Many, many thanks to each of you who contributed in your own special way, to make the Hale'iwa Arts Festival a reality. Your individual contributions are a wonderful demonstration of what can be accomplished for the benefit of all of us when we pool our ideas, efforts, and talents.

Every day each of us has the opportunity to do something for someone else for which we don't expect payment: sometimes we watch someone's child, help with house painting, or sponsor a project by organizing a benefit car wash at our local gas station. Sometimes we make a small donation such as putting a penny in the "give a penny, take a penny" pot at Kammies. But when an entire community comes together, and each of us has done that "one thing" which is within our ability, amazing things begin to happen. We begin to feel like a family; we begin to take personal pride in our community; and we show our children we value and practice the art of selflessly giving.

Without the volunteers of the world the work of great charitable organizations like the International Red Cross would be for less effective; without donations there would be no blood banks or non-profit organizations to help our favorite causes; without sponsors there would be no special programming on public radio and television. Without volunteers, donations, AND sponsors, our community vision of the Hale'iwa Arts Festival could not have been realized. With the Hale'iwa Arts Festival Non-Profit Organization, we have created an endowmment for our community that will add to our pleasure -- and, perhaps to our economic well-being -- every year.

And a special thank you to all of the visual artists, performing artists, theater performers, storytellers, dancers, and individual volunteers, for making this first festival possible. You're the best!