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The Hawai'i Pacific Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$2.7M
Grant Range
$0K - $1.4M

The Hawai'i Pacific Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,735,500 (2022)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $10 - $1,370,500
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Hawaii, with some activity in California
  • Assets: $67.7 million (2022)

Contact Details

Website: www.hawaiipacificfoundation.org

Address: 500 Ala Moana Blvd Ste 7400, Honolulu, HI 96813

Phone: Not publicly available

Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Hawai'i Pacific Foundation Inc, founded on May 11, 2010, is a Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO) designated as a 501(c)(3) public charity since June 2014 (EIN: 27-2497099). With assets of $67.7 million and annual giving of approximately $2.7 million, the foundation's mission is to empower Native Hawaiian communities by supporting programs that improve access to opportunities for success to the socio-economically disadvantaged. The foundation advances education primarily through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education and preserves cultural values and practices to inspire hope, strengthen families, foster learning, cultivate leadership, and develop stewardship. The foundation operates a unique business model, holding majority ownership in five Native Hawaiian-owned small businesses that engage in federal contracting, with profits reinvested into supporting economic, social, and cultural issues within the Native Hawaiian community.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Hawaii Pacific Foundation provides funding through multiple streams focused on Native Hawaiian advancement:

Educational Grants: Range from small scholarships to major institutional support ($10 - $1,370,500). The foundation made 20 awards in 2022, demonstrating active grant-making across various scales.

University Partnerships: Major multi-year commitments to University of Hawai'i programs, including:

  • Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence support ($260,000 in 2022)
  • Hawai'inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge support ($200,000 in 2022)
  • Graduate assistantships and fellowships ($80,000 - $380,500)
  • Endowed fund creation for long-term sustainability

Doctoral Research Awards: Up to $20,000 for doctoral students conducting research on issues important to the Native Hawaiian community, administered through the East-West Center. Awards support research-stage doctoral candidates for up to six months and can be used for tuition, fees, books, living expenses, equipment, travel, supplies, and software.

Workforce Development: Support for programs like the Hawaiian Trades Academy, which provides training in carpentry, CDL, fire department, police, and solar installation trades.

Community Development: Grants to organizations like the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), including support for loan funds and endowment building.

Priority Areas

  • Education: STEAM education, scholarships, fellowships, graduate assistantships, teacher training pathways, and endowed scholarship funds
  • Workforce Development: Trade skills training, career pathways, and professional development for Native Hawaiians
  • Cultural Preservation: Hawaiian language, cultural values, and practices
  • Economic Stability: Loan funds, small business support, and economic development initiatives
  • Community Development: Programs strengthening Native Hawaiian families and communities
  • Health and Social Services: Support for Native Hawaiian health programs and social work initiatives

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available. However, the foundation's focus is clearly on programs principally serving Native Hawaiians and the socio-economically disadvantaged within this community.

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership (as of 2023-2024)

President & CEO: Jeanine DeFries (appointed July 2023). DeFries brings expertise in organizational leadership and strategic direction, with a professional background in operations and procurement management.

Chairman: Walt Kaneakua

Board Members (as of 2022 Form 990):

  • Edwin Vincent, Chairman (related compensation: $558,656 from affiliated entities)
  • Thomas Ongies, Secretary (related compensation: $483,110 from affiliated entities)
  • Jory Scoville, President (related compensation: $134,982 from affiliated entities)
  • Walter Kaneakua, Trustee

Note: Board members receive no direct compensation from the foundation, though some receive compensation from affiliated organizations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Hawaii Pacific Foundation does not appear to have a public, open application process for most of its grant programs. Based on available information, the foundation operates primarily through:

  1. Invitation and Relationship-Based Grantmaking: The foundation identifies and supports organizations and programs aligned with its mission through trustee discretion and established relationships.

  2. Institutional Partnerships: The foundation develops strategic partnerships with major institutions (such as the University of Hawai'i) for multi-year, multi-program support.

  3. Specific Application Programs: The Doctoral Research Award administered through the East-West Center has a formal application process that includes:

    • Submission of unofficial transcripts (official required if selected)
    • Two academic letters of reference (one from graduate advisor confirming advancement to candidacy)
    • Research proposal demonstrating contribution to Native Hawaiian community issues
    • Applications reviewed by the East-West Center

Getting on Their Radar

Note: The following is based on general information about the foundation's grant-making patterns and may not represent formal guidance from the foundation.

The Hawaii Pacific Foundation appears to identify grant recipients through:

  • Institutional relationships: The foundation has developed multi-year partnerships with the University of Hawai'i system and other major Native Hawaiian-serving organizations.
  • Native Hawaiian organizational networks: As a Native Hawaiian Organization, the foundation is connected to the broader Native Hawaiian community infrastructure, including organizations like CNHA.
  • Board member connections: Board members, who are involved in affiliated businesses and Native Hawaiian community initiatives, likely play a role in identifying grant opportunities.

Organizations seeking support might consider building relationships within the Native Hawaiian organizational community and demonstrating clear impact on the foundation's priority areas before approaching the foundation.

Decision Timeline

Specific timeframes for grant decisions are not publicly disclosed. Based on the foundation's institutional partnerships, it appears that major grants may involve extended discussion and relationship-building periods before formal commitments are made.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. In 2022, the foundation made 20 grants totaling $2,735,500, suggesting selective but meaningful grant-making.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies is not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not provide extensive public guidance on application success factors, analysis of their grant-making patterns reveals several important considerations:

Alignment with Native Hawaiian Advancement: All successful grants demonstrate clear benefit to the Native Hawaiian community, particularly focusing on socio-economically disadvantaged populations. For example, CNHA's $200,000 grant in 2023 specifically supported workforce development in the Hawaiian Trades Academy and loan funds serving Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs.

STEAM Education Focus: The foundation shows particular interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics education. The $1.395 million in University of Hawai'i grants in 2022 heavily emphasized STEM fields, including ocean sciences, medicine, and Hawaiian knowledge systems.

Endowment and Sustainability: The foundation values long-term impact and has supported the creation of endowed funds at multiple institutions, including JABSOM and Hawai'inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge. This suggests preference for programs with lasting infrastructure.

Cultural Integration: Successful programs integrate Hawaiian cultural values and practices. The foundation's mission explicitly includes "preserving cultural values and practices," evident in support for the Hawai'inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge.

Comprehensive Community Impact: Grants to organizations like CNHA demonstrate preference for multi-faceted approaches. The CNHA grant covered workforce development ($75,000), endowment building ($100,000), and loan funds ($25,000), showing the foundation values comprehensive community support.

Research Relevance: For the Doctoral Research Award, research must address "issues important to the Native Hawaiian community," suggesting preference for applied research with direct community benefit rather than purely theoretical work.

Partnership and Leverage: The foundation's mission statement mentions "partner-leveraged contributions," indicating they may favor organizations that can leverage their support with additional resources or partnerships.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Native Hawaiian Focus is Essential: The foundation exists specifically to serve Native Hawaiian communities, particularly the socio-economically disadvantaged. Non-Native Hawaiian serving organizations are unlikely to receive support.

  • Relationship-Based Grantmaking: Without a public application process, success likely depends on established relationships within the Native Hawaiian organizational ecosystem and demonstrated track record in the community.

  • Think Long-Term and Large-Scale: Recent grants show the foundation is comfortable with substantial commitments ($200,000 - $1.4 million) to established institutions and comprehensive programs, including multi-year support and endowment creation.

  • STEAM Education is Priority: If your work involves Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, or Mathematics education for Native Hawaiians, you align strongly with foundation priorities, as evidenced by the majority of their university partnerships.

  • Integrate Workforce and Economic Development: The foundation's support for the Hawaiian Trades Academy and loan funds demonstrates strong interest in economic empowerment and workforce development alongside educational initiatives.

  • Document Community Impact: Given the trustee-led decision-making structure, being able to demonstrate clear, measurable impact on Native Hawaiian communities will be crucial to any funding conversations.

  • For Doctoral Students: If you're conducting doctoral research on Native Hawaiian issues, the East-West Center Doctoral Research Award provides a clear application pathway with awards up to $20,000.

References

  1. The Hawaii Pacific Foundation Inc - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Accessed December 17, 2025
  2. The Hawaii Pacific Foundation Inc | 990 Report | Instrumentl - Accessed December 17, 2025
  3. CNHA receives $200,000 grant from the Hawaiʻi Pacific Foundation, Inc. | Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement - February 2023
  4. Hawaiʻi Pacific Foundation gives $1.4M to UH programs in 2022 | University of Hawai'i Foundation - Accessed December 17, 2025
  5. West Oʻahu: Hawaii Pacific Foundation gives $1.4M to University of Hawaiʻi programs in 2022 | University of Hawaii News - Accessed December 17, 2025
  6. Hawaii Pacific Foundation Doctoral Research Award | East-West Center - Accessed December 17, 2025
  7. The Hawai'i Pacific Foundation | LinkedIn - Accessed December 17, 2025
  8. Hawaii Pacific Foundation - Graduate Studies Funding - College of Education, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa - Accessed December 17, 2025
  9. Hawaii Pacific Foundation website: www.hawaiipacificfoundation.org - Accessed December 17, 2025
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