The Napua Initiative for Global Learning (NIGL) was born from the spirit, resilience, and aloha of a woman who embodied what it means to live with purpose—Donnalyn Napua Kalei. A daughter of Hawai‘i, a lifelong advocate, and a bridge between cultures, Napua’s life serves as both the foundation and inspiration of our organization.

Raised in Kāne‘ohe, O‘ahu, Napua was deeply rooted in her Hawaiian identity, yet always open to the world beyond the islands. At a young age, her journey took a bold and unexpected turn—she was discovered by a Japanese modeling scout and invited to live and work in Japan. There, she didn’t just model; she learned the language, built a life abroad, and formed bonds that crossed cultures and borders. Her time in Japan ignited a lifelong passion for global connection, but even then, her heart remained with the people of Hawai‘i.

Upon returning home, Napua turned her global perspective inward—toward healing, justice, and empowerment. She worked tirelessly for Hawai‘i’s most vulnerable communities, serving at the Big Island Substance Abuse Council, the Domestic Abuse Shelter, and Hawai‘i Community College’s Administration of Justice program. She became an outspoken advocate for Native Hawaiian rights, participating in the sovereignty movement and mentoring students who, like her, came from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds.

She believed that the world had something to teach us—but also that we had something important to offer in return. Her life was a testament to this exchange: learning from the world and giving back to her people.

It is this legacy that inspired the creation of the Napua Initiative for Global Learning.

At NIGL, we believe in the power of exposure—to new cultures, new ideas, and new ways of being. We believe that when local and underrepresented students from Hawai‘i travel beyond their shores, they not only learn about the world, they return home changed: empowered, expanded, and ready to serve their communities in deeper and more meaningful ways.

We carry Napua’s name and spirit in all that we do. Her life reminds us that cultural exchange is not a luxury—it is a form of leadership. That travel is not an escape—it is a return, a re-grounding in what matters most. And that when we invest in our youth, we are building a future where Hawai‘i’s values of aloha, kuleana, and ‘ohana shape the global conversation.

Through NIGL, Napua’s legacy lives on in every student who dares to dream beyond the horizon and bring those dreams back to uplift their people.