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Liliʻuokalani Trust

Annual Giving
$0.1M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.1M

Liliʻuokalani Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $76,350 (2023 grants to external organizations)
  • Total Assets: $795 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (preselected recipients only)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 – $150,000
  • Geographic Focus: Hawaii (with emphasis on Native Hawaiian beneficiaries)

Contact Details

  • Website: onipaa.org
  • Email: info@onipaa.org
  • Phone: (808) 203-6150
  • Address: 1100 Alakea Street, Suite 1100, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813-2845

Note: This funder does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Contact is for general inquiries only.

Overview

Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) is a private operating foundation established in 1909 by Queen Liliʻuokalani, Hawaii's last reigning monarch. Her Deed of Trust directs that the Queen's assets be utilized to serve and provide for orphan and destitute Hawaiian children in perpetuity, with preference given to Native Hawaiians. As of 2023, the Trust holds approximately $795 million in total assets, primarily funded through revenue from approximately 6,200 acres of Hawaiʻi real estate and its investment portfolio.

The Trust operates as a private operating foundation, meaning it primarily runs its own charitable programs rather than functioning as a traditional grantmaking organization. LT directly serves approximately 10,000 children annually through its own programs and reaches thousands more through collaborations with community partners. Their strategic focus includes culturally-grounded programming with Hawaiian cultural values and practices as a foundation. While LT does make grants to external organizations (approximately $76,350 in 2023), these are awarded only to preselected charitable organizations—the Trust does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Liliʻuokalani Trust primarily operates its own programs rather than making external grants. When grants are made:

  • Typical Range: $1,000 – $150,000 per award
  • Recent Activity: 10 awards totaling $76,350 in 2023; 9 awards in 2022; 11 awards in 2021
  • Application Method: Invitation only / Preselected recipients

Priority Areas

The Trust focuses on:

  • Early Childhood (ages 0-5): Programs from conception through kindergarten
  • Youth Development (ages 6-18): Arts, sports, ʻāina (land), and creative media programs
  • Opportunity Youth (ages 16-26): Transitional support for young adults aging out of foster care and other systems
  • Family Strengthening: Grief and loss counseling, family reunification programs
  • Trauma-Informed Care: Culturally and clinically grounded support services
  • Native Hawaiian Cultural Preservation: Programs rooted in Hawaiian values and practices

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited grant applications from any organization
  • Projects outside Hawaii
  • Organizations without demonstrated connection to Native Hawaiian communities
  • Programs not aligned with child and family welfare

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Per the Deed of Trust, the Board consists of three individuals equally vested with responsibilities for managing the Queen's testamentary assets:

  • Claire L. Asam - Trustee
  • Mahina E. Hugo - Trustee
  • Robert H. Ozaki - Trustee (former President and CEO, transitioned to trustee role)

Executive Leadership

  • Tina Keane - President and Chief Executive Officer (appointed 2024; previously Investment Director)
  • Menrit Francis - Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  • Christian Naea - Vice President and Chief Program Officer
  • Melissa LeFever - Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
  • Jennifer Laʻa - Executive Director, Liliʻuokalani Center

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. According to their Form 990 filings, Liliʻuokalani Trust only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

The Trust operates primarily as a private operating foundation, delivering direct services to beneficiaries through its own programs rather than through external grantmaking. External grants represent a small portion of their overall charitable activity (approximately $76,350 in grants versus $27.1 million in total charitable disbursements in 2023).

Getting on Their Radar

The Trust has established partnerships with specific types of organizations:

  • Child Welfare Organizations: LT collaborates with the Department of Human Services, Child Welfare Services, and Family Programs Hawaiʻi
  • Community Partner Programs: Ka Pili ʻOhana (KPO) program operates in partnership with Child and Family Service
  • Transitional Housing: Partnership with Hale Kipa to operate Lydia House for youth in crisis
  • Leadership Development: Collaboration with Kamehameha Schools to provide facilitative skills training to Native Hawaiian community leaders

Organizations seeking partnership should focus on:

  • Demonstrated commitment to Native Hawaiian children and families
  • Alignment with LT's three focus areas (Early Childhood, Youth Development, Opportunity Youth)
  • Culturally grounded approaches that incorporate Hawaiian values and practices
  • Capacity to participate in systems-change initiatives

Application Success Factors

Since Liliʻuokalani Trust does not accept unsolicited applications, success depends on:

  1. Alignment with Queen Liliʻuokalani's Legacy: Organizations must demonstrate clear commitment to orphaned and vulnerable Hawaiian children and their families

  2. Cultural Competency: Programs must incorporate Hawaiian cultural values. LT operates according to six Hawaiian-rooted principles: Aloha (compassion), ʻImi Naʻauao (seeking knowledge), Kuleana (accountability), Poʻokela (excellence), Pono (right action), and Wiwoʻole (courage)

  3. Systems-Change Focus: LT has broadened from social welfare casework to include community change initiatives. Their Systems Map focuses on: "Heal Trauma," "Strengthen ʻOhana," "Kūpuna and Keiki," and "Strengthen Collective"

  4. Demonstrated Track Record: Past grant recipients include established organizations with proven service delivery

  5. Geographic Presence: Organizations operating in Hawaii communities where LT has regional offices (Oahu, Big Island)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only funding: LT only makes grants to preselected organizations—unsolicited applications are not accepted
  • Operating foundation model: The vast majority of LT's charitable spending ($27.1 million in 2023) goes to operating its own programs, not external grants ($76,350)
  • Partnership focus: Rather than traditional grantmaking, LT collaborates with community partners on specific initiatives
  • Native Hawaiian priority: All programs and partnerships prioritize Native Hawaiian children and families
  • Cultural alignment essential: Organizations must demonstrate understanding of and commitment to Hawaiian cultural values and practices
  • Systems-change approach: LT seeks partners interested in addressing root causes of poverty and family instability, not just service delivery
  • Regional presence matters: LT operates across Hawaii with offices in Honolulu, Kapolei, Waiʻanae, Kāneʻohe, Waimānalo, Hilo, and Kailua-Kona

References

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