Empowering Youth, Restoring Land.

Kupu, meaning to grow, sprout, or increase, connects youth and young adults with opportunities to discover their potential and create a better future for their community, their environment, and themselves. We also support a network of partners who serve youth and ʻāina, helping them achieve their goals.

Our mission is to empower youth to serve their communities through character-building, service-learning, and environmental stewardship opportunities that encourage pono (integrity) with ke Akua (God), self, and others.

Nonprofit Kupu provides internships and service-learning opportunities for youth that are designed to build both technical and leadership skills, with an emphasis on conservation, sustainability, and environmental education. Hawai‘i Youth Conservation Corps (HYCC) programs, which serve youth ages 16-24, provide two to four months of full-time paid work experience paired with mentoring and academic supports. In addition, Kupu’s leadership and fellowship programs place youth and young professionals in a paid position in a single organization for up to a year.  Kupu’s mission is to empower AmeriCorps participants to serve their communities through character-building, service-learning, and environmental stewardship opportunities that encourage integrity with self and others. Ultimately, Kupu participants in the Hawaiʻi Youth Conservation Corps and the Conservation Leadership Development Program engages teens and young adults in service while teaching them about responsibility, community, and citizenship. At the same time, the work of Kupu participants provides their community with much-needed aid. Kupu participants also become community leaders by recruiting and leading volunteers. Kupu aims to develop strong citizens that will serve the community through the program and beyond.

Participate

Kupu operates a dozen programs, ranging from environmental education to paid experiences and on-the-job training in sustainability-focused professions. Participate in a program with Kupu. Join a KUPU Program today.

Host

Are you leading a sustainability or conservation organization today? Learn how we can support you while creating opportunities for the next generation. Build your organization’s capacity. Become a Host Site

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