Kūlia Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Hawaiʻi exploring opportunities to improve the socio-economic status of Native Hawaiians through community investment.
Vision
We envision Native Hawaiians as a thriving, productive community of leaders in a rapidly evolving global environment, guided by the shared values and cultural knowledge of all its people, enabled through the Foundation’s cultural advocacy and economic empowerment programs.
Mission
The Foundation’s mission is to promote and improve the overall welfare of the Native Hawaiian community through economic development by providing support, including financial support, to relevant programs that principally benefit Native Hawaiians.
Core Values
The principals that guide the Foundation’s work are embedded in the words of Hawaiʻi’s Queen Kapiʻolani - Kūlia i ka nuʻu - Strive for the summit. Strive for the very top of the mountain; strive for excellence. This ʻOlelo Noʻeau (Hawaiian allegory) represents the namesake of our Foundation.
Purpose
Native Hawaiians face tremendous socio-economic challenges. The following statistics, compiled by The Kamehameha Schools and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, briefly paints a picture of a growing community that is in crisis. Please see attached white paper, “Economic Conditions of the Native Hawaiian Community in the State of Hawaiʻi” for a more detailed discussion on the challenges facing Native Hawaiians.
Goals
The Foundation has identified three primary goals that align with its vision and purpose:
Establish educational and community development activities;
Provide training and mentoring through public and private partnerships;
Provide contributions to qualified individuals and organizations to benefit the Native Hawaiian community.