About Kanu O Ka Aina Learning Ohana
Kanu o ka ʻĀina Learning ʻOhana provides financial and organizational support for multiple educational programs—grounded in Native Hawaiian values and community-driven approaches—to establish autonomous, holistic education environments that prepare Hawaiian children to thrive academically and culturally.
Focus Areas
EducationEarly Childhood EducationK–12 Charter SchoolsNative Hawaiian EducationCommunity DevelopmentCultural PreservationPost-secondary / Adult Learning
Who They Fund
charter schools (public or nonprofit operators)students in low-income / underserved communitiesschool leadership and staff (charter administration)
Funding Style
About Kanu O Ka Aina Learning Ohana
Kanu O Ka Aina Learning Ohana’s grantmaking is built around Native Hawaiian charter schools and the support systems that keep them operating. One of its largest recent commitments was a $3,634,400 donation to Ahu Ili for a New Markets Tax Credit transaction leverage loan, showing that the foundation uses catalytic capital as well as program support. Its education portfolio includes direct support to Kanu O Ka Aina New Century Public Charter School, Ke Kula 'o Nawahiokalani'opu'u Iki, and Kamaile Academy, with awards used for charter school support rather than general philanthropy. The organization also backs a broader ecosystem through Nā Lei Na‘auao, the Native Hawaiian Charter School Alliance, and through partner programs such as Mālamapōkiʻi and post-secondary teacher education. Across these efforts, the emphasis is on culturally grounded, community-designed education environments for Hawaiian children and school communities. The grant record shows a funder working through schools, alliances, and educational partners rather than through a broad mix of unrelated grantees.
What Kanu O Ka Aina Learning Ohana Funds
A central theme in the foundation’s portfolio is charter school operating support. Recent awards include $786,419 to Ka Waihona O Ka Na'auao and $586,690 to Kanu O Ka Aina New Century Public Charter School, both labeled support to charter school. The same pattern appears at Kamaile Academy, which received $586,399 in 2024 and $398,403 in 2025 for charter school support. The foundation also funds schools in other parts of the Hawaiian Islands, including Ke Ana Laahana Public Charter School in Hilo and Kula Aupuni Niihau a Kahelelani Aloha in Kekaha. Beyond K–12 school support, the organization’s active programs point to early childhood education, post-secondary teacher education, and alliance-building for Native Hawaiian charter schools. Those programs are described as helping cover needs not met by public funding and supporting community-designed, culturally grounded education.
How Kanu O Ka Aina Learning Ohana Gives
Typical grants are substantial: the 25th percentile is $110,390, the median is $174,402, and the 75th percentile is $309,960. The recent record also shows repeat support to the same recipients across multiple years, including Ka Waihona O Ka Na'auao, Kanu O Ka Aina New Century Public Charter School, Kamaile Academy, Ke Kula 'o Nawahiokalani'opu'u Iki, and others. That repetition suggests ongoing operating or program support rather than isolated awards. The foundation is not an individual-giving funder and does not make program-related investments. Its active program descriptions indicate structured, project-linked support for education partners and charter-school-related initiatives.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$8.2M
Total Assets
$16.5M
Total Revenue
$7.8M
Total Expenses
$12M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $110K and $310K, with a median of $174K.
25th Percentile
$110K
Median
$174K
75th Percentile
$310K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
About 100% of grants go to recipients in HI.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
TAFFI WISE
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