The Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation is an indigenous Hawaiian cultural and family based organization established as a memorial to the Works, Ideals and Philosophy of the late Luka Kanaka‘ole and Edith Kekuhi Kanaele Kanaka‘ole. The Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation's cultural antecedents were Aunty Edith's mother Ahi‘ena and her grand uncle Lonokapu together with Uncle Luka's father and mother, Ioane Kanaka‘ole and Haleaka Kaleopa‘a.

In the summer of 1990, in celebration of the memory of their parents, grandparents and great grand parents, the offspring and grandchildren of Luka and Edith Kanaka‘ole created the Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation. Prior to her passing, Mrs. Kanaka‘ole deliberately transferred her spiritual knowledge and cultural authority to her children who are currently recognized as living practitioners of the Kanaka‘ole – Ahi‘ena family traditions and accept the responsibilities as transmitters of native Hawaiian cultural beliefs and practices.

Edith Kanaka‘ole was a Hawaiian culturalist, a Kumu Hula (master hula teacher) and instructor of Hawaiian Studies at the Hawai‘i Community College and the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. She championed active learning and participation in indigenous culture and also saw the need to promote higher Western education among native Hawaiians. For this reason, EKF has, as a major accomplishment, provided higher education grants to native Hawaiian students attending the Hawai‘i Community College, the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and other higher educational entities on Hawai‘i Island since 1991. Additionally, EKF has provided conditional awards to students of apprentice/mentorship cultural learning programs, traditional rites of passage, cultural youth immersion programs and cultural practitioners who enhance native Hawaiian culture among Hawai‘i’s people on the island of Hawai‘i.