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Welcome to Mālama Kaʻū Foundation
We are a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO) owned and controlled exclusively by Native Hawaiians.
NHOs are not (for profit) SBA 8(a) contractors.
We are cultural allies, community anchors, and strategic assets.
Our Native Hawaiian board members have deep roots across the Pacific, and they are passionate about:
1. Advancing DoD readiness across the Pacific and
2. Breaking the cycle of poverty and institutional inequity in Ka’u, and beyond.
What is an NHO?
Per 13 CFR § 124.3
NHO means any community service organization serving Native Hawaiians in the State of Hawaii which is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the State of Hawaii, is controlled by Native Hawaiians, and whose business activities will principally benefit such Native Hawaiians.
What is a Native Hawaiian?
Per 13 CFR § 124.3:
Native Hawaiian means any individual who is a descendant of the aboriginal people who, prior to 1778, occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now constitutes the State of Hawaii.
Note: This definition aligns with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) lineage requirement for providing Native Hawaiian ancestry; specifically, written proof that your family resided in Hawaii before Captain Cook’s arrival in 1778.
