NATIVE HAWAIIAN PHILANTHROPY
Native Hawaiian Philanthropy
Native Hawaiian Philanthropy Board President Kuʻuleinani Maunupau is working with Makalika Naholowaʻa, Executive Director of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp and President of the National Native American Bar Association and consultant Pualani Enos, Owner of Kaulia Creates LLC.
Vice-President Lohelani Furtado-Gaspar and Maunupau attended the "Power in Solidarity" Conference and connected with other native Hawaiian leaders and organizations. After returning home to Maui, discussions and research began into philanthropy and its impacts and connections with native Hawaiian communities and nonprofits. Our team has been networking with Hawaiiʻs philanthropy sector and native Hawaiian community leaders to understand the current needs, programs, processes and approaches in supporting native Hawaiian communities.
After much due diligence, Native Hawaiian Philanthropy reports a lack of Hawaiian-led and culturally grounded foundations in Hawaii that provide long-term funding opportunities. The team has been developing an innovative, forward-thinking approach to self-sufficiency and stability for native Hawaiian organizations and businesses. Our methodology to native Hawaiian philanthropy will offer an on-going support system that assures fiscal accountability. Planning for Seven Generations requires a unique indigenous approach to financial stability for nonprofits, Executive Directors and the staff serving our lāhui, our nation.
Grassroots & Community-Based
Native Hawaiian Philanthropy was inspired by the Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy and Native Americans in Philanthropy. AAPIP and NAP provide opportunities to help bridge philanthropists and funders with communities. It is our goal to help bridge philanthropic organizations, approaches and systems to support NHOʻs that serve our lāhui (nation). The programs perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and provide support services to our lāhui. We have partnered with 14 Native Hawaiian nonprofit organizations that implement culturally-grounded projects and programs that are fiscally accountable and successful in communities State-wide.
Kuʻuleinani Maunupau, Lohelani Furtado-Gaspar & Makalika Naholowaʻa in Seattle attending the 2022 Power in Solidarity 30th Anniversary conference hosted by Native Americans in Philanthropy & Asian American/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy.
NHOʻs Services & Support
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Hawaiian Language, Culture & History
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Farmers & Farming
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Food Security & Sustainability
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Ahupuaʻa Environmental Stewardship
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Native Flora & Fauna
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Hawaiian Education
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Hawaiian Homestead & Housing
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Hawaiian Storytelling
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Fiscal Grant Management
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Entrepreneurship
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Kuleana Land Rights
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Inherent Sovereign Rights
NHO Partners & Projects
Na Mahiʻai o Keanae
Sustainable Native & Local Food Production for Maui Farmers
Na Mahiʻai o Keanae has been working with Keanae farmers to provide resources and funding to support Keanae farms. The program has expanded to help native farmers and farms in Keanae and throughout Maui.
EA Ecoversity
Culture-based Education and Career Exploration Training
EA Ecoversity is an indigenous Higher Education and Career Training Institute whose foundational Laeʻula program invites native Hawaiians ages 15-30 on an incentivized, culturally-grounded, personalized learning journey that helps them transition from ʻōpio to kanaka makua, or mature, educated kanaka. In addition, EA Ecoversity allows learners to earn micro-credentials in a career in Kanaka Culinary Arts.
Ku-A-Kanaka LLC
Native Hawaiian Language & Culture
KŪ-A-KANAKA is a Native Hawaiian owned and operated social enterprise with a commitment to revitalize Hawaiian language, culture and traditions and re-establish Hawaiian control over Hawaiian affairs. We believe in education for Hawaiians, by Hawaiians, using Hawaiian ways of teaching, including learning in and from the environment, as well as traditional performance-based assessment. In 2022, Kū-A-Kanakaʻs EA E-Learning program provided nearly 4000 learners of all ages with culture-based asynchronous education, training and professional development.
Hōʻola Āina o Kula
Food Security & Native Plant Restoration and Farming
Hōʻola ʻĀina o Kula (HAK) aims to support and educate the community on subsistence farming and food security. HAK works with native Hawaiian community organizations, hālau, immersion schools and individuals to teach about native gourd plants, taro, and local food farming.
Offers Decolonization & Health and Healing workshops
Moʻolelo
Hawaiian Storytelling through Screenplay Writing & Media Production
This project is a partnership between Maui Mixer, Project Kuleana, Mana Maoli, EA Ecoversity & Entertainment Executive Michael Palmieri. This program provides screenwriting and media production opportunities to native Hawaiian youth and adults.
Paʻupena Community Development Corporation
Hawaiian Homesteader Support
Paʻupena was established in Waiohuli-Keokea Homesteads and itsʻ mission is to provide resources and training to empower fellow Hawaiian Home Lands Trust beneficiaries to build homes and self-sufficient communities.
Mana Maoli
Culture-Based Music & Video Production Program
Mana Maoli is a Hawaiian nonprofit organization that founded Hālau Kū Māna New Century Public Charter School, Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy, and the Mana Mele Project. The Mana Mele Project consists of 3 primary components:
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a 4-in-1 solar-powered mobile studio named Meleana, that can provide both studio and live event services in audio and video production.
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a Music & Multimedia Academy - currently at over 70 year-long classes across 20 schools on 3 islands that focus on Mana Maoliʻs ABCʻs - Academics, Business and Culture through music and/or video production. Additional services include short-term mentorships and internships, artist school visits, collaborative music videos and more.
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the Mana Maoli Collective: over 200 Creative Industries Professionals, both musical and digital storytellers, who have committed to sharing their time and talents with thousands of youth each year, in order to bring our mobile studio and Music & Multimedia Academy to life!
Project Kuleana
Historical Research, Songwriting & Music Video Production
Project KULEANA was created by three Native Hawaiian men who share the perspective that KULEANA is what makes music Hawaiian. Project KULEANA aspires to increase the innate value of Hawaiian music and the performance of it to inspire people to reflect on one's own KULEANA. Project KULEANA seeks to encourage people to re-discover, re-connect and re-instill what Hawaiian music and performers of Hawaiian music represent.
ʻŌlelo Noʻeau (Hawaiian Proverb):
Ko koā uka, Ko koā kai.
Those of the upland, those of the shore.
Traditionally, relatives and friends exchanged products. The upland dwellers brought, poi, taro, and other foods to the shore to give to kinsmen there. The shore dweller gave fish and other seafoods, Visitors were never empty-handed but always with something from oneʻs home to give.
