What Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation does

Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation is a private, perpetual endowment-funded grantmaking foundation established in 1990 by Helga Glaesel-Hollenback in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Operating with the purpose of 'returning the generosity of the islands,' the Foundation deploys capital to nonprofit partner organizations through six strategic program areas: Hope for Kids ('āina-based youth education), Environment (Hawai'i conservation and international environmental justice), First Generation Partners (legacy organization support), Affordable Housing for Families (self-help housing development), Field Building (nonprofit capacity and impact investing infrastructure), and Humanitarian Relief (disaster response). As of 2023, the Foundation has invested over $57 million in grants cumulatively and maintains funding partnerships with more than 50 organizations working in Hawai'i and internationally, including Hawai'i Conservation Alliance, Hawai'i Island Community Development Corporation, MA'O Organic Farms, Global Greengrants Fund, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, Kupu, and the University of Hawai'i.

The Foundation does not sell products or services; it makes grants. Its distribution model is unconventional for philanthropy — the Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, instead proactively identifying and approaching partner organizations whose work aligns with internally developed strategies. It emphasizes multi-year commitments, shared learning, and convening events (Partner Pau Hana gatherings, annual Hawai'i Conservation Conference sponsorship) over transactional grantor-grantee dynamics. Supporting infrastructure includes the Hau'oli Mau Loa Fellows program, annual graduate assistantships at University of Hawai'i (Hilo and Mānoa) under the Environmental Leadership Pathways initiative, and a paid summer internship program launched in 2011. The Foundation has also piloted non-traditional instruments, including a $1.1M returnable grant supporting MA'O Organic Farms' 21-acre land acquisition at Palikea.

Governance sits with a five-member Board of Directors that completed a planned succession from founding members (Wayne Pitluck, Hans Bertram-Nothnagel) to a reconstituted board between 2014 and 2021, with new members James Koshiba (2014) and Kylee Pāmaika'i Mar (2016) bridging the transition. The most recent executive change occurred in October 2023, with Executive Director Janis Reischmann departing after 15 years and a new CEO announced by the Board in September 2023. The Foundation's only office is at 735 Bishop Street in Honolulu's historic Dillingham Transportation Building, renovated to 'green' standards in 2010. There is no commercial revenue stream, no technology platform, and no fundraising apparatus — the entity exists to administer and deploy the Glaesel-Hollenback estate bequest received in full in 2007 in service of Hawaiian communities.

Name

Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation

Legal name

Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation

Website

https://hauolimauloa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation is a private, endowment-funded philanthropic foundation established in 1990 in Honolulu, Hawai'i, that makes multi-year grants through six program areas — environment, youth education, affordable housing, humanitarian relief, and nonprofit capacity building — to 50+ partner organizations in Hawai'i and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Foundation Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Private foundation grantmaking
• Philanthropic funding partnerships
• Environmental conservation grants
• Affordable housing philanthropy
• Nonprofit capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Endowment-based Grantmaking: The Foundation was established by Helga Glaesel-Hollenback through an estate plan, receiving its full bequest in 2007. The Foundation operates as a perpetual grantmaking endowment, distributing funds to partner organizations aligned with its mission areas rather than generating revenue through commercial activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation that distributes endowment-derived funds to nonprofit partner organizations operating in six strategic program areas: Hope For Kids (ʻāina-based education), Environment (conservation and invasive species prevention), First Generation Partners (legacy organization support), Affordable Housing for Families (self-help housing development), Field Building (nonprofit capacity building and impact investing), and Humanitarian Relief (disaster response via international organizations). It also runs supporting capacity-building programs including the Hau'oli Mau Loa Fellows graduate fellowship, Graduate Assistantships at the University of Hawaiʻi, and a Summer Internship Program for college students.

Product overview

Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1990. Rather than offering a technology product, the Foundation provides funding through six strategic program areas: Hope For Kids (āina-based education for children), Environment (conservation and preservation), First Generation Partners (legacy organization support), Affordable Housing for Families (self-help housing development), Field Building (nonprofit capacity building), and Humanitarian Relief (disaster response). The Foundation also operates supporting programs including Hau'oli Mau Loa Fellows (graduate fellowship), Graduate Assistantships (via University of Hawai'i partnership), Summer Internship Program, and Environmental Leadership Pathways initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hope For Kids A grantmaking initiative funding nonprofit partners that create ʻāina-based education experiences enabling young people in Hawaiʻi to engage with and learn from the land, building hope and a positive future through connection to Hawaiian culture and natural environment.
• Environment Program A grantmaking program supporting stewardship, preservation, and protection of the natural environment through partner organizations in Hawaiʻi and internationally, with focused attention on invasive species prevention and inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders.
• First Generation Partners A grantmaking program sustaining long-term funding relationships with legacy nonprofit organizations in Hawaiʻi whose work contributes to the Foundation's mission areas.
• Affordable Housing for Families A grantmaking and partnership program developing affordable self-help housing communities for families the market does not readily serve, exemplified by projects such as Puʻualalā Village in Pepeʻekeo (30 families as first-time homeowners) and Hauʻoli Mau Loa Village in Waimea, Kauaʻi.
• Field Building A grantmaking program supporting nonprofit sector capacity building through associations of nonprofits serving Hawaiʻi, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), and impact investing strategies.
• Humanitarian Relief A grantmaking program providing humanitarian relief funding through trusted international partner organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children to help communities prepare for and respond to natural and other emergencies and disasters.
• Hauʻoli Mau Loa Fellows A fellowship program supporting outstanding students pursuing careers in environmental conservation, providing tuition waiver, stipend, and funds for research supplies and professional development.
• Graduate Assistantships at University of Hawaiʻi A partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi funding nine graduate assistantship positions annually at UH Hilo and Mānoa across departments including Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science, Botany, Natural Resources and Environmental Management, and the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology.
• Summer Internship Program A paid summer internship program providing college-age young people with opportunities to gain experience in organized philanthropy and the nonprofit sector in Hawaiʻi.
• Environmental Leadership Pathways An initiative partnering with Hawaiʻi-based organizations to engage and prepare the next generation of environmental leaders in Hawaiʻi, anchored by the Foundation's graduate assistantship and fellowship programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $57 million invested in grants to Hawai'i and international partner organizations since 1991
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.

• Hawai'i Island Community Development Corporation (HICDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2016Since 1991, HICDC has been providing housing for low-income families on Hawai'i Island through self-help housing and senior rentals. The Foundation partnered with HICDC to develop Pu'u'alalā Village, a three-phase homeownership project in Pepe'ekeo providing 30 families with affordable homes. HICDC leads the self-help housing model with families contributing 'sweat equity' to build their homes.
• Hawai'i Conservation AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCA is a cooperative collaboration of 19 Hawai'i-focused government, education, and nonprofit organizations responsible for managing the biodiversity of Hawai'i's lands and waters. The Foundation supports HCA's Environmental Leadership Pathways program and the annual Hawai'i Conservation Conference.
• MA'O Organic Farms (Wai'anae Community Redevelopment Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMA'O (māla 'ai 'ōpio - 'youth food garden') is a native-controlled nonprofit that empowers youth and community through organic farming, food systems education, and youth leadership training. The Foundation has partnered with MA'O since 2016 to support their Youth Leadership Training program as part of Hope for Kids 'Elua. The Foundation also provided a $1.1 million returnable grant to help MA'O acquire 21 acres at Palikea for expansion.
• Global Greengrants FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation has partnered with Global Greengrants Fund since 2010 to support international environmental and social justice projects in communities the Foundation cannot reach directly. In 2017, with Foundation support, Global Greengrants Fund made over 300 grants to women-led environmental organizations. The Foundation board visited Global Greengrants Fund partners in Kenya and Mozambique in 2012.
• Doctors Without BorderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational humanitarian medical organization providing emergency medical care in conflict zones and disaster areas. The Foundation supports Doctors Without Borders for humanitarian relief funding to prepare for and respond to natural and other emergencies when other resources are limited.
• Save the ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational humanitarian organization focused on children's rights and welfare. The Foundation supports Save the Children for humanitarian relief funding to prepare for and respond to natural and other emergencies and disasters affecting children and families.
• KupucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHawai'i-based youth conservation organization that engages young people in environmental service through programs like 'Āina Corps. Kupu provides internship and service opportunities that help develop the next generation of environmental leaders in Hawai'i.
• Trust for Public LandnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational land conservation organization that played a critical role in planning and served as interim fee owner of land during MA'O Organic Farms' land acquisition process, helping facilitate the purchase of 21 acres at Palikea in Lualualei Valley.
• Hawai'i Land TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHawai'i land trust that assisted by agreeing to hold a conservation easement over MA'O Organic Farms' Palikea land, a requirement of select funders.
• University of Hawai'i (Hilo and Mānoa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2012, the Foundation has partnered with UH to support graduate assistantship opportunities through its Environmental Leadership Pathways initiative. Supports nine graduate assistantship positions annually across multiple departments including Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science, Botany, Natural Resources and Environmental Management, and School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hawaii Community Foundation: Hawai'i's largest community foundation, also focused on grantmaking across the islands with a similar multi-program approach covering environment, education, housing, and community development. Directly comparable mission, geography, and partner ecosystem.
• Ulupono Initiative: Hawai'i-based philanthropic initiative funded by Pierre and Pam Omidyar that invests in affordable housing, local food production, clean energy, and conservation — closely overlapping Hau'oli Mau Loa's affordable housing and environment programs in the same geography.
• Global Greengrants Fund: International environmental grantmaking organization specifically focused on community-led environmental and social justice grants. Hau'oli Mau Loa is a major funder of Global Greengrants, and they share the model of regranting through grassroots intermediaries.

Broad incumbents

• Kamehameha Schools: One of Hawai'i's largest private endowments, focused on Hawaiian education, culture, and land stewardship. Operates with a much larger asset base but shares the place-based Hawaiian cultural mission and youth-development focus.
• Barr Foundation: Large private foundation with a strong environment/climate grantmaking focus plus arts and education. Comparable multi-program private foundation model with similar place-based environmental grantmaking DNA, though operating in Boston rather than Hawai'i.
• Doris Duke Charitable Foundation: Large perpetual private foundation funding environment, health, arts, and child wellbeing. Comparable structure as a multi-program perpetual endowment foundation deploying multi-year, partnership-based grants.

Regional players

• Omidyar Network: Founded by eBay's Pierre Omidyar, who resides in Hawai'i. Operates a much broader global grantmaking portfolio but shares the Hawaiian geographic roots and willingness to deploy innovative, returnable, or impact-oriented capital.

Others

• Conservation International: Major environmental organization receiving philanthropic and grant funding for biodiversity conservation work. Comparable in mission alignment on environmental stewardship though structurally distinct as an operating nonprofit rather than a private foundation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hauolimauloafoundation?si=qLO6fr_NisPnI1hr
• Facebookfacebook.com/hauolimauloa
• Instagraminstagram.com/HauoliMauLoa_Foundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hauoli-mau-loa-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation