Kupu Hawaii

What Kupu Hawaii does

Kupu Hawaii is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2007 in Honolulu, Hawaii, that operates a portfolio of youth conservation, sustainability, and environmental education programs across Hawaii and the broader U.S. Pacific region (Guam, CNMI, American Samoa, Palau, Rapa Nui). Its core service is operating an AmeriCorps-affiliated youth corps that places participants ages 16–38 into paid, stipended, and credited conservation roles at a network of 100+ host-site partners including the Hawaii DLNR, USDA Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, National Tropical Botanical Garden, and University of Hawaii. The product surface comprises six core programs — Conservation Leadership Development Program (CLDP), Kupu ʻĀina Corps, Hawaiʻi Youth Conservation Corps Summer Program, Environmental Education Leaders Program, Kupu Community Program, and Nā Manu ʻElele — supplemented by the Natural Resources Sector Partnership for educator–industry coordination, the Eō Maui Workforce emergency-response program, and two social enterprises: the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Hoʻokupu Center (an award-winning net-zero oceanfront venue at Kewalo Basin Park) and Kupu Grinds catering/food truck.

There is no proprietary technology product; the platform's value is its operational infrastructure (program design, host-site coordination, federal compliance for AmeriCorps/Corps accreditation, fiscal stewardship of subgrants), alumni credentialing (multiple National Corpsmember of the Year recognitions), and cultural integration with Hawaiian values. Revenue mechanics are diversified across foundation grants (Omidyar Ohana Fund, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation), federal/state government funding (AmeriCorps, USDA, federal disaster response), individual/corporate donations (Starbucks, ALOHA, online giving, donor-advised funds, cryptocurrency), venue and catering social-enterprise income, and managed subgrant pass-through — with the organization itself acting as a fiscal intermediary for tens of millions of dollars distributed to 25–45 partner organizations. Kupu's customer base is segmented horizontally: primary end users are youth/young-adults in green-workforce pathways, with secondary segments including K-12 educators, federal/state conservation agencies, and corporate partners. Kupu serves all participants free of charge, while host organizations receive subsidized youth capacity and venue customers pay market-rate rental and catering fees.

Name

Kupu Hawaii

Legal name

Kupu

Website

https://kupuhawaii.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Kupu Hawaii is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 in Honolulu that runs AmeriCorps-affiliated youth conservation and environmental stewardship programs across Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific, placing 16–38 year-olds at 100+ host sites including DLNR and USDA Forest Service, and operates two social enterprises — the Hoʻokupu Center venue and Kupu Grinds catering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Conservation Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Wellness & Prevention Programs (Substance Use, Sexual Health, Bullying) (EDAJAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural, Identity & Inclusion Programs (EDALAHAF), Community Service & Service-Learning Programs (School-Run) (EDAJAJAI), Communication, Collaboration & Conflict Resolution Skills (EDAMAIAF), Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK)

Keywords

• Youth conservation programs
• Environmental stewardship training
• Green workforce development
• Conservation leadership training
• Community environmental education

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Grant Funding: Kupu receives significant funding from foundations including a $2 million award from Omidyar Ohana Fund at Hawaii Community Foundation, and a $4 million five-year grant from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation for the MALU program.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization accepts donations through online giving, checks, donor-advised funds, employer matching, wire transfers, appreciated stock, and cryptocurrency. Corporate sponsors include Starbucks and ALOHA (donating 10% of bar proceeds).
3. Ho'okupu Center Venue Rentals: The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Ho'okupu Center generates revenue through rental of event spaces (Hālau capacity 225, Wahi 'Ākoakoa outdoor area), catering services through Kupu Grinds, and food truck operations. Requires $500 non-refundable deposit and signed Facility Use Agreement.
4. Government and AmeriCorps Funding: Federal, state, and local government grants support programs. AmeriCorps VISTA program provides volunteers to non-profit organizations. Kupu was awarded federal funding to steward $16 million in subgrants to local organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kupu Hawaii operates a portfolio of youth conservation and environmental education programs that place young adults ages 16-38 in paid workforce development, training, and service-learning roles at 100+ host sites across Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific region. Programs span AmeriCorps-affiliated terms, summer fieldwork, classroom educator support, and cultural heritage stewardship, with participants receiving stipends, certifications, and college credit. Two social enterprises (the Ho'okupu Center event venue and Kupu Grinds catering) generate earned income to subsidize programming.

Product overview

Kupu Hawaii operates a portfolio of interconnected conservation and environmental education programs alongside social enterprises. The core offerings include six primary youth development programs: Conservation Leadership Development Program (CLDP), Kupu ʻĀina Corps (KAC), Hawaiʻi Youth Conservation Corps Summer Program (HYCC), Environmental Education Leaders Program (EELP), Kupu Community Program, and Nā Manu ʻElele, supplemented by the Natural Resources Sector Partnership (NRSP) for educator-professional collaboration. Supporting these programs are two social enterprises—the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Hoʻokupu Center (an award-winning sustainable event venue with commercial kitchen) and Kupu Grinds (catering and food truck service)—which generate revenue to fund programming. EŌ Maui Workforce provides wildfire recovery workforce initiatives. Together, these offerings form a comprehensive ecosystem from youth education through professional development in conservation, sustainability, and natural resource management across Hawaii and the Pacific region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Ho'okupu Center: A sustainable and green facility that houses a commercial kitchen, training rooms, classrooms and meeting spaces. Located in Kewalo Basin Park, the center hosts events, exhibitions and educational workshops. It also includes the Kupu Community Program which prepares under-resourced youth for the workforce. Award-winning center with net-zero energy-rated photovoltaic system, EV charging station, farm-to-table cuisine and natural lighting systems.
• Kupu Grinds

Products and services

• Conservation Leadership Development Program (CLDP) An AmeriCorps-affiliated program offering individuals entry-level conservation opportunities through seasonal (6-month) and year-long (11-month) terms at host sites throughout Hawaii, Guam, CNMI, and American Samoa, focusing on ornithology, botany, natural resource management, aquatic resource management, marine biology, Hawaiian cultural studies, and agricultural science.
• Kupu ʻĀina Corps (KAC) A workforce development initiative providing up to one year of paid work experience in green jobs fields including sustainability, renewable energy, agriculture, and natural resource management, serving participants ages 17-38 across the State of Hawaii.
• Hawaiʻi Youth Conservation Corps: Summer Program (HYCC) An 8-week outdoor summer experience during summer months providing hands-on fieldwork at conservation organizations for individuals interested in conservation and natural resource management careers.
• Environmental Education Leaders Program (EELP) A program for educators ages 21+ who provide direct support to teachers and students, engaging grades K-12 in hands-on, work-based learning activities and developing curriculum that fosters school and industry connections.
• Kupu Community Program A year-long program in Oahu, Hawaii designed for under-resourced young adults ages 16-24 who are interested in exploring environmental work and education, offering real-world job experience, personal development workshops, and cultural activities.
• Nā Manu ʻElele An environmental initiative that empowers participants to become community leaders who assist in interpreting historic nature of areas, mitigate unwanted behaviors, ensure safety, and manage Hawaii's heritage sites.
• Natural Resources Sector Partnership (NRSP) A collaborative effort between educators and industry professionals to better prepare and inspire Hawaii's students to meet current and future demands of natural resource professions, focusing on career awareness, connecting students to ʻāina and community, and investing in college and career preparation.
• Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Hoʻokupu Center

Quantifiable outcome

• Threefold return in economic and environmental benefits to local communities per donation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered key, supporting and core.

• University of GuamkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2025UOG and Northern Marianas College launched Kupu Conservation Corps in Saipan to strengthen Pacific green workforce.
• Northern Marianas CollegekeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2025Partnership with UOG and Kupu to launch Kupu Conservation Corps in Saipan.
• Hawaii Land TrustkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2025Partnership to offer temporary jobs for those affected by the Maui fires. Kupu Aina Corps participants work on wildfire recovery and prevention.
• University of Hawai'i Maui CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2023Food relief partnership to support Maui fire survivors through Kupu's emergency response efforts.
• ALOHAsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerALOHA partners with Kupu—donating 10% of Hawai'i Edition bar proceeds to support youth empowerment and environmental stewardship.
• StarbuckssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerStarbucks partners with Kupu for community impact events. Sponsored Kupu's 2nd Annual Coffee Hour and participates in Giving Tuesday events.
• 100+ Host Site OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKupu collaborates with over 100 organizations throughout Hawaii and Pacific region including DLNR, USDA Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, National Tropical Botanical Garden, and various federal and state agencies as host sites for program participants.
• Kāko'o 'ŌiwikeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Lau Kupu Day events and conservation restoration work at wetlands.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Student Conservation Association: Largest national youth conservation corps in the U.S., placing young people in conservation service roles through AmeriCorps and partnerships with federal land agencies — directly comparable to Kupu's CLDP and HYCC programs.
• Conservation Legacy: Operates multiple accredited conservation corps (Southeast, Southwest, Southern Appalachian, Ancestral Lands) partnering with Forest Service, BLM, and state agencies — a near-identical operating model to Kupu.
• The Corps Network: National membership association for service and conservation corps (including Kupu) that provides accreditation, federal advocacy, and Project of the Year awards — directly comparable industry body.
• NatureBridge: Operates residential environmental education programs in national parks for youth, focused on science learning and stewardship — comparable to Kupu's Environmental Education Leaders and HYCC models.
• Yellowstone Forever: Nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park operating education, volunteer, and stewardship programs — directly comparable conservation-education nonprofit with similar mission to Kupu.

Broad incumbents

• AmeriCorps NCCC: Federal national-service program deploying young adults in teams to nonprofit and government partners — broader scale and federal sponsor but overlapping youth-service/environment mission.
• National Audubon Society: National nonprofit with conservation, education, and youth-engagement programs (Hawaiian Audubon Society gave Kupu a 2010 award); broader reach but overlapping ornithology and conservation-career pathway content.

Regional players

• Island Conservation: Global nonprofit focused on island ecosystem restoration; overlap with Kupu's Pacific-region conservation mission and island-specific biodiversity work, but international scope rather than Hawaii-focused.
• Mālama Maunalua: Hawaii-based nonprofit focused on marine stewardship and volunteer-based restoration — directly comparable local peer in conservation training, volunteer engagement, and Hawaiian cultural practice.
• Hawaii Conservation Alliance: Coalition of Hawaii-based conservation organizations including The Nature Conservancy, DLNR partners, and National Tropical Botanical Garden — overlap with Kupu in host-site ecosystem and conservation policy work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Kupuhawaii
• Instagraminstagram.com/kupuhawaii
• Xx.com/kupuhawaii
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kupu

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kupu Hawaii