Takitani Foundation
The world knows Mamoru and Aiko Takitani as the founders of Hawaiian Host, but Hawaii students recognize them for their generous philanthropy. The Takitanis created their namesake foundation in 1993 to express their appreciation to the local community for their support.
The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit, charitable organization that provides scholarships to students in Hawaii and supports education programs for the Islands' youth. Its mission to help Hawaii students achieve their education and career goals comes from the Takitanis' desire to give the next local generation--the future Hosts of Hawaii--the tools and motivation to be successful.
Hawaiian Host keeps the Takitanis' legacy alive by donating Hawaiian Host proceeds to the Foundation. Thanks to the generosity of Hawaiian Host and the Takitani family, the Foundation has awarded more than $2.6 million in scholarships to deserving students throughout the Islands.
The list of organizations the Foundation has supported includes (but is not limited to): The Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii, The 13th Year Program at Honolulu Community College and Windward Community College, The PUEO Program at Punahou School, and The KAʻI Program at ʻIolani School.
In 2019, the Takitani Foundation donated $3.6 million to the new Culinary Institute of the Pacific's confection studios to support a new generation of local pastry chefs in Hawaii. Two of the 13 grants the Foundation awarded in 2020 included: the 2020 Mamoru Takitani Outstanding Student Award to Punahou School's Aaron Chang; and the Aiko Takitani Outstanding Student Award to Jenny Pang of Roosevelt High School in Honolulu ($10,000 each).
Although Mr. and Mrs. Takitani are no longer with us, the educational opportunities they created for Hawaii's students live on via the Foundation. The evolving Foundation continues to give back to the community that has supported Hawaiian Host over the decades.