In 1975, the Trustees of the Juliette M. Atherton Trust initiated action, which resulted in the creation of the Atherton Family Foundation, a nonprofit corporation organized in the state of Hawai‘i. A charter of incorporation was granted on November 4, 1975. The Trustees then voted unanimously to transfer all investment property and income of the Trust to the Atherton Family Foundation and transfer instruments were executed in January, 1976. In December 1976, the Trustees voted unanimously to transfer the property of the Frank C. Atherton Trust to the Atherton Family Foundation and executed appropriate instruments shortly thereafter.

Historically, the policies, the type of requests considered, and the primary fields of interest of the Juliette M. Atherton Trust and the Frank C. Atherton Trust were similar in nature. Both Trusts considered educational programs and institutions the highest priority, and gave careful attention to religious organizations and health and social services. The consolidation of the two trusts fulfilled several objectives: to provide more efficient administration, allow greater flexibility in foundation policies, to increase protection and growth of the investment assets, and to increase the number of members and directors.

The diversity of the Directors’ perceptions and experiences has enhanced the Foundation’s capacity to respond to the community and broadened its representation of charitable interests.

The Atherton Family Foundation is now one of the largest endowed grantmaking private resources in the State of Hawai‘i devoted exclusively to the support of charitable activities. It perpetuates the philanthropic commitment expressed during the lifetime of Juliette M. Atherton and Frank C. Atherton, and of the family who have followed them.

On June 1, 1920, the forerunner of Cooke Foundation, Limited, the Charles M. and Anna C. Cooke Trust, was created by Anna C. Cooke. The purpose of the Trust was: “to assure in some measure the continuance of, and also to extend and expand, all worthy endeavors for the betterment and welfare of this community and other communities by gifts and donations to the United States of America, any State, Territory, or any political subdivision thereof, and to corporations now or here after organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals…”

The Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Fund was created in December 2012 at the request of Irene Hirano Inouye. The fund was established to continue to help the organizations and causes that the senator supported over the years. The grants were awarded through the Hawaii Community Foundation. The Alaka`ina Foundation received one of these grants in support of the Digital Bus Program.

The Drew Foundation is a private Foundation based in Los Altos, California. In March 2006 our Foundation received a generous charitable donation from the Drew Foundation. We are extremely grateful to John & Ellen Drew and their “ohana” (family) for their generosity and support for our work promoting education and leadership initiatives.

In 1910, as part of their lifelong commitment to philanthropy, Emily Alexander Baldwin and Henry Perrine Baldwin gave the Maui community a facility to provide housing for the elderly. In addition, they created the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation to provide operating funds for the home. Both the home and the Foundation were dedicated to the memory of their son, Fred Baldwin. When the home closed during World War II, the Foundation’s assets were committed to a charitable grantmaking program to support programs and projects serving Maui County. Today, the Foundation continues Emily and Henry Baldwin’s legacy to the people of Maui – a legacy that has spanned generations and touched the lives of thousands in the community.

Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc., a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ), was formed in 1998 as a result of the shared vision and collaboration of a group of Hawaii business and community leaders to generate needed funding for Hawaii’s not-for-profit organizations that benefit women, children, youth, and needy programs. The Friends’ principal fund-raising event is the SONY OPEN IN HAWAII PGA TOUR golf tournament held at Waialae Country Club each January. Friends and the event’s charity partner, The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc. have generated more than $14,000,000 benefiting hundreds of Hawaii not-for-profit organizations. The Friends of Hawaii Charities have contributed grants to the Alaka`ina Foundation specifically for equipment for the Digital Bus program.

Matson’s transportation offerings span the globe from Shanghai to Savannah and encompass everything from providing a vital lifeline to the island economies of Hawaii, Guam and Micronesia by delivering a wide range of multi-modal services throughout North America. Long recognized as a leader in Pacific shipping, Matson continues to strengthen its ocean transportation services through fleet enhancements, industry leading on-time arrivals and award-winning customer service. As one of the nations' top logistics providers, Matson Logistics extends the reach of the company’s transportation network, offering customers domestic and international rail intermodal service, long haul and regional highway brokerage, supply chain services and LTL transportation services, as well as third-party logistics services that include warehousing, distribution, and international freight forwarding. Matson Navigation as agreed to provide “In-Kind” Support to the Digital Bus Program through shipping new digital bus vans when they become available from the West Coast to Hawaii free of charge.

It wasn't that long ago when Maui County’s economy was dependent upon two economic sectors -- agriculture and tourism -- industries that were constantly vulnerable to forces beyond our control. Then in 1982, community, business and elected leaders created the Maui Economic Development Board, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving a balanced economy and more rewarding choices for our residents. The MEDB team worked tirelessly with an extensive network of public, private and nonprofit partners to build homegrown solutions to countywide problems. Priority was given to honoring our community’s environmental and cultural values as we sought to transform education, prepare a workforce for the Information Age, and build community dialogue and consensus about our future. Our initial focus on the growth of a technology sector put emphasis on building a supportive business climate, access to resources and collaborations among peers. Our success in technology has paved the way for adding other sectors such as agri-tech, energy and health. Today with a committed membership, strong board, and dedicated staff, MEDB perseveres. And our unwavering dedication to the vision set in 1982 has created meaningful pathways that now benefit the lives of residents throughout Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Through its Ke Alahele Education Fund, MEDB has provided grants to the Alaka`ina Foundation specifically to support the Digital Bus Program.

Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric Company, Ltd. (MECO), and Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., provide electricity to 95% of the state's 1.2 million residents on the islands of O`ahu, Maui, Hawai‘i Island, Lana`i and Moloka`i. For more than 100 years, Hawaiian Electric Company has provided the energy that has fueled the islands' development through its colorful history; first as a kingdom, now as a modern state.

Today, the company also provides energy solutions to help customers save money and use energy more efficiently. Hawaiian Electric also continues to pursue the use of more renewable energy alternatives to help ensure a sustainable future for our islands.

As part of the Alaka‘ina Foundation’s “Green Bus” project, MECO promoted the concept of photovoltaic (PV) power systems as an alternative to conventional fuels, and used research, development, and demonstration funds to install non-grid connected PV power systems on the roof of the Maui Digital Bus. MECO also provided the Alaka‘ina Foundation with their “Solar Power in the Schools” curricula for implementation into the Digital Bus program to encourage the development of renewable energies. They also provided an educational display on the Digital Bus for students to view the PV system description and operation.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a government agency that enriches life through science. From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product. NOAA’s dedicated scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers, and other decision makers with the reliable, timely information.

NOAA also provides federal funding and grants such as the Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program. The Digital Bus has been awarded several B-WET grants that have been used to:

• Fund teacher workshops, stipends, and technology-loan programs for teacher participation
• Purchase technology tools and provide student transportation to field sites
• Support Watershed and Reef Etiquette programs, which have been instrumental in the investigation, education, and restoration of these important ecosystems.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) is charged with the administration of 1.8 million acres of royal land held in trust for the benefit of native Hawaiians. Created by the 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention, OHA gives native Hawaiians the right to make their own decisions as to investment of ceded lands and collect revenue generated by those lands to fund programs for the people.

Through a grant from OHA, the Digital Bus has been able to better address the needs of the Native Hawaiian community on Moloka‘i. Specifically, the Ho‘okuleana Project that:

• Allowed Moloka‘i students to develop a variety of technology skills while utilizing cultural resources to teach the importance of the Ahupua‘a system in the Hawaiian culture
• Combined teacher instruction and a hands-on field based science work into a multifaceted water quality monitoring program

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the United States Navy and Marine Corps through schools, universities, government laboratories, and nonprofit and for-profit organizations. It also provides technical advice to the Chief of Naval Operations and the Secretary of the Navy and works with industry to improve technology manufacturing processes.

ONR provided the majority of the start-up funds to develop the Maui Digital Bus platform. Over the years, ONR has continued to contribute additional funding that has helped the Digital Bus evolve into an inter-island collaboration project using state-of-the-art technology and a project-based learning environment to help students increase their interest in science and technology. These funds have also been vital for professional development programs for educators.

>The organization was formed in July 2007 following a tragic car accident on Maui that claimed the life of 8-year old Will Smith. Family members say the Foundation honors Will’s memory by continuing the heartfelt kindness and generosity that he showed to other children in his life.

Young Brothers, LTD has been providing inter-island cargo service since 1900 throughout the State of Hawai‘i with ports in Honolulu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Hilo, Kawaihae, and Kauai.

Young Brothers has helped increase the reach of our mobile science and technology programs by providing free shipping of the Digital Bus throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Without the generous support of partners such as Young Brothers, the opportunity to share our free science and technology programs with the smaller neighboring islands would not be possible.