plantation Tavern);and Chef Darryl Shinogi (Roy’s Ko Olina).

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A red carpet extended from the valet drop-off station to the front doors of the main lobby for guest check-in.

Guests were impressed from their first step on campus with valet car-park service, an opera singer, and a champagne and gourmet pupu greeting for corporate sponsors.  A bold red carpet marked the way to the check-in area and entry to the silent auction viewing room.  Themed decorations featuring earth tones and natural fibers evoked the feeling of stepping into a casual but elegant villa with hints of a vineyard nearby.

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Under the big tent at Grand Expedition guests enjoyed plate after plate of delicious food from the many restaurants.

Students in high school grades 9-12 volunteered during the event and were key to the successful outcome of the evening. Seniors were on hand to help for those that needed assistance with mobile bidding. Members of the junior class helped to serve the corporate sponsor tables. Sophomores lent a hand in the silent auction room while freshmen worked hard to bus tables and keep the venue sparkling.

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Steve Uyehara and Liz Chun, Grand Expedition emcees, with Mufi Hannemann who attended the event.

Hawaii News Now “Mr. Sunrise” himself, Steve Uyehara, and his wife, Liz Chun, shared emcee duties. Uyehara is a graduate of a Hawaii independent school and was thrilled to lend a hand in making the evening a success.

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Head of School, Gerald Teramae, with IPA parents Adrienne and Jono Wishart who were the high bidders on the Presidential Suite stay at the Four Seasons Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina.  General Manager of the resort, Sanjiv Hulugalle who is also an IPA parent, was there as a fellow guest and was there to congratulate them.

The live auction was especially thrilling this year with a lightning fast pace kept by auctioneer Rick Davis. The highlight auction item, a stay in the Presidential Suite at the soon-to-be-open Four Seasons Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina, wowed the audience by fetching $10,000.

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A stage and dance floor were under a clear tent so that guests could dance “under the stars” of Kapolei.

Live entertainment was provided after the Live Auction with the ever-popular band Nueva Vida joined by Jordan Segundo and Rocky Brown. Segundo stepped into the limelight years ago as Hawaii’s first contestant on American Idol.  Now he is the weekend weather anchor for KITV news.

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A Maserati Ghibli was parked just outside the main tent.  Guests could try for the opportunity to win a 2-day rental of the exclusive car.

With dozens of items in the silent and live auctions, a “lucky number” drawing for a “48-hour Maserati Experience”, and a “wine pull” there were many opportunities to bid often and give generously in support of the school.

Part of this year’s Grand Expedition was an appeal to raise $15,000 for financial aid during the night.  Guests were able to donate to the effort right from their phones and raised over one-third of the amount.  An anonymous donor contributed the rest of the amount which meant that a “challenge match” from Mark and Kip Cummings (Secondary Principal) was also donated resulting in a total of $30,000 for financial aid being raised during the evening.  Cummings shared with the attendees that she has worked at schools around the world and that IPA is a truly unique and remarkable school.  Her husband echoed her sentiments and reminded all guests of the importance of a quality education made attainable to as many students as possible.

Grazie to all of our supporters, donors, attendees, and volunteers.  See you at the next Grand Expedition.  For those attendees who would like to participate in our survey, please do so by clicking here.