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About Aha Punana Leo
To drive and inspire change to ensure a living Hawaiian language in Hawaiʻi and beyond.
Focus Areas
Hawaiian language revitalizationEarly childhood educationIndigenous language educationTeacher training & professional developmentCurriculum developmentCommunity outreach & cultural programs
Who They Fund
Native Hawaiian communitiesearly childhood learners (preschool and infants)immersion program studentsHawaiian language teachers and cultural practitionerslocal communities in Hawaiʻi
Funding Style
About Aha Punana Leo
Aha Punana Leo’s recent grantmaking is anchored by repeated support for Hawaiian language immersion education in Hawaiʻi, with the largest 2023 grant going to Ke Kula 'o Nawahiokalani'opu'u in Keaau. That pattern matches its stated purpose: to drive and inspire change so Hawaiian remains a living language in Hawaiʻi and beyond. The foundation’s giving is tied to early childhood education, K–12 immersion learning, curriculum development, teacher training, and community outreach that keeps language use connected to daily practice. In 2023, the foundation made multiple grants to Ke Kula 'o Nawahiokalani'opu'u, including two larger awards and a smaller support grant, showing sustained backing rather than a single one-time award. It also funded Ke Kula Niihau O Kekaha, another Hawaiʻi-based school aligned with Hawaiian language education. With all recorded grants going to recipients in Hawaiʻi, Aha Punana Leo’s grantmaking reflects a local, place-based model centered on Indigenous language revitalization and the institutions that carry it forward.
What Aha Punana Leo Funds
Aha Punana Leo supports Hawaiian language revitalization through education-centered grants. In K–12 immersion work, it gave $386,460 to Ke Kula 'o Nawahiokalani'opu'u for support, followed by additional 2023 awards of $121,869 and $29,925 to the same school. The foundation also backed another immersion setting with a $5,994 support grant to Ke Kula Niihau O Kekaha in Kekaha. Its broader focus includes early childhood language immersion and intergenerational language transmission, which connects directly to its emphasis on preserving Hawaiian as a living language. The grant list also points to support for curriculum and program delivery, since each award is listed as support rather than a restricted project description.
How Aha Punana Leo Gives
Typical grant size sits at $23,942 at the 25th percentile, $75,897 at the median, and $188,017 at the 75th percentile, indicating a spread from modest support to larger institutional awards. The 2023 record shows repeat funding to the same grantee across three grants, suggesting ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. Aha Punana Leo is a public charity, funds individuals: false, and makes no program-related investments. It also accepts unsolicited proposals through an open request for proposals process, with submissions and questions invited by email.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$544K
Total Assets
$25.4M
Total Revenue
$8.7M
Total Expenses
$6.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $24K and $188K, with a median of $76K.
25th Percentile
$24K
Median
$76K
75th Percentile
$188K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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