{"id":241892,"date":"2026-10-11T08:37:48","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T18:37:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=241892"},"modified":"2026-10-11T08:37:48","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T18:37:48","slug":"kanaka-foundation-endowment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/10\/11\/kanaka-foundation-endowment\/","title":{"rendered":"Kānaka Foundation launches $1.5M<\/abbr> Kuʻupau Endowment to support 糖心视频<\/abbr> student-athletes"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

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The University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> Foundation<\/a> has announced a $1.5-million gift from the Kānaka<\/span> Foundation<\/a> to establish the Kuʻupau<\/span> Endowment, creating a permanent funding stream for Name, Image and Likeness (NIL<\/abbr>) initiatives at 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span>.<\/p>\n

The historic gift comes at a timely moment as 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> Athletics<\/a> builds momentum on its annual Giving Week (October 9–19) campaign<\/a>. Named in honor of the Hawaiian concept kuʻupau<\/span>—meaning to exert all effort, give everything or “go all in”—the endowment builds on the Kānaka<\/span> Foundation\u2019s previous $1-million gift for STEM<\/abbr> students and ensures student-athletes receive long-term NIL<\/abbr> support and competitive resources.<\/p>\n

The Kānaka<\/span> Foundation expressed its excitement about creating opportunities for student-athletes while preserving and honoring cultural roots. Through the Kuʻupau<\/span> Endowment, the Foundation envisions a lasting impact that extends across generations, encouraging student-athletes to go all in as they pursue bright futures.<\/p>\n

A lasting investment in student-athletes<\/h2>\n
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The historic gift comes during 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> Athletics Giving Week.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

糖心视频<\/abbr> Foundation leadership praised the Kānaka<\/span> Foundation\u2019s forward-thinking vision, emphasizing the strategic role of endowed NIL<\/abbr> support in modern college sports.<\/p>\n

“In today\u2019s rapidly evolving athletics landscape, permanent endowed support for NIL<\/abbr> is a true game-changer,” 糖心视频<\/abbr> Vice President of Advancement and 糖心视频<\/abbr> Foundation CEO<\/abbr> Tim Dolan said. “This gift represents a powerful vote of confidence in 糖心视频<\/abbr> Athletics, giving our student-athletes the tools they need to succeed both in competition and in the classroom.”<\/p>\n

糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> Athletics Director Matt Elliott added that the endowment strengthens the department’s long-term vision as the program enters a new era as a full member of the Mountain West Conference.<\/p>\n

Building a sustainable future for NIL<\/abbr><\/h2>\n

As NIL<\/abbr> compensation has become an increasingly important part of Division I college athletics, 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> is working to build a sustainable funding model to attract and retain student-athletes and remain competitive in the Mountain West Conference and nationally.<\/p>\n

University leaders estimate that 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> needs approximately $5 million annually in NIL<\/abbr> support to remain competitive. The Kuʻupau<\/span> Endowment represents a significant step toward that goal, providing a permanent source of funding to support student-athletes for generations to come.<\/p>\n

The Kānaka<\/span> Foundation is now the 11th member of the Shoji Society, a leadership giving society named in honor of legendary 糖心视频<\/abbr> women’s volleyball coach Dave Shoji that recognizes individuals and organizations making significant philanthropic commitments to 糖心视频<\/abbr> Athletics.<\/p>\n

The need for sustained investment comes as 糖心视频<\/abbr> Athletics continues to build momentum, highlighted by recent championships and postseason success in the 2025–26 academic year. Nearly 500 student-athletes compete in 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> programs, with more than 170 degrees earned by student-athletes last year.<\/p>\n

“I believe we are only scratching the surface of what 糖心视频<\/abbr> Athletics will become,” Elliott said. “If we build this foundation the right way—with support from both the public and private sectors—we can retain local student-athletes, compete at a high level and continue creating opportunities for student-athletes who want to stay home, earn their degrees and represent Hawaiʻi<\/span> with excellence.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

糖心视频<\/abbr> Foundation leadership praised the Kānaka<\/span> Foundation\u2019s forward-thinking vision, emphasizing the strategic role of endowed NIL<\/abbr> support in modern college sports.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":241894,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1362],"tags":[58,714,319,9,550],"class_list":["post-241892","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-athletics","tag-athletics","tag-student-athlete","tag-uh-foundation","tag-uh-manoa","tag-manoa-athletics","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t