Makapo Aquatics Project

What Makapo Aquatics Project does

Makapo Aquatics Project is a 501c3 public charity (Tax ID# 208663200) founded in 2006 in Orange County, California, delivering adaptive outrigger paddling programs for individuals with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. The organization originated when five blind men, led by John Chavez and trained by Billy Whitford of Newport Aquatic Center, became the first all-blind group to complete the 18-mile Queen Liliuokalani Outrigger Canoe race in Kona, Hawaii. All program delivery occurs at Newport Aquatic Center in Newport Beach, with a mailing address in Irvine. The organization is led by co-founder RJ De Rama (Board Chair and Executive Director), with Rob Octavio serving as Athletic Director and Head Coach, and Mark Baldwin, PhD as Director of R&D.

The core technology platform consists of proprietary adaptive equipment: the CoOP (Cooperative Outrigger Paddling) transmitter-receiver system developed in collaboration with UC Irvine enables remote rudder control for visually impaired and physically disabled paddlers; the Adaptive Chair provides specialized seating; and the patent-pending IAKOLOCK is the first and only locking system designed to prevent unauthorized assembly of outrigger canoes. The program portfolio spans Ohana Days (free inclusive events), Team Mixed Plate ($300/month recreational team for ages 11+), NAC/Makapo Para Outrigger Team (competitive racing in SCORA events), Corporate Ohana Builder ($150/person team building), Get OnBoard Outreach Program, the NAC/Makapo Recreation Program for adults 18+, and Keiki Camps ($400/participant, 8 per session) for youth ages 7+.

The revenue model combines donations and grants (primary), program membership dues (subscription), corporate team-building fees, merchandise sales including IAKOLOCK hardware, and youth program fees. Major institutional funders include LA84 Foundation, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, California Coastal Conservancy, King's Hawaiian, and Andrei Foundation, supplemented by a $50,000 round from Hartford in April 2025 and year-round Lock In Inclusion fundraising campaigns. Distribution is regional (Orange County and Southern California) with competitive team presence in races from Hawaii to New York, and the organization maintains 1-10 employees with active partnerships across the adaptive sports ecosystem including MoveUnited, UCI Center for Autism, Casa Colina, Beyond Blindness, Braille Institute, and the home-base Newport Aquatic Center.

Name

Makapo Aquatics Project

Legal name

OC Makapo Aquatics Project

Website

https://makapo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Makapo Aquatics Project is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2006 that delivers adaptive outrigger paddling programs, equipment, and competitions for individuals with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities, operating primarily from Newport Aquatic Center in Orange County, California, with funding from foundations, grants, and program fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Recreation Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Whitewater & Paddle Sports Centers (Rafting, Kayak, SUP, Canoe) (THAAAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK), Aquatics Programs (Pools, Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding) (EDALAIAF)

Keywords

• Adaptive outrigger paddling
• Inclusive water sports
• Adaptive recreation programs
• Disability sports nonprofit
• Therapeutic paddling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport Beach

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Primary revenue source from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. Makapo is a 501c3 public charity (Tax ID# 208663200). Major funders include LA84 Foundation, King's Hawaiian, California Coastal Conservatory, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, and Andrei Foundation. Annual 'Lock In Inclusion' yearlong giving campaign.
2. Program Membership Dues: Monthly membership fees for structured programs. Team Mixed Plate costs $300/month. Dues fund coaching, facility access, and equipment use.
3. Corporate Team Building: Corporate Ohana Builder Program at $150 per person with group rates available. Revenue from corporate clients seeking team building experiences.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of IAKOLOCK canoe security locks and Makapo merchandise (T-shirts, hats). IAKOLOCK priced at $50 single or $90 two-pack. Merchandise available as donation perks.
5. Youth Programs: Keiki Camps at $400 per participant, with 8 participants per session. Three-day adaptive outrigger paddling camps for children.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Makapo Aquatics Project delivers adaptive outrigger paddling programs and equipment for people with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. Core offerings include inclusive Ohana Days events, recreational teams (Team Mixed Plate), competitive racing (NAC/Makapo Para Outrigger Team), corporate team building, youth camps, and proprietary adaptive equipment (CoOP rudder control, Adaptive Chair, and IAKOLOCK canoe lock) sold to paddlers and canoe clubs.

Product overview

Makapo Aquatics Project is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of adaptive outrigger paddling programs and equipment for people with diverse abilities. The core offerings include Ohana Days (inclusive paddling events), Team Mixed Plate (recreational team for ages 11+), NAC/Makapo Para Outrigger Team (competitive racing), Corporate Ohana Builder (team building), Get OnBoard Outreach (community presentations), and NAC/Makapo Recreation Program (adult recreational). The organization also sells adaptive equipment including CoOP (remote rudder control system developed with UC Irvine) and Adaptive Chair, plus merchandise such as IAKOLOCK (canoe security lock). Makapo Keiki Camp provides youth programming. Programs are held primarily at Newport Aquatic Center in Newport Beach, CA, with sponsorship from LA84 Foundation, King's Hawaiian, California Coastal Conservancy, and Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CoOP (Cooperative Outrigger Paddling): An innovative transmitter and receiver system enabling remote control of the canoe's rudder for paddlers with disabilities or visual impairments.
• IAKOLOCK
• Lock In Inclusion
• Get OnBoard Outreach Program

Products and services

• Ohana Days Inclusive outrigger paddling events for individuals of all abilities ages 7 and up, providing adaptive equipment, safety gear, instruction, and lunch. Free for individuals with disabilities, with families and caregivers welcome. Held at Newport Aquatic Center.
• Team Mixed Plate

Quantifiable outcome

• 18-mile race completed by five blind paddlers in 3 hours 10 minutes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Newport Aquatic Center (NAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome base for all Makapo programs since founding in 2006. Executive Director Billy Whitford trained the original five blind paddlers. Joint NAC/Makapo teams compete in SCORA races. Co-hosted programs including Ohana Days and Para Outrigger Team.
• MoveUnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit using sport to drive equality for people with disabilities. Partner for adaptive sports programming and disability community outreach.
• Casa ColinacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHealthcare rehabilitation hospital bringing patients to private Ohana Days. Partnership provides rehabilitation patients access to adaptive paddling experiences.
• UCI Center for AutismcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUniversity of California Irvine center providing private clinics for autism community. Refer families and individuals to Makapo programs.
• Beyond BlindnesscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNonprofit serving visually impaired community. Provides private paddling clinics for blind and low vision individuals.
• Angel City GamesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdaptive sports festival bringing adaptive paddling experiences to disability community through annual events.
• University of California, IrvinecoreTechnology or IntegrationAcademic research partner for CoOP (Cooperative Outrigger Paddling) technology development. UC Irvine students and researchers collaborated with Makapo to develop adaptive rudder control systems.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AccessSurf: Hawaii-based nonprofit offering adaptive surfing and ocean recreation for people with disabilities. Most direct comparable in mission (adaptive water sports), target population (disability community), and nonprofit delivery model, though focused on surfing rather than outrigger paddling.
• Life Rolls On Foundation: Nonprofit that empowers people with disabilities through adaptive surfing and other action sports. Comparable in mission-driven adaptive water sports programming, donor-funded model, and California roots, with similar celebrity athlete involvement and foundation partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF): Major national nonprofit providing grants and adaptive sports opportunities to people with physical disabilities. Comparable in serving the disability sports community with foundation funding and corporate sponsorships, but operates at significantly larger scale across multiple sports.
• Move United: National nonprofit network using sports to promote equality for people with disabilities. Already a Makapo partner. Comparable in mission and adaptive sports programming, but operates as a federation of member organizations rather than direct program delivery.
• Disabled Sports USA: National nonprofit providing adaptive sports opportunities to people with disabilities. Comparable mission and population served, but operates across many sports and geographies at larger organizational scale.
• National Ability Center: Park City, Utah-based nonprofit offering adaptive recreation and sports programming year-round. Comparable in delivering adaptive outdoor recreation programs to people with disabilities through a multi-sport facility-based model.
• Achilles International: Global nonprofit that enables people with disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics including running, cycling, and triathlons. Comparable in adaptive sports mission and volunteer-driven nonprofit model, with broader geographic reach.

Emerging players

• Angel City Games: Adaptive sports festival and nonprofit in Los Angeles featuring multiple adaptive sports including outrigger paddling. Comparable as a regional adaptive sports event organizer and existing Makapo channel partner serving the Southern California disability community.

Regional players

• Newport Aquatic Center: The aquatics center that serves as Makapo's home facility and strategic partner. Operates general paddling, swimming, and aquatics programs in Newport Beach, providing the operational infrastructure that enables Makapo's outrigger programs.
• Adaptive Sports Center (Crested Butte): Colorado-based nonprofit offering year-round adaptive outdoor recreation for people with disabilities. Comparable nonprofit adaptive recreation model with foundation funding, though focused on mountain sports rather than aquatics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/makapoaquatics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Makapo Aquatics Project