Aloha kakou and welcome to the Alaka’ina Foundation website – Alaka’ina in Hawaiian translates to “leadership” and our mission is to build and promote leadership and education initiatives for our “Na pua o Hawai'i,” the youth of Hawai'i. 

Alaka’ina is a fledgling organization.  Our board of directors are volunteers and they, like me, understand the need for innovative leadership and education programs which generate interest and participation for our rural communities throughout the State of Hawai'i. 

One such example of an innovative program is the Hawai'i Source Education Outreach (HSEO) initiative (see Programs page on this website for description).  Formerly known as the Maui Digital Bus program, HSEO seeks to stimulate interest in science and technology among our public school students in Maui County. 

Through an initial partnership including Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO), University of Hawai’i, Maui, and the Office of Naval Research at Pearl Harbor this program has developed into a capability and resource utilized by educators in our Maui public schools.  Administered by Akimeka LLC, a Native Hawaiian-owned 8(a) contractor, HSEO is in position to expand this capability to other rural areas in our State of Hawai’i.  We plan to expand through a “hui” (group) of additional partners and organizations whose missions and goals align with our charter.  We look forward to this rewarding challenge.

The Alaka’ina Foundation filed for its articles of incorporation with the State of Hawai’i on March 23, 2004.  Our application to the Internal Revenue Service as a section 501 c (3) entity was approved June 30, 2005 with an effective date for exemption status of March 23, 2004.

Me ke aloha,