Education and Music for a Greener Hawaii

Co-founded by singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, the Kokua Hawaii Foundation is a non-profit organization that champions environmental education in Hawaii's schools and communities. With its various school programs, the foundation helps kids better understand and appreciate their environment so that they will grow up to be lifelong protectors of the planet.

The Kokua Hawaii Foundation believes that providing hands-on learning experiences is the best way to make a permanent impression on young minds. One of the organization's programs is 'AINA in Schools, which educates students about agriculture and nutrition. This is carried out through healthy school lunches made with local produce, agricultural field trips, nutrition education in classrooms, and garden-based learning, among other activities.

Another program managed by the Kokua Hawaii Foundation is 3R's School Recycling, which encourages students to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Via this initiative, the foundation provides participating schools with recycling bins, educational resources, and program support. It partners with local recycling centers to help raise funds and reduce waste in schools as well.

Last year, the organization launched Plastic Free Schools to teach children, parents, and faculty about the benefits of reducing plastic consumption and decrease the amount of single-use plastics on school campuses. The Kokua Hawaii Foundation encourages people to go plastic-free by using reusable bags and containers and delivering educational resources.

In addition to its school programs, the Kokua Hawaii Foundation also organizes the Kokua Festival, its major fundraiser. Eco-friendly companies, environmental groups, artists, community leaders, and more come together at the festival to show their support for environmental education in Hawaii. Artists that have performed at the Kokua Festival include Eddie Vedder, Willie Nelson and the Planetary Bandits, Ben Harper, Ziggy Marley, and Ozomatli.

Recently, co-founder Jack Johnson, along with Paula Fuga and John Cruz, completed the Hawaiian Islands Tour to further the mission of the Kokua Hawaii Foundation.