Committed to Hawaiʻi’s Communities
Ulupono Initiative relies on key values to guide our work. We focus on the needs and wants of the people of Hawaiʻi.
Committed to Hawaiʻi’s Communities
Ulupono Initiative relies on key values to guide our work. We focus on the needs and wants of the people of Hawaiʻi.
Committed to Hawaiʻi’s Communities
Ulupono Initiative relies on key values to guide our work. We focus on the needs and wants of the people of Hawaiʻi.
Committed to Hawaiʻi’s Communities
Ulupono Initiative relies on key values to guide our work. We focus on the needs and wants of the people of Hawaiʻi.
Committed to Hawaiʻi’s Communities
Ulupono Initiative relies on key values to guide our work. We focus on the needs and wants of the people of Hawaiʻi.
Our Vision
Strive to improve the quality of life for the people of Hawaiʻi by working toward sustainable solutions that support and promote locally produced food, renewable energy, clean transportation, and better management of water and waste.
We invest in innovative organizations to fuel change. Our work focuses on what we can do to help transform our community and the lives of our neighbors. Ulupono uses a systems approach to understand how partners and projects work together to create the most impact.We aim to play a catalytic role with our investments, providing capital and guidance that will take a solid plan further, faster. As a for-profit investment firm, Ulupono typically focuses each year on several investments of $1 million to $3 million in key mission projects. We work closely with our investees to help them achieve their goals, seeking a governance role where appropriate.Our investments span both the for-profit and non-profit sectors to ensure we’re supporting strong ideas that will catapult us toward our goal of greater self-sufficiency for Hawaiʻi.
Our Goals
Ulupono Initiative was formed as an impact investment firm to positively affect Hawaiʻi’s ability to grow its own food, harness its rich natural resources for renewable energy, and better manage its waste. Our investments span both the for-profit and non-profit sectors to ensure we’re supporting strong ideas that will catapult us toward this goal of greater self-sufficiency for Hawaii.
Based on the available statewide data, Ulupono was founded in 2009 with strong goals and milestones to meet in each of our sector areas. No one has done work like this before, so we recognize it will take some time and we’re learning as we go.
Our Approach
Ulupono views our focus areas with a systems approach. For example, in nature, ecosystems comprise many elements that all work together to survive or perish.Using this approach, we are continually working to understand how things influence one another within Ulupono Initiative’s three key sectors of food, energy and waste in Hawaii. We’re identifying key partners, leverage points and linkages to determine where the most impact can occur. It is our belief that you cannot change one aspect of a system without affecting many others. Our goal is to infuse investment capital, or grants, along with collaboration and guidance to help our partner organizations find success in achieving impact. To do this, we seek knowledgeable partners with relevant experience, a proven management team and record, and the ability to challenge the status quo. It is essential that we are not the sole source of funding. Ulupono aims to be the partner who helps catalyze a plan to the next level. We look for those who are finding innovative, catalytic approaches that can help to transform our community by creating more independence for Hawaii’s food, energy and waste systems.
Our Human Rights Policy
Ulupono Initiative, as well as all of The Omidyar Group entities, has a simple policy: We do not invest in, patronize, or support any organization, company, or product that is known to have slavery or human trafficking in its supply chain or anywhere else in its operations. Period. It’s a zero tolerance policy. If we learn of such labor practices across any of our organizations or investments — including subcontractors — we take immediate action to help ensure the situation is corrected. If this is not possible, we terminate our involvement. We require those we work with to make themselves thoroughly familiar with this policy and to agree to upholding these practices.
Our Vision
Strive to improve the quality of life for the people of Hawaiʻi by working toward sustainable solutions that support and promote locally produced food, renewable energy, clean transportation, and better management of water and waste.
We invest in innovative organizations to fuel change. Our work focuses on what we can do to help transform our community and the lives of our neighbors. Ulupono uses a systems approach to understand how partners and projects work together to create the most impact.We aim to play a catalytic role with our investments, providing capital and guidance that will take a solid plan further, faster. As a for-profit investment firm, Ulupono typically focuses each year on several investments of $1 million to $3 million in key mission projects. We work closely with our investees to help them achieve their goals, seeking a governance role where appropriate.Our investments span both the for-profit and non-profit sectors to ensure we’re supporting strong ideas that will catapult us toward our goal of greater self-sufficiency for Hawaiʻi.
Our Goals
Ulupono Initiative was formed as an impact investment firm to positively affect Hawaiʻi’s ability to grow its own food, harness its rich natural resources for renewable energy, and better manage its waste. Our investments span both the for-profit and non-profit sectors to ensure we’re supporting strong ideas that will catapult us toward this goal of greater self-sufficiency for Hawaii.
Based on the available statewide data, Ulupono was founded in 2009 with strong goals and milestones to meet in each of our sector areas. No one has done work like this before, so we recognize it will take some time and we’re learning as we go.
Our Approach
Ulupono views our focus areas with a systems approach. For example, in nature, ecosystems comprise many elements that all work together to survive or perish.Using this approach, we are continually working to understand how things influence one another within Ulupono Initiative’s three key sectors of food, energy and waste in Hawaii. We’re identifying key partners, leverage points and linkages to determine where the most impact can occur. It is our belief that you cannot change one aspect of a system without affecting many others. Our goal is to infuse investment capital, or grants, along with collaboration and guidance to help our partner organizations find success in achieving impact. To do this, we seek knowledgeable partners with relevant experience, a proven management team and record, and the ability to challenge the status quo. It is essential that we are not the sole source of funding. Ulupono aims to be the partner who helps catalyze a plan to the next level. We look for those who are finding innovative, catalytic approaches that can help to transform our community by creating more independence for Hawaii’s food, energy and waste systems.
Our Human Rights Policy
Ulupono Initiative, as well as all of The Omidyar Group entities, has a simple policy: We do not invest in, patronize, or support any organization, company, or product that is known to have slavery or human trafficking in its supply chain or anywhere else in its operations. Period. It’s a zero tolerance policy. If we learn of such labor practices across any of our organizations or investments — including subcontractors — we take immediate action to help ensure the situation is corrected. If this is not possible, we terminate our involvement. We require those we work with to make themselves thoroughly familiar with this policy and to agree to upholding these practices.
This is our home. We aspire to high standards; strive to work with humility; and work to learn and improve continuously. We push for innovative and transformative solutions that will have the most impact on the lives of the individuals and the community we serve.We believe that sustainability is essential to our future prosperity, and will help shape our vision of a 21st century economy where economic progress and environmental stewardship work hand in hand.
Sustainable Change
Focus on making large-scale catalytic changes in our community
Respect and Humility
Listen openly, consider conflicting views and information, give credit to those getting the work done and don’t take ourselves too seriously
Honesty and Integrity
Conduct ourselves with integrity, show personal, professional and intellectual honesty within an environment of openness and accountability
Learning and Growth
Learn from mistakes, be open to risks that can make change happen, and share what we learn
Collaboration
Work together and share information creates partnerships critical to success
Pono Approach
Share information, respect our community and the many individuals who share their expertise with us and others, and work toward what is fair and just
"It is so beneficial to have a partner willing to embrace your evolution and journey in meeting your mission and goals. Ulupono Initiative’s support for our farm, ranch, and food manufacturing segments in Hawaii serves as a model and key ingredient to stimulate community well-being through access to local, fresh, nutritious and healthy foods."