Kupu Information

Much like the Kupukupu Fern, which is one of the first plants to bring life back to the land after a devastating lava flow, Kupu’s heart is to bring life back to the people, land, and ocean while restoring the larger community for a better tomorrow. At Kupu, we believe the best way to accomplish this goal is by engaging our young adults and emerging professionals in the critical fields contributing to our natural resources and communities. Established in 2007 as a Honolulu-based 501(c)3 non-profit, Kupu empowers future generations to create a more sustainable Hawai‘i. Kupu's provide hands-on training and national service opportunities which educate and mentor young adults and emerging professionals to become stewards of culture and environment. Through Kupu's programs, more than 4,000 participants have received hands-on training in conservation, sustainability, and environmental education. These young adults have supported Kupu partners to provide more than 3 million hours of service, which has culminated in planting over 1 million native plants and removing over 100,000 acres of invasive species. For their service, Kupu has presented $5.5 million in education awards to support the continued growth of its members. To date, Kupu has generated more than $130 million in economic benefits to the state of Hawai‘i. We are passionate about empowering Hawai'i's next generation to become future leaders in service to our environment, communities, and one another.