Our Story
Aloha Native Foundation was born from a deep commitment to honor the legacy of those who came before us, care for our communities today, and create a stronger future for generations to come. Rooted in the values of aloha, mālama, and service, the Foundation carries forward a responsibility to preserve culture, strengthen families, and create meaningful opportunities for Native Hawaiians to thrive.
Our Foundation
Aloha Native Foundation was established from a belief that true strength comes from honoring where we come from while creating opportunities for where we are going. Guided by the wisdom of our kūpuna and the values passed down through generations, the Foundation is dedicated to strengthening Native Hawaiian communities through education, cultural preservation, leadership, workforce development, economic opportunity, and programs that help families thrive. At the heart of our work is a commitment to ensure that future generations remain connected to their identity, their culture, and the responsibility they carry forward.
Our Values
The foundation of Aloha Native Foundation is built upon the values that have guided Native Hawaiian communities for generations. These values are not simply words — they are a way of living, serving, and caring for one another, our culture, and the land we are entrusted to protect.
Aloha
Aloha reflects love, compassion, and a deep connection to one another. It is the spirit of caring for our families, our communities, and all that we are entrusted to protect.
Mālama
Mālama represents caring for and honoring our people, our culture, and our ʻāina (land). It is a reminder that we are all connected and responsible for protecting what has been entrusted to us.
Lōkahi
Lōkahi represents unity, harmony, and working together with a shared purpose. It reflects the understanding that our strength grows when we stand together in service to our families, communities, and future generations.
Haʻahaʻa.
Haʻahaʻa reflects humility, respect, and the understanding that true leadership begins with service. It reminds us to honor others, listen with an open heart, and lead with compassion.
Kuleana
Kuleana represents responsibility, purpose, and the commitment we carry to care for our people, our culture, and the generations who will follow. It is the understanding that each of us has a role in preserving what has been entrusted to us and building a stronger future together.
Our Founder
Malia May
Founder & President, Aloha Native Foundation
Every generation is entrusted with a responsibility — to honor those who came before, to care for those who walk beside us today, and to leave a stronger legacy for those yet to come. For Malia May, that responsibility is more than a calling. It is her kuleana.
Born into a family whose Native Hawaiian heritage spans generations, Malia was raised with a profound respect for the values that have sustained the Hawaiian people for centuries: aloha, mālama, lōkahi, haʻahaʻa, and an unwavering commitment to family, community, and the land.
Her foundation was shaped by the stories, traditions, and teachings passed down through her family. She proudly continues the legacy of the Napoleon ʻohana, a family with deep roots in Hawaiʻi whose history reflects resilience, faith, service, and an enduring love for the Native Hawaiian people.
Through her grandfather, Titus Kealiʻihoʻoululaʻauopūowaina Napoleon May, and the generations before him — including his grandfather, Titus Kealiʻihoʻoululaʻauopūowaina Napoleon — Malia inherited more than a genealogy. She inherited a responsibility to preserve the culture, values, and identity entrusted to every generation of Native Hawaiians.
Her father, Gregory Keleohaokalani Napoleon May, further strengthened that legacy by dedicating himself to preserving the family’s history, genealogy, and Native Hawaiian identity. Through his guidance, Malia came to understand that Hawaiian culture is not simply remembered — it is lived through service, stewardship, compassion, and leadership.
These values became the inspiration behind the creation of Aloha Native Foundation. The Foundation was established to strengthen Native Hawaiian communities by investing in education, cultural preservation, leadership development, workforce training, economic opportunity, affordable housing, and programs that empower Native Hawaiian families to thrive while remaining firmly connected to their cultural identity.
Malia believes that the future of the Hawaiian people depends upon honoring the wisdom of the kūpuna while preparing the next generation of leaders. Every scholarship awarded, every family served, every cultural tradition preserved, and every opportunity created represents another step toward ensuring that Native Hawaiian communities remain vibrant, resilient, and self-determined.
Her vision extends beyond charitable work. She envisions a future where Native Hawaiian organizations become national leaders in education, economic development, environmental stewardship, entrepreneurship, housing, and community service while remaining firmly grounded in the principles that have guided Hawaiian culture since time immemorial.
Under her leadership, Aloha Native Foundation is committed to creating lasting partnerships with government agencies, educational institutions, private industry, and Native organizations to expand opportunities for Native Hawaiians throughout Hawaiʻi and across the continental United States.
The Foundation embraces the belief that true prosperity is measured not only by economic success, but by the strength of families, the preservation of culture, the health of communities, and the ability of future generations to know who they are, where they come from, and the responsibility they carry forward.
For Malia, this work is deeply personal. It is about honoring the sacrifices of those who came before her. It is about preserving a culture that has endured through extraordinary resilience. It is about ensuring that every Native Hawaiian child grows up with pride in their heritage, confidence in their future, and the opportunity to succeed without leaving their identity behind.
Aloha Native Foundation stands as a living expression of that commitment. It is a promise to honor the past. To serve the present. And to build a stronger future for generations of Native Hawaiians yet to come.
“Hoʻomau mākou i ka hoʻoilina o nā kūpuna, e mālama i ko kākou poʻe, a e kūkulu i ka wā e hiki mai ana no nā hanauna e hiki mai ana.”
“We perpetuate the legacy of our ancestors, care for our people, and build a future for the generations yet to come.”
Join Us in the Journey
Together, we can honor the legacy of the past, strengthen communities today, and create meaningful opportunities for generations to come. Through partnership, service, and shared commitment, we continue building a stronger future for Native Hawaiian communities.