Edith Kanakaole Foundation Inc

What Edith Kanakaole Foundation Inc does

Edith Kanakaole Foundation Inc (EKF) is a Hawaiian cultural-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in the spring of 1990 and headquartered at 1500 Kalanianaʻole Street in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. The foundation was established to maintain and perpetuate the teachings, beliefs, practices, philosophies, and traditions of the late Luka and Edith Kanakaole, with a mission to elevate Hawaiian intelligence through cultural education. EKF operates a portfolio of interconnected programs including Hālau o Kekuhi (an internationally recognized classical hula company tracing eight generations of kumu hula), Kula Kamaliʻi o Hiʻikeakaikamālama (a cultural preschool with $750 monthly tuition), the KIPA certification program for visitor industry service providers, Papakū Makawalu research workshops, a Native Hawaiian student scholarship program, cultural sites stewardship across Hawaiʻi Island, and publications including award-winning CDs and the 2025-launched Hiʻiaka ke Kāula book series.

The foundation's underlying technology is the Papakū Makawalu methodology, a traditional Hawaiian framework for categorizing and organizing the natural world through ancestor's perspective, structured into three houses of knowledge: Papahulilani (space/heavens), Papahulihonua (earth and ocean), and Papahānaumoku (life cycles and birthing). EKF monetizes through a hybrid revenue model combining tuition (preschool), e-commerce (Shopify storefront for publications), paid certification programs (KIPA), research/consulting contracts with government and private entities, cultural site visit fees, and grants and donations (including the Hale Kanakaʻole Fund at the UH Foundation and funding from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority's Kūkulu Ola Program). The customer base spans Native Hawaiian students, cultural practitioners, tourism service providers, and government/private consulting clients, with distribution channels including on-site programs on Hawaiʻi Island, a global online store, and educational institution partnerships. EKF employs approximately 6 people and operates a traditional Hawaiian governance structure (loko i'a fishpond model) with cultural practitioners from the Kanakaole family in leadership roles.

Name

Edith Kanakaole Foundation Inc

Legal name

Edith Kanakaole Foundation

Website

https://edithkanakaolefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Edith Kanakaole Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, founded in 1990 to perpetuate the cultural teachings and traditions of Edith and Luka Kanakaole through hula (Hālau o Kekuhi), a cultural preschool, KIPA tourism certification, research/consulting, publications, scholarships, and stewardship of culturally significant Hawaiian sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Education / Nonprofit Cultural Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Indigenous & Community Cultural Institutions (THAJADAK), Charter Indigenous/Culturally Focused & Community-Based Schools (EDAJACAM)

Keywords

• Hawaiian cultural education
• Hula instruction
• Indigenous language preschool
• Cultural site stewardship
• Visitor industry certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Edith Kanakaole Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit cultural-education organization that delivers Hawaiian cultural programming, including hula and oli instruction at Hālau o Kekuhi, a Hawaiian-language preschool, cultural-site stewardship at Moʻokini Heiau and Kuʻiāina Ulu, KIPA cultural-certification training for visitor-industry service providers, research and consulting services, publications, and scholarships for Native Hawaiian students.

Product overview

Edith Kanakaʻole Foundation is a Hawaiian cultural-based non-profit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on elevating Hawaiian intelligence through cultural education. The core offerings include Hālau o Kekuhi (the internationally recognized classical hula dance company), Papakū Makawalu (the indigenous methodology for understanding the natural world through Hawaiian worldview), and Kula Kamaliʻi o Hiʻikeakaikamālama (a cultural preschool). Supporting programs include KIPA certification for tourism providers, research/consulting services, cultural sites management, scholarship programs for Native Hawaiian students, and publications including CDs and books. The Hiʻiaka ke Kāula book series represents a 2025 expansion of their publication offerings. These programs work together to maintain and perpetuate Hawaiian traditions through education, research, and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hālau o Kekuhi: The internationally acclaimed hālau hula (classical dance company) and center of cultural knowledge for EKF, celebrated for its mastery of the ʻaihaʻa style of hula and oli.
• Papakū Makawalu
• Kula Kamaliʻi o Hiʻikeakaikamālama
• KIPA

Products and services

• Hālau o Kekuhi Traditional Hawaiian hula hālau (school) providing instruction in hula, oli (chant), and associated cultural practice under the Kanakaʻole family lineage. Serves cultural practitioners, serious students of Hawaiian performing arts, and the broader community seeking authentic Hawaiian cultural transmission.
• Kula Kamaliʻi o Hiʻikeakaikamālama Hawaiian-language and culture-based preschool program for young children on Hawaiʻi Island, with monthly tuition and scholarship support for Native Hawaiian families. Operates as an early-childhood education immersion program rooted in Hawaiian language and cultural practice.
• Papakū Makawalu A Hawaiian cultural-knowledge methodology (epistemology) developed and applied by the foundation to interpret cultural narratives, moʻolelo, and practice. Used by students, researchers, and partner organizations engaging with Hawaiian cultural content.
• KIPA Cultural Competency Certification KIPA (cultural competency) certification training program for visitor-industry service providers (VISPs) in Hawaiʻi, including hotels, tour operators, and attractions. Developed in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority to certify staff interacting with Native Hawaiian culture and visitors.
• Cultural Research and Consulting Services Contracted Hawaiian cultural research and consulting services delivered to government and private organizations needing cultural expertise, advisory input, or research support.
• Hawaiian Cultural Publications Publication and sale of Hawaiian cultural books and educational materials, including the Hiʻiaka ke Kāula book series. Sold to individual readers, libraries, and cultural practitioners.
• Native Hawaiian Student Scholarship Program Scholarship program providing financial support to Native Hawaiian students pursuing higher education, funded through donations and grants to the foundation.
• Cultural Sites Stewardship (Moʻokini Heiau and Kuʻiāina Ulu) Management and stewardship of culturally significant Hawaiian sites, including Moʻokini Heiau and Kuʻiāina Ulu. Provides site protection, cultural access, and educational programming at these locations.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Hawaiʻi at HilocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2023Co-hosted E Hō Mai Ka 'Ike Events on May 5-6, 2023 in recognition of Edith Kanakaʻole's contributions and legacy. The May 6th celebration was held at UH Hilo. Part of collaboration including Smithsonian institutions.
• Smithsonian American Women's History MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2023Partnered in hosting E Hō Mai Ka 'Ike Events recognizing Edith Kanakaʻole's legacy, part of Smithsonian's 'Our Shared Future: Reckoning With Our Racial Past' Initiative.
• Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndiancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2023Partnered in hosting E Hō Mai Ka 'Ike Events recognizing Edith Kanakaʻole's legacy, part of Smithsonian's 'Our Shared Future: Reckoning With Our Racial Past' Initiative.
• Smithsonian 'Our Shared Future: Reckoning With Our Racial Past' InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2023E Hō Mai Ka 'Ike Events were part of this Smithsonian initiative focused on reckoning with racial history.
• Hawaiʻi Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2023Co-hosted E Hō Mai Ka 'Ike Events recognizing Edith Kanakaʻole's contributions and legacy.
• United States MintcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2023The U.S. Mint released a commemorative quarter honoring Edith Kanakaʻole, with EKF co-hosting the celebration events.
• Ka ʻUmeke KāʻeocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school housed at Pā Hoaka multifunctional space alongside EKF offices, Hālau O Kekuhi, and Kula Kamaliʻi o Hiʻikeakaikamālama.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aha Moku: Hawaii statewide advisory system of moku (traditional land divisions) councils focused on Hawaiian cultural land management, resource practices, and cultural site stewardship. Highly comparable to EKF's cultural sites management function.
• Polynesian Cultural Center: Oahu-based cultural education and tourism attraction delivering Hawaiian and broader Polynesian cultural programming. Comparable as a Hawaiian cultural education provider, though primarily visitor-facing rather than community-based.
• Kamehameha Schools: The largest private Native Hawaiian-serving educational institution, operating K-12 schools, scholarship programs, and cultural education initiatives. Shares EKF's mission of advancing Hawaiian cultural identity through education, though at much larger scale.
• Bishop Museum: Hawaii's premier cultural institution operating a museum, cultural collections, and educational programs focused on Hawaiian and Pacific Island heritage. Highly comparable as a Hawaiian cultural preservation and education non-profit with site management and community programming.
• ʻIolani Palace: Hawaiian royal palace operated as a historic site and cultural institution, offering tours, educational programming, and stewardship of culturally significant sites. Comparable as a Hawaiian cultural site steward and educational resource.
• Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives: Historic site in Honolulu preserving and interpreting Hawaiian cultural heritage through museum operations, educational programming, and archival research. Comparable as a Hawaiian cultural site operator and educational institution.
• Queen Liliʻuokalani Children's Center: Native Hawaiian child welfare trust providing educational and cultural programs for Hawaiian children and families. Directly comparable in mission to perpetuate Hawaiian well-being through culturally grounded services.

Broad incumbents

• Office of Hawaiian Affairs: State-level agency responsible for the betterment of Native Hawaiians, administering grants, advocacy, and cultural initiatives. Functions as a much larger incumbent in the Hawaiian welfare space with policy-making authority EKF does not have.

Regional players

• Maui Arts & Cultural Center: Hawaiian non-profit cultural center offering arts programming, cultural events, and community education. Comparable as a Hawaiian cultural non-profit, though arts-focused rather than specifically indigenous cultural preservation.

Others

• National Indian Education Association: National advocacy organization advancing culturally-based education for Native American and indigenous students. Thematically related to EKF's cultural education mission for indigenous communities, though operating at policy/advocacy level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edith-kanakaole-foundation-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Edith Kanakaole Foundation Inc