The Kohala Center

What The Kohala Center does

The Kohala Center (TKC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 and headquartered in Kamuela, Hawai'i. The organization is described as a community-based center for research, conservation, and education, and it operates as a community of practitioners focused on strengthening relationships with ʻāina (land) across the moku of Kohala. It physically stewards approximately 1,400 acres spanning Kohala's cloud forests, the 520-acre Keawewai native dryland forest restoration site, 48 acres at Niuli'i, 64 acres at Kawaihae, and the visitor-management program at Kahalu'u Bay. Since 2011, TKC has additionally served as Hawai'i's cooperative development center, providing technical assistance to over 20 cooperatives across the islands.

TKC's product surface is a portfolio of stewardship, research, education, and economic-development programs rather than a single unified product. Core programs include ReefTeach (over 100 active volunteer stewards providing daily education to roughly 500,000 annual visitors at Kahalu'u Bay), Hoa'āina Stewardship Experiences (guided half-day community engagements), Hui Hoa'āina (a recurring volunteer cohort), Ke Kumu ʻĀina (place-based research recognized by HIDOE), Konohiki Development / ʻŌhāhā Mentorship (career pathways in 'āina stewardship), Hana Mahi'āina (agricultural technical assistance), the Nāmoku Learning Farm, and the Niuli'i Waihona hala stewardship site. The proprietary technical asset is the Nānā Kahalu'u monitoring framework, which integrates Hawaiian cultural methodology ('ike kūpuna) with Western scientific monitoring of water quality, coral and fish communities, and human engagement; the Waihona knowledge repository is being built on top of the related Nānā'Āina Indigenous Data Science program. Supporting tools are mostly off-the-shelf: Salesforce 123 FormBuilder for volunteer registration, Mailchimp for newsletters, ArcGIS StoryMaps for storytelling, and PayPal and Parkmobile for donations and parking.

TKC's revenue model is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit mix of donations and grants, fee-for-service event ticketing, and a stewardship parking fee of $12 for 4 hours at Kahalu'u Bay charged to non-Hawaii residents (residents park free with valid Hawaii ID), with 100% of parking fees directed to ReefTeach. Customer segments span North Hawai'i residents, ReefTeach constituents at Kahalu'u Bay, Hawai'i farmers/ranchers/food producers, K-12 schools through the HIDOE partnership, donors, and event audiences. Distribution is community-led via direct stewardship engagement, online donations, the Kahilu Theatre ticketing partnership, and the Parkmobile-powered parking program. The organization is led by President and CEO Cheryl Ka'uhane Lupenui with a roughly 22-person staff and a Board of Directors including Interim Board Chairperson Roberta F. Chu.

Name

The Kohala Center

Legal name

The Kohala Center

Website

https://kohalacenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Kohala Center is a Hawai'i Island 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that stewards about 1,400 acres across Kohala, running community programs such as ReefTeach, Hoa'āina Stewardship Experiences, agricultural technical assistance, and place-based research for North Hawai'i residents, visitors, farmers, schools, and more than 20 cooperatives statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Forestry (800), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Environmental conservation services
• Community stewardship programs
• Agricultural technical assistance
• Native forest restoration
• Coral reef education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kamuela

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization relying on charitable donations and grant funding to support operations and conservation programs
2. Visitor Parking Fees: Nonresident parking fee of $12 for 4 hours at Kahalu'u Bay; 100% of parking fees support ReefTeach program operations including education, stewardship, and monitoring
3. Event Revenue: Film screening events with ticket sales; General admission $17, keiki and kūpuna $13, VIP Reception $106 per person including film admission

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Kohala Center operates a portfolio of environmental stewardship, conservation, and community education programs across 1,400 acres in North Hawai'i. Core offerings include the ReefTeach daily education program at Kahalu'u Bay serving nearly 500,000 annual visitors, guided Hoa'āina Stewardship Experiences, native dryland forest restoration at the 520-acre Keawewai site, agricultural cooperative development supporting over 20 co-ops since 2011, and place-based research and mentorship programs. Operations are funded primarily through donations, grants, and visitor-related fees.

Product overview

The Kohala Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000 that operates as a community of practitioners focused on strengthening relationships with ʻāina (land). Rather than a unified software product, TKC offers a portfolio of environmental stewardship programs and services: the ReefTeach program provides daily education and ecological monitoring at Kahalu'u Bay; Hoa'āina Stewardship Experiences and Hui Hoa'āina offer guided community engagement with TKC-stewarded lands; Ke Kumu ʻĀina conducts place-based research; Konohiki Development creates career pathways; and Hana Mahi'āina provides agricultural technical assistance. TKC also publishes the Agricultural Resources Bulletin and The Leaflet newsletters, maintains a Waihona knowledge repository, and offers free educational resources. Operations span 1,400 acres across Kohala's cloud forests, dryland forests at Keawewai, coastal areas at Niuli'i and Kahalu'u, and the Nāmoku learning farm in Hāmākua.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ReefTeach: A volunteer community stewardship program focused on protecting Kahalu'u Bay's coral reef ecosystem through education, research, and advocacy.
• Hui Hoa'āina
• Hoa'āina Stewardship Experiences
• Ōhāhā Mentorship Program
• Hana Mahi'āina
• Ke Kumu 'Āina
• Nānā'Āina
• Agricultural Resources Bulletin
• The Leaflet

Products and services

• ReefTeach A community stewardship program at Kahalu'u Bay with over 100 active volunteer ReefTeachers who provide daily education to beachgoers on respectful reef engagement, conduct ecological monitoring via the Nānā Kahalu'u framework, and advocate for marine conservation through coral spawning rest periods, sea level rise studies, sunscreen legislation, and a visitor parking stewardship fee program.
• Hoa'āina Stewardship Experiences Guided half-day community experiences designed to deepen relationships with Hawai'i's natural and cultural landscapes through ho'olauna (introduction), kilo (environmental observation), hana (physical stewardship work), and mo'olelo (story sharing). Events take place at TKC-stewarded lands including Niuli'i, Keawewai, and Kahalu'u Bay.
• Hui Hoa'āina A dedicated group of volunteers who receive special invitations to Lā Hana work days on ʻāina after participating in Hoa'āina Stewardship Experiences, engaging in tasks such as clearing invasive species, huki canoe crops, and weed whacking to improve and maintain ʻāina.
• Kahalu'u Bay Stewardship Program Environmental stewardship and visitor management program at Kahalu'u Bay, including ReefTeach daily operations, parking fee program ($12 nonresident/free for Hawai'i residents), lifeguard coordination, and reef etiquette education to mitigate stressors from 400,000+ annual visitors.
• Keawewai Native Forest Restoration Native dryland forest restoration site in Kawaihae Uka across 520 acres, cultivating over 25 native species in a greenhouse and eight outplanting trials, with a native forest nursery supplying seeds and seedlings to the community of practitioners.
• Ke Kumu ʻĀina Place-based research program providing opportunities to learn from ʻāina as kumu, featuring Kūmokuhali'i Food Forest Trials exploring agroforestry and silvopasture using native forest plants, and recognized as a Nohona Hawai'i Preferred Provider for HIDOE.
• Konohiki Development Career pathway program creating opportunities for lifelong stewards and cultivators of ʻāina in North Hawai'i through mentorships and internships, including the ʻŌhāhā Mentorship Program for Hawai'i Island residents 18+ and Nānā'ʻĀina Indigenous Data Science monitoring initiatives.
• Hana Mahiʻāina Program supporting healthy economic exchanges for food producers through Lā Hana work days and technical assistance for farmers, ranchers, and value-added food producers. Since 2011, TKC has served as Hawaii's cooperative development center supporting over 20 co-ops across the islands.
• Niuli'i Waihona Stewardship of 48 coastal acres including ancient hala (Pandanus) groves, with a Waihona (knowledge repository) containing hala kilo guides, mo'olelo no ka lauhala, and community resources for preserving hala practice and ulana lauhala (weaving).
• Nāmoku Learning Farm A learning farm in the Hāmākua district safeguarding sacred lineages of kalo, ʻawa, and kō, with communal gatherings providing canoe plantings and knowledge to help ʻāina and kānaka flourish together.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 500,000 annual visitors educated on reef protection through ReefTeach program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kahilu TheatreminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 January 2026Co-presented Emmy-nominated film KEEPER OF THE BAY at Kahilu Theatre on January 11, 2026. Kahilu Theatre handles ticket sales through kahilu.org while The Kohala Center provides content and community engagement.
• Hawai'i Department of Education (HIDOE) Office of Hawaiian Education (OHE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Kohala Center recognized as Nohona Hawai'i Preferred Provider, using 'ike Hawai'i to strengthen HIDOE's HĀ learner outcomes for K-12 students, faculty, and staff through 'āina-based programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kupu: Hawai'i conservation nonprofit focused on youth workforce development, green jobs training, and place-based environmental service — directly comparable to TKC's Konohiki Development and 'Ōhāhā Mentorship career-pathway programs.
• Mālama Maunalua: Hawai'i-based nonprofit focused on coral reef restoration, community-based reef monitoring, and volunteer stewardship at Maunalua Bay — closely aligned with TKC's ReefTeach community-stewardship and Kahalu'u Bay program model.
• Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii: Hawai'i environmental nonprofit mobilizing volunteers for coastal cleanup, restoration, and education — operates on a similar volunteer-driven community-stewardship model targeting Hawaiian coastal ecosystems.
• National Tropical Botanical Garden: Federally chartered tropical plant research and conservation organization operating botanical gardens across Hawai'i — comparable to TKC in native-plant conservation, seed banking, and place-based research at sites like Keawewai.
• Hawaiian Islands Land Trust: Hawai'i-focused land conservation nonprofit that protects natural, cultural, and agricultural lands through easements and stewardship — directly comparable to TKC's land-based 'āina stewardship across Kohala and partnership with private landowners.

Broad incumbents

• Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum: Hawai'i's largest museum dedicated to Hawaiian and Pacific cultural and natural history — comparable in integrating indigenous cultural knowledge with scientific research, education programming, and place-based visitor experiences.
• The Nature Conservancy Hawai'i: Global environmental nonprofit with a large Hawai'i chapter managing watershed protection, coral restoration, and invasive species work — operates at much greater scale but on overlapping Hawaiian conservation priorities.

Emerging players

• Hawai'i Wildlife Fund: Maui-based nonprofit conducting marine debris removal, sea turtle and seabird protection, and coastal restoration — comparable in operating volunteer-driven coastal stewardship programs with a strong Hawaiian-island focus.
• Pacific Whale Foundation: Maui-based marine conservation nonprofit focused on whale research, ocean education, and community stewardship — comparable to TKC's ReefTeach marine education and visitor-engagement programming at Hawaiian coastal sites.

Regional players

• Waikīkī Aquarium: Public aquarium operated by the University of Hawai'i focused on Pacific marine life education and conservation — comparable to TKC's marine-education work but based in urban Honolulu rather than North Hawai'i.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xvimeo.com/thekohalacenter
• YouTubevimeo.com/thekohalacenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheKohalaCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thekohalacenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 The Kohala Center