The Alakaʻina Foundation is building upon and expanding its extensive philanthropic investments in University of Hawaiʻi programs and students with four gifts totaling $660,000.
This brings Alakaʻina Foundation’s total giving to UH over the years to nearly $1.8 million.
The new gifts include funds for programs on Kauaʻi that Alakaʻina has supported in years past, the Kauaʻi Community College Digital Bus Program—which brings a mobile laboratory to public schools to stimulate students’ interest in science and technology—and scholarships for Kauaʻi CC students transferring to the UH Mānoa College of Engineering, as well as students enrolled in Kauaʻi CC’s Electronics Technology program.
Alakaʻina Foundation is expanding its giving to support two additional 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,” said Alakaʻina Foundation Executive Director Kimo Bacon. “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. 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.”
A Native Hawaiian Organization, the Alakaʻina Foundation disperses profits from its seven government service firms to nonprofit activities that benefit the Native Hawaiian community, primarily the youth of Hawaiʻi.
Immense impact
“These diverse and strategic gifts will have immense impact across the state,” said UH President David Lassner. “They will help us revitalize the Hawaiian language; help non-traditional students including working parents earn associate degrees entirely online; expand STEM education on Kauaʻi; 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.”
“We are very grateful that Alakaʻina is taking a system-wide approach to their giving,” said UH Vice President of Advancement and UH Foundation CEO Tim Dolan. “Mahalo to Alakaʻina Foundation for their long-term vision and commitment to perpetuating Native Hawaiian culture, knowledge and values.”
