A Minnesota native and World War II veteran, Howard Droste received an MFA in painting at the University of Washington. Daughter of a Hilo physician, Yoneko Droste attended college and graduate school on the mainland and taught English in Big Island High Schools. Both joined the University of Hawai’i faculty in the late 1950s at what was then the UH Hilo branch campus.

Now an $810,000 gift from their estate—UH Hilo’s largest bequest to date—continues their legacy at that campus. The gift supports exhibitions, equipment and visiting artists in the art department and student writing awards, an annual scholarship and activities that improve the department in English.

For information on estate giving, visit the UH Foundation website at www.UHfoundation.org or call (808)956-8849.

Tags: donation, UH Hilo, Vol. 35 No.2