Nā Kama Kai
Nā Kama Kai is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Hawai'i that delivers free ocean safety and Hawaiian cultural education to keiki and families across O'ahu, Kaua'i, Maui, and Hawai'i Island through beach-based clinics, school programs, and youth mentorship.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersWaianae, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Nā Kama Kai does
Nā Kama Kai is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Wai'anae, Hawai'i that delivers free ocean-based educational programs integrating Hawaiian cultural practices with practical ocean safety instruction. Founded and led by CEO Duane DeSoto, the organization serves keiki (children), families, and educators across O'ahu, Kaua'i, Maui, and Hawai'i Island, addressing a documented gap in water safety education on O'ahu's West Side where public swimming pools are scarce. Its primary beneficiary segments include youth (the primary segment), teachers (Kumu) seeking PDE3 professional development credits, Alaka'i program mentors, and broader 'ohana and community members.
The organization's core product is the free Ocean Clinic, which runs five rotating stations — ocean safety, ho'okele wa'a (wayfinding), malama kai (ocean care), stand-up paddling, and wa'a (canoe) — at beaches across multiple Hawaiian islands. Each clinic accommodates 10-15 pre-registered keiki plus walk-ons per time slot. Surrounding programs include Kūmau Community Sails (youth sailing ages 6-17), Kumu Klinics for teacher professional development, the E Ola Wai'anae summer program, the Alaka'i mentorship track, the annual Keiki Surf Kontest, and the Pa'akai Awards gala. In August 2025 the organization launched a pilot HIDOE ocean education program for 450 fourth-grade students on the West Side of O'ahu, its first formal school-based program since Ralph Goto's 1978-1980 statewide initiative. Media offerings include the Maka'ala Bay animated ocean safety series, the Children of the Sea album by Haku Keiki, the Ka Mo'okū'auhau o He'e Nalu art series by Solomon Enos (commissioned by Vans), and a documentary. Technical infrastructure is composed of standard SaaS tools: FareHarbor for clinic registration, Keela for donation processing, and WooCommerce for merchandise.
The business model is donation-driven as a registered 501(c)(3), with revenue derived from individual contributions, foundation grants (including a $50,000 grant from the Kawānanakoa Foundation in 2023), corporate sponsorships, event ticket revenue, and modest branded merchandise sales (hats from $30, t-shirts and tanks from $16, boardshorts $50). Go-to-market is event-driven and direct-to-community: free clinics serve as the primary distribution channel, supplemented by school-based delivery via HIDOE, an active social media presence (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), email newsletters, and an annual gala. The organization partners with HIDOE, Office of Hawaiian Education, Leahi Swim School, Lili'uokalani Trust, Nānākuli Kipuka, NOAA, Hawaiian Airlines, Duke Foundation, Kawānanakoa Foundation, and Vans.
Nā Kama Kai firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nā Kama Kai
- Legal name
- Nā Kama Kai 501(c)(3)
- Website
- https://nakamakai.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Nā Kama Kai is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Hawai'i that delivers free ocean safety and Hawaiian cultural education to keiki and families across O'ahu, Kaua'i, Maui, and Hawai'i Island through beach-based clinics, school programs, and youth mentorship.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nā Kama Kai industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Ocean Safety Education
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Coastal Tours (THAAAIAF), Sailing, Catamaran & Day-Cruise Excursions (nature-focused) (THAAAIAG), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Tours (Guided/Paddling Excursions) (THAJAJAF)
Keywords
Where Nā Kama Kai is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waianae
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Nā Kama Kai business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Nā Kama Kai operates primarily through donations from individuals, organizations, and foundations. All contributions go directly into programs, equipment, and opportunities for youth.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including hats, t-shirts, jerseys, tanks, and boardshorts through the organization's online shop.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Ocean Safety Clinics |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Branded Merchandise |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Nā Kama Kai product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nā Kama Kai delivers free ocean safety and conservation awareness clinics at beaches across Hawaii, structured around five rotating stations: ocean safety, ho'okele wa'a (wayfinding/canoe sailing), malama kai (ocean care), stand-up paddling, and wa'a (canoe) experiences. Programs integrate Hawaiian cultural values and traditional practices with practical water safety education for keiki (youth). The organization also operates sailing, summer, mentorship, and school-based ocean education programs, and sells branded merchandise to support programming.
Product overview
Nā Kama Kai is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of ocean-based youth programs centered on ocean safety and conservation awareness grounded in Hawaiian values. The core offerings include free Ocean Clinics (featuring five stations: ocean safety, ho'okele wa'a, malama kai, stand-up paddling, and wa'a), Kūmau Community Sails for youth ages 6-17, Kumu Klinics for teacher professional development (PDE3 credit), the E Ola Waiʻanae Summer Program, and the Alakaʻi Mentorship Program. The organization also runs the annual Keiki Surf Kontest and Paʻakai Awards gala. Media offerings include the animatedMakaʻala Bay educational series, the Children of the Sea album by Haku Keiki, the Ka Moʻokūʻauhau o Heʻe Nalu art series, and the Children of the Sea Documentary. In 2025, Nā Kama Kai launched a HIDOE Ocean Education Pilot Program for 4th graders in West O'ahu. The organization also operates a merchandise shop selling branded apparel and hats. Technical infrastructure includes FareHarbor for clinic registration, Keela for donation processing, and a YouTube channel for content distribution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Alaka'i Program: Youth mentorship and leadership development program within Nā Kama Kai
- Kūmau Community Sails
- E Ola Wai'anae
- Hālau Nā Kama Kai
Products and services
- Ocean Clinics
Quantifiable outcome
- Pilot program launched August 2025 with 450 students
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Nā Kama Kai
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Nā Kama Kai technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature1 record
Nā Kama Kai partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Hawai'i State Department of Education (HIDOE)corePartnership to launch pilot ocean education program for 4th-grade students on the West Side of O'ahu. Program includes swim lessons, ocean safety education, and cultural ocean knowledge through an immersive five-day curriculum.
- Office of Hawaiian EducationcoreCollaborative partner in the HIDOE pilot program focused on culturally relevant education
- Leahi Swim SchoolcoreFounded by Lori Komer, provides swim instruction for the HIDOE pilot and spring/summer/fall break ocean swim lessons since 2023. Ben Komer serves on Nā Kama Kai's board.
- Lili'uokalani TrustcorePartner since 2023 in ocean swim lessons for keiki during spring, summer, and fall breaks
- Nānākuli KipukacorePartner since 2023 in ocean swim lessons for keiki, serving the Wai'anae Coast community
- Mala Mālama Learning CenterminorPartner for the Ho'ākea Mauka to Makai event at Ko Olina, provides educational programming connecting mauka and makai experiences
- NOAAminorFeatured partner in the Mahalo section of the website
- Hawaiian AirlinesminorFeatured partner supporting the organization
- West Hawai'i Community Health CenterminorFeatured partner in the Mahalo section of the website
- Hawaiian Lifeguard AssociationminorFeatured partner supporting ocean safety efforts
- Haku CollectiveminorPartner in producing the 'Children of the Sea (Nā Kama Kai)' album with Haku Keiki
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Nā Kama Kai competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Kamehameha Schools: Major private Hawaiian education institution with deep cultural curriculum, sports, and community programming — the closest large-institution peer for Hawaiian cultural education at scale.
- YMCA of Honolulu: Multi-branch aquatics and youth programming nonprofit operating across Hawaii; the most direct analog for youth water-safety and swim-instruction programming at broader institutional scale.
- Bishop Museum: Hawaii's largest cultural and natural history institution, delivering Hawaiian cultural education programs at broader scale — a broader-institutional analog to Nā Kama Kai's curriculum-led cultural-ocean education.
- Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii: Statewide youth-development nonprofit offering multi-site programs, mentorship, and events across Hawaii — comparable on youth programming scale and operating footprint, though not ocean-specific.
Direct peers
- Lili'uokalani Trust: Large Native Hawaiian child-welfare and youth-development trust that is both a core Nā Kama Kai partner and a structural peer — also funding/operating programs for Hawaiian keiki across the islands.
- Kupu: Hawaii-based nonprofit focused on conservation, youth leadership, and 'āina-based education — overlapping mission around empowering Hawaiian youth through hands-on environmental programs.
- Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii: Hawaii-based nonprofit running coastal and marine stewardship programs, conservation education, and community beach events — closely overlapping Nā Kama Kai's malama kai, ocean education, and community-event mission.
- Polynesian Voyaging Society: Hawaii nonprofit that perpetuates traditional Hawaiian voyaging (wa'a, wayfinding / ho'okele) and cultural education — the most direct parallel for Nā Kama Kai's integration of wa'a navigation and Hawaiian values.
- Hawaiian Lifeguard Association: Hawaii-based organization focused on ocean safety, lifeguard training, and public water safety education — directly comparable to Nā Kama Kai's ocean safety clinic curriculum and keiki water-safety mission.
Emerging players
- Pacific American Foundation: Hawaii-based nonprofit supporting Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander education and cultural programs — comparable mission scope and Hawaiian-community focus, though broader than ocean education.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Nā Kama Kai social profiles
Digital presenceNā Kama Kai financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nā Kama Kai leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Nā Kama Kai funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nā Kama Kai M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Nā Kama Kai
What does Nā Kama Kai do?
Nā Kama Kai delivers free ocean safety and conservation awareness clinics at beaches across Hawaii, structured around five rotating stations: ocean safety, ho'okele wa'a (wayfinding/canoe sailing), malama kai (ocean care), stand-up paddling, and wa'a (canoe) experiences. Programs integrate Hawaiian cultural values and traditional practices with practical water safety education for keiki (youth). The organization also operates sailing, summer, mentorship, and school-based ocean education programs, and sells branded merchandise to support programming.
Is Nā Kama Kai a public or private company?
Nā Kama Kai is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Nā Kama Kai founded?
Nā Kama Kai was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Nā Kama Kai based?
Nā Kama Kai is headquartered in Waianae, United States, in the North America region.
How does Nā Kama Kai make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales.
Who are Nā Kama Kai's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Kamehameha Schools, YMCA of Honolulu, Bishop Museum and Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii. Direct peers are Lili'uokalani Trust, Kupu, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, Polynesian Voyaging Society and Hawaiian Lifeguard Association. Pacific American Foundation is listed as an emerging player.
Does Nā Kama Kai have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nā Kama Kai.
What industry is Nā Kama Kai in?
Nā Kama Kai's product category is Youth Ocean Safety Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAALAB, Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing), with a secondary code of THAAAIAF, Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Coastal Tours. Its NAICS code is 487210 and its SIC code is 7900.