Gift to HPR translates to 1M miles

Local real estate developer Dick Gushman, who helped develop the Waikiki Beach Walk retail complex and Waikele Center, is donating $100,000 to Hawaii Public Radio as part of a philanthropic partnership that will translate into at least 1 million HawaiianMiles for the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children.

HPR called Gushman’s gift one of the largest individual donations in its 32-year history.

Gushman, a longtime HPR listener, is capitalizing on HPR sponsor Hawaiian Airlines’ program that provides 10 HawaiianMiles for every dollar pledged, with a minimum pledge of $120.

Gushman is donating his 1 million to Kapiolani Medical Center to fly neighbor island children to and from Hono­lulu for specialized medical treatment.

Other HPR donors can opt to give their HawaiianMiles to Kapiolani as part of a special "Radio Flyers" program during HPR’s fund drive from Wednesday to Oct. 25. HPR is seeking to raise $992,000 to meet programming and operational costs for the next six months.

"They can call and pledge as much as they like, and an appropriate number of miles get credited into this fund, so it’s a million miles and counting," HPR President and General Manager Michael Titterton said Monday during a news conference at the nonprofit station’s Kaheka Street studio.

HPR raises about 65 percent of its $4.2 million operating budget from individual donations, and Gushman said that by coming forward he hoped to encourage other listeners to help both the radio station and needy children.

"I’ve been a real estate developer in Hawaii for the last 43 years," Gushman said.

"Most of my community giving is anonymous, but I thought it might be helpful to step out a little bit this time to see if we could tantalize others’ interest in trying to multiply a community activity."

Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley said the airline has donated 23 million miles since becoming an HPR supporter in 2004 in an effort to keep HPR alive.

Martha Smith, CEO of Kapiolani Medical Center, called Gushman’s donation "an incredible gift."

"There’s a lot of different ways to use miles, and it will be put to very good use," she said.