Hawaii Council for Humanities
The Hawai'i Council for the Humanities is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Founded in 1976, the organization operates as an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Council uses public humanities programming to connect people with ideas that broaden perspectives, enrich lives, and strengthen communities across the Hawaiian Islands.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1M
+4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$198K
+21.9% YoY
Grant Count
20
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-2.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The mission of the Hawai'i Council for the Humanities is to connect people with ideas that broaden perspectives, enrich lives and strengthen communities.
Primary Focus Areas: The Council's work centers on promoting public understanding of the value and relevance of history, literature, philosophy, and cultural traditions. The organization focuses on:
- Education and public humanities programming
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
The Council serves particularly underserved communities throughout the state and reaches nontraditional audiences through programming in schools, libraries, correctional institutions, and various community sites.
Grantmaking
The Council administers two active grant opportunities:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Hawai'i Council for the Humanities funds projects and programs primarily throughout Hawaii, with particular emphasis on serving underserved communities across the state.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total assets: $1,068,662
- Total revenues: $1,368,512
- Total expenses: $1,359,005
Funding Sources: The Council receives support from:
- The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
- Corporate and private foundations
- Individual donors
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,068,662 | $1,024,489 | $496,030 |
| Revenue | $1,368,512 | $1,053,317 | $1,588,640 |
| Expenses | $1,359,005 | $1,062,787 | $1,528,735 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $20,503 | $5,526 | $4,724 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
140 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Hawaii Council for Humanities
Lei Pua ʻAla - Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi
HAWAII COUNCIL FOR HUMANITIES
Amount
$943,700
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Preservation & Access Grants
HAWAII COUNCIL FOR HUMANITIES
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Preservation and Access Grant
HAWAII COUNCIL FOR HUMANITIES
Amount
Up to $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Filipino Association of University Women ($10,000), Obama Hawaiian Africana Museum ($10,000), University of Hawaii System ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FILIPINO ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN HONOLULU, HI | FILIPINO VOICES IN HAWAII | $10,000 |
| OBAMA HAWAIIAN AFRICANA MUSEUM HONOLULU, HI | HAWAIIS UNTOLD AFRICANA EXPERIENCES | $10,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM HONOLULU, HI | ASIA PACIFIC DANCE 2024 | $10,000 |
| ENLIVENED COOPERATIVE HILO, HI | LAUHALA WEAVING KNOWLEDGES/PRACTICES | $10,000 |
| MALAMA LEARNING CENTER HONOLULU, HI | LIMUHINAULA | $10,000 |
| HAWAII BOOK & MUSIC FESTIVAL KANEOHE, HI | AI IMPACT ON THE HUMANITIES | $9,680 |
| MAUI ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS WAILUKU, HI | PIGS FROM THE SEA | $10,000 |
| HONOLULU PRINTMAKERS HONOLULU, HI | PRINTER LEI PROJECT - RISOGRAPHY | $10,000 |
| EAST-WEST CENTER HONOLULU, HI | CELEBRATING MICRONESIAN VOICES | $10,000 |
| NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER HAWI, HI | KOHALA VOICES: YOUTH DOCUMENTARY FILM | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAJA CLARK GRAJSKI | CHAIR | 2 | — |
| KEHAULANI COSTA | CO-VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| SHELLY KAIAOKAMAILE | CO-VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| MISTY-LYNN SANICO | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| DEMANEY KIHE | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| NANCY ALECK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHERYL EDELSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARY THERESE PEREZ HATTORI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HALENA KAPUNI-REYNOLDS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| VINCENT RYAN LINARES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAWN SUEOKA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARK OMBRELLO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KRISTEN NAMBA REED | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PUA ROSSI-FUKINO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BEN TREVINO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TRIXY 'IWALANI KOIDE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TISHA ARAGAKI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DIANE EVANS | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| AIKO YAMASHIRO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $88,187 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hawaii Council for Humanities fund?
**Mission Statement:** The mission of the Hawai'i Council for the Humanities is to connect people with ideas that broaden perspectives, enrich lives and strengthen communities. **Primary Focus Areas:** The Council's work centers on promoting public understanding of the value and relevance of history, literature, philosophy, and cultural traditions. The organization focuses on: • Education and public humanities programming • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human services The Council…
How do I apply for a grant from Hawaii Council for Humanities?
**Grant Programs:** The Council administers two active grant opportunities: • Public Humanities Grants • Preservation & Access Grants **Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $4,500 to $20,000. **Grantmaking Activity:** • Total giving: $192,830 (2024) • The Council supports public humanities projects proposed by individuals and other nonprofit organizations for the benefit of Island communities. **Approach:** Beyond direct grants, the Council also works through collaborative partnership agr…
Where does Hawaii Council for Humanities make grants?
The Hawai'i Council for the Humanities funds projects and programs primarily throughout Hawaii, with particular emphasis on serving underserved communities across the state.
What size grants does Hawaii Council for Humanities award?
In 2024, Hawaii Council for Humanities awarded 20 grants totaling $198K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Hawaii Council for Humanities's EIN?
Hawaii Council for Humanities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 99-0153704. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hawaii Council for Humanities's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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