Our Partners

The Pauahi Foundation supports the mission of Kamehameha Schools by seeking and developing new and diverse sources of income to support the ever-increasing educational needs and goals of people of Hawaiian ancestry. The Nakupuna and Pauahi Foundations collaborate to transform lives within the lāhui through four-year scholarships, college internships, place-based teaching certifications, access to digital infrastructure, community programs connecting kūpuna and keiki, and construction of a wa‘a (canoe).

The Purple Mai‘a Foundation is a non-profit educational technology organization that inspires and educates the next generation of culturally grounded, community serving technology makers. The Nakupuna Foundation supports a variety of Purple Mai‘a’s programs, including computer coding for keiki, tech skills training for overlooked segments of the Hawaiʻi workforce, and entrepreneurial services for local businesses rooted in Hawaiian values.

Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) Scholars is the nation’s largest non-profit scholarship provider for Asian and Pacific Islander students. Together, APIA Scholars and the Nakupuna Foundation are committed to helping Native Hawaiian students overcome barriers to success while providing community and career connections that ensure they thrive professionally and personally.

Mālama Loko Ea is a non-profit that protects, maintains, and supports the Loko Ea fishpond and perpetuates Native Hawaiian culture through education, land stewardship, and community building. The Nakupuna Foundation is a long-standing supporter of Mālama Loko Ea and its vision to restore an ancient fishpond on Oʻahuʻs North Shore into an educational platform for cultural restoration and an enduring place-based scientific learning environment that uplifts Hawaiian youth and the community.

I Nui Ke Aho is a non-profit that operates a traditional double-hulled Hawaiian sailing wa‘a for the Waialua community on O‘ahu’s North Shore. The Nakupuna Foundation supports I Nui Ke Aho’s role as an effective steward of culture and education by providing financial support for staff, canoe maintenance, and various educational and community initiatives.

The Polynesian Voyaging Society seeks to perpetuate the art and science of traditional Polynesian voyaging and the spirit of exploration through experiential educational programs that inspire students and their communities to respect and care for themselves, each other, and their natural and cultural environments. The Nakupuna Foundation provides in-kind and financial support for PVS’s Wa’a Honua – a digital platform that allows learners of all ages to adopt the navigator mindset to make better choices for the planet – as well as their upcoming Moananuiākea Voyage around the Pacific.

E Ala E Hawaiian Cultural Center preserves and perpetuates the vibrancy of the Native Hawaiian people and culture by educating, engaging, and connecting with communities. Through financial sponsorship and in-kind support, the Nakupuna Foundation is helping E Ala E Hawaiian Cultural Center connect with Native Hawaiians in the Washington, DC, area through classes, workshops/webinars, scholarship, and cultural performances.

Wish for Wheels and the Nakupuna Foundation work together to broaden second graders’ scope for personal growth and a healthy lifestyle through the gift of a new bike and helmet, distributed at schools in Hawai‘i.

HawaiiKidsCAN works towards building an equitable education system for Hawai‘i keiki, where every student has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for global and local leadership. The Nakupuna Foundation works with HawaiiKidsCAN to bridge the digital divide in rural areas and to improve statewide access to the technological infrastructure essential to educational success.

The Nakupuna Foundation collaborates with Iolani Palace leaders to curate a rich learning experience for Nakupuna employees that explores the leadership demonstrated by the Hawaiian Monarchy and the lasting impacts of historical events still felt today.

Founded in March 2007, the Native Hawaiian Organizations Association (NHOA) supports the community of NHOs, as defined by the Small Business Administration, and their for-profit 8(a) subsidiaries. The Nakupuna Foundation participates in NHOA efforts and initiatives to provide its members with relevant community, government, and legislative information; networking and partnership opportunities; and a unified voice on key issues impacting NHOs and Federal government contracting.

For Hawaiʻi teachers enrolled at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Ethnomathematics certificate program, the Nakupuna Foundation provides financial support through the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation as these educators align culturally sustaining mathematics content to K-12 federal and state standards.

The Nakupuna Foundation supports Warrior Expeditions and its mission to offer long-term wilderness experiences for combat veterans transitioning from wartime experiences to civilian life.

The Nakupuna Foundation donates to the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation to help provide financial assistance and support to Navy and Coast Guard Sailors and their families enrolled in the Navy Wounded Warrior Program.

The Nakupuna Foundation helps fund the counseling, education, and services offered by the Support the Enlisted Program (STEP) that help junior active-duty enlisted members build financial self-sufficiency.