About Trustees of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Founded by the will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop to steward land and resources to educate and serve Native Hawaiian children and strengthen the lāhui (Native Hawaiian community).
Focus Areas
K-12 educationScholarships and financial aidLand stewardship and conservationCommunity programs focused on Native Hawaiian culture and languageCommercial real estate stewardship
Who They Fund
studentsschools and educational organizations
Funding Style
programmatic educational supportgeneral operating support (educational organizations)repeat/consistent grantmaking to education
About Trustees of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop
The Trustees of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop traces its purpose to Bernice Pauahi Bishop’s will, which directed the estate to steward land and resources to educate and serve Native Hawaiian children and strengthen the lāhui. That mandate still shows up in the foundation’s recent grantmaking, where education support is paired with Native Hawaiian language, culture, and community institutions. In the latest grants listed, Chaminade University of Honolulu received $7,093,640 in 2024 for educational support, and Hookakoo Corporation received $2,968,882 in 2023 for the same purpose. The foundation also backed a broad education ecosystem across Hawaii, including universities, schools, preschools, and Native Hawaiian advancement organizations. Recent awards include support for the University of Hawaii Foundation, Saint Louis School, Aha Punana Leo Inc, and Partners in Development Foundation, with grants appearing in both 2023 and 2024. Its pattern suggests steady institutional support rather than isolated project funding, with repeated awards to several organizations over multiple years and a clear emphasis on education tied to Native Hawaiian community priorities.
What Trustees of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop Funds
Education is the core of the foundation’s recent grantmaking. It gave $7,093,640 to Chaminade University of Honolulu for educational support, and $2,154,120 to the University of Hawaii Foundation for the same purpose. The foundation also supported Saint Louis School with $1,880,000 in 2024, showing continued backing for schools within the state’s education network. Native Hawaiian language and early learning are another visible thread: Aha Punana Leo Inc received $1,771,111 in 2023 and Aha Punana Leo received $881,000 in 2024. Community-based education organizations also appear, including $1,479,372 to Partners in Development Foundation in 2024 and $1,315,000 to Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement in 2023 for educational and general support. Across these grants, the foundation supports institutions that educate children, strengthen culture, and serve Native Hawaiian communities.
How Trustees of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop Gives
Typical grant size is $50,000 at the 25th percentile, $120,000 at the median, and $348,369 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also shows repeated awards to the same organizations across 2023 and 2024, including Chaminade University of Honolulu, Hookakoo Corporation, University of Hawaii Foundation, Partners in Development Foundation, and Aha Punana Leo. That points to consistent support rather than one-time gifts. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Grants in the recent data are overwhelmingly described as educational support, with some educational and general support.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$33.8M
Total Assets
$11.2B
Total Revenue
$594.7M
Total Expenses
$629.8M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $50K and $348K, with a median of $120K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$120K
75th Percentile
$348K
Geographic Reach
Local7 states funded
About 96% of grants go to recipients in HI.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
LIVINGSTON SM WONG
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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