We sincerely appreciate your taking time to visit this site to get to know a little more about the Alaka‘ina Foundation. Alaka`ina means “leadership” in Hawaiian.

The Foundation’s mission is to provide leadership and education programs for our “Na Pua ‘o Hawai‘i” (the youth of Hawai‘i). We do this in a couple of ways:

• By stimulating interest in science and technology with our “keiki” through the Digital Bus Programs on Maui County and, in 2010, Kaua‘i County
• By funding internships and scholarships for next-generation leaders, focusing on leadership and mentorship

Our all-volunteer board of directors is committed to this mission. Kimo Wong, Kimo Bacon and I attended the Kamehameha Schools on O‘ahu. Though each of us went our separate ways following graduation, we all served as military officers in the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army. This similar experience provided us with values important to the Foundation’s vision.

In addition, our shared background imparted a set of principles that guide the Foundation’s work. These principles are embedded in Hawaiian Olelo No‘eau or Words of Wisdom:

Pupukahi i holomua
Unite to move forward
By working together we make progress. This saying would be especially applicable to the Hawaiians in their canoes, where all paddlers must pull together on command in order for the canoe to move forward swiftly.

Onipa‘a Mau Loa
(Be) steadfast always
Take your stand and be steadfast in doing what is right no matter what others say. This was the motto of Queen Lili‘uokalani.

Kulia i ka nu‘u
Strive for the summit
Strive for the very top of the mountain; strive for excellence. This was the motto of Hawai‘i's Queen Kapi‘olani, who did so much for her people.

Grounded in these three principles, the Alaka‘ina Foundation strives to ensure that today’s young men and women of Hawai‘i have the skills and competencies they will need to be effective as tomorrow’s leaders. I invite you to browse these pages and learn more about our work.

Me ke aloha,
Vaughn G. A. Vasconcellos
President