KEAC AND KAHUKU.ORG

The Ko'olauloa Education Alliance Corporation (KEAC) is a partnership of education, business, and community members.  This group aims to support and enhance college and career opportunities for the young people who attend school in the Kahuku Complex.  KEAC initiatives in the Kahuku complex are many: the group launched Kahuku's first advanced web design computer class on campus, helped the school acquire and oversee a Work Force Investment Act project that provides work experiences for 100 disadvantaged youth every year, and linked the school to a San Francisco State University pilot project that provides transition opportunities to our most severely handicapped students.

One of the bigger projects KEAC has been involved in is assisting in the development of the school's online store, KAHUKU.ORG.  KAHUKU.ORG was conceived by students, is operated by students, and serves to raise money for school programs.  KEAC board members helped this project set up infrastructure, fully develop the web site, and secure exclusive permission to use school logos on items for sale.  Board members contributed thousands of volunteer hours to move the initiative from vision to reality.   A former Kahuku student who is now an attorney provided early probono legal advice and a Certified Public Accountant reviews the organization's financial statements.

KAHUKU.ORG serves a number of functions for the school.  In addition to providing viable work experiences for students, the project promotes news about the school through the school web site, raises money for school groups through the sale of Kahuku logo and community projects, and helps alumni make connections through an extensive database.  KAHUKU.ORG also helps to ensure that students are the beneficiaries of any fundraising efforts related to the school name, logos, or programs.

1996 1997   KEAC became the first nonprofit 501(c) (3) corporation formed by schools and businesses in Hawaii as part of the Federal schooltowork program; hosted a partnership development conference for schools of the Kahuku Complex.

2001
Ho`opono Ko`olau Loa Community Foundation   $30,000 to set up the basic infrastructure of KAHUKU.ORG.

2002
James and Abigail Campbell Foundation  $50,000 to help implement the Campbell eEntrepreneurship Program, using KAHUKU.ORG to teach students how to operate a business and expand to sell communityproduced products.

Department of Business, Economic Development/Tourism $15,000—to write a business plan for the expansion of the business to include sale of community products.

Atherton Family Foundation $3000 – to fund purchase of pointofsale system.

Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation  $25,000 award for excellence in nonprofit management—will be used, in part, to provide a revolving venture capital fund to students with promising entrepreneurial ideas.

Hoopono Koolau Loa Community Foundation $5,000 for student salaries for K.ORG
Workforce Investment Act  $186,000  for a youth employment training program (Step Ahead) for Kahuku High. (KAHUKU.ORG serves as a demonstration worksite for this program)

2003
Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation  $5000  KEAC president chosen as the "Aloha Ambassador" to represent Hawaii nonprofits in meetings with Weinberg Fellows in Baltimore.