Kalanihale

What Kalanihale does

Kalanihale is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established formally in 2012 in the rural fishing village of Miloli'i, South Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii, after more than 30 years of informal community work. Its core mission is to expand educational opportunities for the 'ōpio (youth) of Miloli'i and Kapalilua, mālama (care for) the local marine environment, and sustain Hawaiian cultural well-being. Programs are delivered through a portfolio rather than a unified product: the Kua O Ka Lā Hīpu'u Virtual Academy (blended online and place-based education for grades 4-8 in partnership with Kua O Ka La Hawaiian Charter School), Keiki Miloli'i Education programs (Ki'i 'Aina mapping, 'Ai Pono, Hoku Nights, Ocean Junior Stewards, Hiki Nō video, youth volleyball), Lawai'a 'Ohana Camps, the Classic Series Fishing Tournaments, the Lā 'Ohana community event, Health Care Insurance outreach for Medicaid and marketplace enrollment, and a Marine Conservation Program (eDNA monitoring, Makai Watch, opelu traditional fishing project). The organization's most consequential achievement is its stewardship of the Miloli'i Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) — the second such designation in Hawaii — whose rules package was unanimously approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources on June 9, 2022 and promulgated by Governor Ige on August 2, 2022.

Kalanihale operates as a community-rooted nonprofit with no disclosed revenue; most programs are offered free, with only the Classic Series Fishing Tournaments charging a $200 entry fee. The organization is led by a Board of Directors (Ka'imi Kaupiko, Melveen Kaupiko, Dayna Lupua Mora, Stephanie Smythe) and supported by an Advisory Council and Fiscal Council. It is governed independently, with no parent company or institutional investor; the only disclosed institutional funding is a $500,000 grant from the Stupski Foundation in July 2025. Operational technology is limited to a Wix-hosted website and standard social media channels; there is no proprietary software, API, or AI capability disclosed. Headcount is reported in the 11-50 range. Geographic scope is intentionally narrow — Miloli'i Village and Kapalilua in South Kona — though the CBSFA framework positions the organization as a potential convener and template for additional Hawaiian subsistence fishing areas statewide.

Name

Kalanihale

Legal name

Kalanihale

Website

https://kalanihale.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kalanihale is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Miloli'i, South Kona, Hawaii that delivers place-based Hawaiian education, cultural, and marine stewardship programs to the youth and families of Miloli'i and Kapalilua, including a charter school Virtual Academy and stewardship of Hawaii's second Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Education and Cultural Programs

NAICS

Fishing, Hunting and Trapping (114), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

Keywords

• Community education programs
• Subsistence fisheries management
• Hawaiian cultural preservation
• Place-based learning
• Marine conservation initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Captain Cook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kalanihale is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers youth education, cultural preservation, and marine conservation programs to the rural fishing village of Miloli'i and South Kona, Hawai'i. Its offerings include the Kua O Ka Lā Hīpu'u Virtual Academy (grades 4-8), Lawai'a 'Ohana Camps, place-based learning programs (Ki'i 'Aina, 'Ai Pono, Hoku Nights, eDNA monitoring, Ocean Junior Stewards, youth leadership, Hiki Nō video productions), the Classic Series Fishing Tournaments, Lā 'Ohana community event, health care insurance outreach, and administration of the Miloli'i Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area. Most programs are offered free to community members, with the Classic Series Fishing Tournaments charging a $200 entry fee.

Product overview

Kalanihale is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of community programs rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include the Kua O Ka Lā Hīpu'u Virtual Academy (blended online and place-based education for grades 4-8), Lawaia ʻOhana Camps (traditional fishing culture education), Keiki Miloli'i Education & Programs (place-based learning, eDNA monitoring, youth leadership), Marine Conservation Program (sustainable fisheries management), Classic Series Fishing Tournaments, Lā ʻOhana community events, Health Care Insurance outreach, youth sports programs, and Miloli'i CBSFA management. The organization focuses on serving Miloli'i and South Kona communities through educational, environmental, and cultural programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Classic Series Fishing Tournaments: Fishing tournaments hosted in Miloli'i that support Native Hawaiian cultural and marine resource management. Includes the 35th Miloli'i Classic and Kona Classic tournaments.
• Lā ʻOhana
• Miloli'i Education Programs
• Kua O Ka Lā Hīpu'u Virtual Academy
• Lawai'a ʻOhana Camp

Products and services

• Kua O Ka Lā Hīpu'u Virtual Academy Blended online and place-based, cultural, and project-based resource education program for grades 4-8 in Miloli'i Village, offered in partnership with Kua o Ka Lā Hawaiian Charter School.
• Lawai'a 'Ohana Camps Community fishing family camps where Miloli'i families gather to learn and celebrate traditional Hawaiian fishing culture and stewardship practices.
• Marine Conservation Program Program focused on sustainable management of marine resources, including the traditional opelu (mackerel scad) fishing project, Makai Watch community stewardship, and marine monitoring activities.
• Keiki Miloli'i Education & Programs Youth programs including place-based learning (Ki'i 'Aina / place table mapping, 'Ai Pono), eDNA monitoring, Ocean Junior Stewards, cultural learning and youth leadership, Hoku Nights, and Hiki Nō video productions.
• Classic Series Fishing Tournaments Annual fishing tournaments (Miloli'i Classic, including the 35th edition, and Kona Classic) held in Miloli'i that engage fishers, share traditional practices and proposed rules, and emphasize lawai'a pono (proper fishing) practices. Entry fee is $200 with cash prizes.
• Lā 'Ohana Community Event Annual community outreach event held in November celebrating 'ohana and extended family who contribute to raising keiki, featuring cultural demonstrations, health and wellness activities, food, crafts, and live entertainment.
• Health Care Insurance Outreach Certified navigators providing outreach to help community members enroll in Medicaid and federal marketplace healthcare plans, with Open Enrollment running November 1st through December 15th.
• Youth Sports Programs Extracurricular sports activities for youth, including the Miloli'i-Ka'ū Volleyball team and related programs.
• Miloli'i CBSFA Management Co-management of the Miloli'i Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area in partnership with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, and Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, supporting traditional Hawaiian fishing practices.
• Community Hula Program Hula instruction delivered as part of Kalanihale's Hawaiian cultural programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully established Miloli'i CBSFA with unanimous Board approval on June 9, 2022
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Conservation International - Hawai'imajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2022Collaborated on the Miloli'i Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) initiative. Conservation International participated in the momentous rules promulgation event on August 2, 2022.
• Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2022Worked with DLNR to complete the Miloli'i Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area. The Board of Land and Natural Resources unanimously approved the rules package on June 9, 2022.
• Kua'āina Ulu 'AuamomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2022Partner organization involved in the Miloli'i CBSFA efforts and participated in the rules promulgation event on August 2, 2022.
• Division of Conservation and Resources EnforcementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2022Government partner involved in the Miloli'i CBSFA initiative and participated in the rules promulgation event on August 2, 2022.
• Kua O Ka LāmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2022Partner organization involved in the Miloli'i CBSFA efforts and participated in the rules promulgation event on August 2, 2022.
• Kua O Ka La Hawaiian Charter SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create a Virtual Academy providing educational opportunities for youth in Miloli'i. This collaboration allows students in grades 4-8 to receive blended online and place-based education incorporating cultural and project-based learning.
• Pa'a Pono Miloli'icoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKalanihale took over efforts from Pa'a Pono Miloli'i in creating the rules package for the Miloli'i CBSFA. Also partnered on the Miloli'i opelu (mackerel scad) traditional fishing project.
• Miloli'i CBSFA HuicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe fishing tournaments hosted by Kalanihale allow the Miloli'i CBSFA Hui to engage with fishers, share traditional practices and proposed rules, emphasizing lawai'a pono (proper fishing) practices.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Kalanihale
• Facebookfacebook.com/kalanihaleMilolii
• Instagraminstagram.com/kkaupiko
• Pinterestpinterest.com/KalaniHaleOrg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Kalanihale