Alakaʻina Foundation Invests Additional $660K in UH Programs

A Native Hawaiian organization based in Honolulu is investing more in University of Hawaiʻi programs and students.

Alakaʻina Foundation is building upon and expanding its support for the university and recently gave UH four additional donations totaling $660,000. With these gifts, the foundation’s giving to UH through the years totals nearly $1.8 million.

The additional funds will help support two programs that serve the Native Hawaiian community: the UH Community Colleges online associate in arts degree program and the UH-Hilo Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language.

“Our mission is to ensure the young men and women of Hawaiʻi have the skills and competencies they need to be effective leaders in the community,” Alakaʻina Foundation Executive Director Kimo Bacon said in a UH press release. “One of the ways we support this mission is to preserve and support ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, as the Hawaiian language is an official language recognized by the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi.”

In addition, the new donations also include funds for two programs on Kauaʻi that Alakaʻina has supported in years past, the Kauaʻi Community College digital bus program and scholarships for Kauaʻi Community College students transferring to the UH-Mānoa College of Engineering, as well as students enrolled in KCC’s electronics technology program.

“We also support our mission by developing innovative educational programs that combine leadership, science and technology, and environmental stewardship, and these UH programs help to fulfill that goal,” Bacon said in the press release.

The KCC digital bus program accomplishes that by bringing a mobile laboratory to public schools to stimulate students’ interest in science and technology.

“These diverse and strategic gifts will have immense impact across the state,” UH President David Lassner said in the press release. “The will help us revitalize the Hawaiian language; help non-traditional students, including working parents, earn associate degrees entirely online; expand (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education on Kaua‘i; and provide scholarships for students studying engineering and electronics technology. It’s an incredible honor to partner with such generous donors who are so committed to improve the lives of Hawaiʻi’s people through higher education.”

The Alakaʻina Foundation Family of Companies disperses profits from its seven government service firms to nonprofit activities that benefit the Native Hawaiian community, primarily the youth of Hawaiʻi.

“We are very grateful that Alakaʻina is taking a systemwide approach to their giving,” UH Vice President of Advancement and UH Foundation CEO Tim Dolan said in the press release. “Mahalo to Alakaʻina Foundation for their long-term vision and commitment to perpetuating Native Hawaiian culture, knowledge and values.”