ABOUT
Kupu aʻe ke aloha; he aloha no ka ʻāina.
Aloha sprouts forth; it is aloha for the land.
Who We Are
At Kupu we stand strong to empower each other through a commitment to our culture and passion to care for our lands. Our staff, students, alumni and partners are dedicated to contributing to the shared knowledge within conservation, sustainability, clean energy and natural resource management. Together we are creating a brighter future for youth in the Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region.
Mōhala maikaʻi ke oho o ke kupukupu
Unfolded well are the fronds of the kupukupu ferns.
Our Story
The Kupu spirit, deeply rooted in the Hawaiian language and inspired by the native kupukupu fern, is embodied by three close friends, John Leong, Julianna Leong, and Matthew Bauer, who share an unwavering passion for conservation. Recognizing the pressing need to create more opportunities for the next generation, they have harnessed the essence of "Kupu" – to sprout and grow – as a guiding principle in their mission. As an organization, the programs and services developed by Kupu aspire to rebuild and sustain our environment while connecting youth to opportunities for success. Kupu is continuously growing its programs throughout the US Pacific region, nurturing the seeds of positive change and fostering a sense of environmental stewardship and opportunity among the youth, as we work together to create a better, more sustainable future for our islands and beyond.
Our Mission
Established in 2007, Kupu is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Honolulu with a mission to empower youth to serve their communities through character-building, service-learning and environmental stewardship opportunities that encourage pono (integrity) with ke Akua (God), self and others.
Our Team
Leadership Team
John Leong
Chief Executive Officer, Co-founder
Matthew Bauer
Chief Operating Officer, Co-founder
Janice Pak, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Katrina Ogata
Vice President of Compliance
Kawika Riley
Vice President of External Affairs
Darcie Yukimura
Vice President of Philanthropy
Ana Hiyane
Vice President of Operations
Kaulana McCabe
Vice President of Programs
Director of Human Resources
Dana Oania
Board of Directors
Chairman of the Board, Island Insurance Companies
Tyler Tokioka, Chair
Vice President, Cadinha & Co., LLC
Bradley Totherow, Vice Chair
Kathy Morimoto, Treasurer
President and CEO, St. Francis Healthcare System
Rob Nelson, Secretary
President, Finance Factors Hawaii
Tim Johns, Member at Large
President and CEO, Zephyr Insurance Company
John Leong, Member at Large
CEO & Co-founder, Kupu & Pono Pacific
Julianna Rapu Leong, Member at Large
Co-Founder, Kupu & Principal at Pono Pacific
Kathleen Thurston, Member at Large
Owner & President, Thurston Pacific, Inc.
Lance Wilhelm, Member at Large
President, The Wilhelm Group
Tiffany “Tiffa” Garza, Member at Large
Worship Pastor, C4
Rodney Chong, Member at Large
Retired, Hawaiian Electric Company
Retired Supreme Court Justice, State of Hawaii
Michael Wilson, Member at Large
Cal Chipchase, Member at Large
Partner, Cades Schutte
Executive Vice President & Consumer Banking, American Savings Bank
Dani Aiu, Member at Large
Rudy Tamayo, Member at Large
Vice President of Energy Delivery, Hawaiian Electric
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Organization
2023 - PBN Hawaii’s Most Admired Leaders
2022 - PBN Fire Inno Awards
2021 - BBB Torch Awards for Ethics
2021 - The Corps Network Project of the Year
2020 – Hawaii Business Magazine, Hawaiʻi’s Best Places to Work
2018 – USDA Forest Service, Regional Forester Award
2017 – Hawaiʻi Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, Community Collaborator Award
2017 – Hawaii Business Magazine, Top 250 Companies
2017 – The Corps Network, Project of the Year (IUCN World Conservation Congress Youth Initiative)
2016 – The Corps Network, National Corpsmember of the Year (Keoni Kikala)
2015 – Environmental Protection Agency, Food Recovery Challenge, Certificate of Achievement
2015 – The Corps Center of Excellence, Accredited Youth Corps
2014 – The Corps Network, National Corpsmember of the Year (Jon Brito)
2014 – Hawaii Green Business Program Award
2013 – USDA, US Forest Service Regional Forester Award (first ever Hawaiʻi recipient)
2013 – Federal Accreditation as a 21st Century Service and Conservation Corps
2011 – The Corps Network, National Corpsmember of the Year (Mari Takemoto-Chock)
2011 – Pacific Business News, Business Leadership Hawaii, Nonprofit Leadership Award Finalist
2010-11 – American Reinvestment & Recovery Act, Project of the Year
2010 – Hawaiʻi Audubon Society, Environmental Education Award
2010 – AmeriCorps Service Commission, Innovation in Civic Participation
2008 – The Corps Network, National Corpsmember of the Year (Linnea Heu)
John Leong, Kupu CEO
2016 – Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Hoʻokele Award (John Leong & Julianna Rapu-Leong)
2014 – Na Kama Kai Hoʻokele Award: Beginning a Life Long Commitment to Mālama ʻĀina
2013 – Hawaii Institute of Public Affairs, Hoʻoulu Leadership Award
2012 – Hawaii Business Magazine, 20 For The Next 20
2010 – Pacific Business News, Forty Under 40
2010 – Bank of Hawaii, Community Leader of the Year
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Financial Statement – FYE Sept 30, 2022
Financial Statement – FYE Sept 30, 2021
Financial Statement – FYE Sept 30, 2020
Financial Statement – FYE Sept 30, 2019
Financial Statement – FYE Sept 30, 2018
Financial Statement – FYE Sept 30, 2017
Financial Statement – FYE Sept 30, 2016
Financial Statement – FYE Sept 30, 2015
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