Leave a Legacy That Protects What You Love
By Kirsten Kagimoto, Chapter Deputy Director | Reading time: 4.75 minutes
For more than half a century, the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi has fought to protect the ʻāina, wai, and communities that make these islands home. That work has only been possible because of the dedication and generosity of supporters like you.
Those who commit to a planned gift are welcomed into the Rachel Carson Society, named for the visionary environmentalist whose work helped launch the modern environmental movement. Carson left a lasting legacy through a substantial gift to the Sierra Club—including future royalties from Silent Spring. Her gift reflected a deep commitment to environmental advocacy and ensured that her work would continue to inspire generations to come. Her groundbreaking research laid the foundation for linking environmental protection with social justice, recognizing that the health of our planet and the well-being of our communities are inseparable—a truth more relevant than ever today.
In honor of Rachel Carson’s birthday on May 27, we invite you to take your own commitment one step further by making a planned gift to the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi—and leaving a legacy of protection for future generations.
A Gift that Grows
Planned gifts are long-term commitments that help sustain our mission for decades to come. Whether you choose to leave a gift in your will, donate land or stock, or name the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi as a beneficiary of your retirement account, you ensure that the fight to protect these islands doesn’t stop when you’re no longer here to lead it.
You don’t have to be wealthy to make a powerful impact. Even a small percentage of your estate can provide meaningful and lasting support for advocacy, education, and restoration efforts across Hawaiʻi.
“The Work I Am So Proud of Will Continue”
Longtime member, hike leader, and legacy donor Roberta Brashear-Kaulfers understands the power of planned giving firsthand.
Her journey with the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi began in 1986 as an outings leader. Over the decades, she became deeply involved at every level of the organization—from local groups to the national stage—serving as Chair of the Council of Club Leaders and as a liaison to the Sierra Club Board of Directors. Inspired by her love for the ʻāina and years of dedicated organizing, Roberta chose to leave a parcel of her Hawaiʻi Island land to the Sierra Club in her will.
“Because of the significant value the Sierra Club has given my life,” she writes, “I wanted to give something of value back.”
Through the Rachel Carson Society, Roberta arranged a gif that will continue to protect Hawaiʻi’s unique environment long after her lifetime.
“Just think,” she adds, “what you spend in coffee over a day or two could help to keep the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi going for a month.” Read more from Roberta here.
Make a Plan That Reflects Your Values
Planned giving is more than financial support—it’s a reflection of the values and vision you want to pass on. Your legacy can support:
Protect irreplaceable sources of drinking water
Halt military and corporate exploitation of our natural and cultural resources
Safeguard native ecosystems and the native and endemic species that rely on them
Youth leadership and community-based stewardship
A future where Hawaiʻi’s people and ecosystems thrive together
Our Chapter has benefited immensely from the generosity of legacy donors—those who made simple yet powerful plans to keep our work going. Your planned gift can help us retain local staff, sustain our advocacy, and respond quickly to emerging threats.
Planning Made Simple
If you're ready to take the next step, we're here to support you.
The Sierra Club’s Gift Planning team is available to answer your questions and guide you through the process. Contact Julia Curtis at giftplanning@sierraclub.org or 800-932-4270 and let her know you’d like to make a planned gift to the Sierra Club Hawaiʻi Chapter.
Sierra Club supporters also have free access to Giving Docs, a secure online tool that makes creating or updating your estate plan easy. With Giving Docs, you can draft a will, name beneficiaries, and even include a charitable gift—all in just a few minutes. You can create an account and get a look at the tool here. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Julia Curtis.
Below, we have also included language that you can quickly and easily use as a bequest in your will or trust. Please notify us of your intentions by emailing hawaii.chapter@sierraclub.org or contacting Julia Curtis.
Not deductible for estate tax purposes to benefit the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi:
I give _________ [amount or percentage] to Sierra Club, a California nonprofit corporation, currently located at 2101 Webster St, Suite 1300, Oakland, CA 94612, (Attention: Gift Planning Program), to be used by Sierra Club’s Hawaiʻi Chapter for the protection and preservation of the environment. In the event that the Hawaiʻi Chapter (or its successor) ceases to exist as a Sierra Club entity, then the Board of Directors of the Sierra Club shall have sole authority in administering the funds.
Deductible for estate tax purposes to benefit the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi:
I give _________ [amount or percentage] to The Sierra Club Foundation, a California nonprofit corporation, currently located at 2101 Webster St, Suite 1250, Oakland, CA 94612, (Attention: Gift Planning Program), to be used to support the charitable activities of the Club’s Hawaiʻi Chapter. In the event that the Hawaiʻi Chapter (or its successor) ceases to exist as a Sierra Club entity, then the Board of Trustees of The Sierra Club Foundation shall have sole authority in administering the funds.
Join a Legacy of Hope
Planned giving is a meaningful way to stay connected to the causes that matter to you most. Whether you care about clean water, native forests, renewable energy, or climate justice, your legacy gift ensures those values endure.
We hope you’ll consider joining supporters like Roberta who have chosen to make a lasting difference.
Together, we can protect what we love—today, tomorrow, and far into the future.