Kamehameha Schools has given other educational institutions $23 million for the current school year, as part of its mission to help educate Native Hawaiians beyond its own campuses.

The grants total is an 18 percent increase over the $19.5 million distributed last year, said Chris Pating, Kamehameha Schools vice president of strategic planning and implementation.

"We are social venture capitalists — we want to invest in helping build capacity in other organizations," Pating said. "There are fantastic organizations out there that do fantastic things. We can invest in them and help build their capacity."

Ninety groups sought Kamehameha Schools grants this year, the school said in a news release.

Those given grants have "shown that they can deliver quality educational services on a sustainable basis," the release said.

Public schools receive a good chunk of the Kamehameha Schools grants — and there is good reason for it, Pating said.

Kamehameha Schools serves almost 7,000 students at its three campuses and multiple preschools. But it's estimated there are 76,000 school-age Native Hawaiian children, of which 65,000 are in Hawai'i's public schools.

"So it really behooves us to be working in partnership with public- school children, because that's where the majority of our children are educated," Pating said.

Public charter schools with a Hawaiian emphasis get a particular boost, with grants from Kamehameha Schools for the past five years.

"Charter schools are feeling the pinch" of reduced state funding, Pating said. "They know it will always be a challenge for them," because the state gives them less money per student, he said.

For Hawai'i's smallest charter school, Kamehameha's contributions in recent years have made a big difference.

"We're forever grateful to Kamehameha Schools," said Haunani Seward, principal of Ke Kula Ni'ihau O Kekaha on Kaua'i, which uses the grant to hire native Hawaiian speakers who are working on their state teaching credentials.

Ke Kula Ni'ihau O Kekaha has 40 students in grades kindergarten through 12, all of whom speak Hawaiian. Use of English doesn't start until fourth grade.

That connection of one Native Hawaiian teaching another is also fostered with Kamehameha's grants to the University of Hawai'i.

"It's very important to have teachers from the community teaching in community schools," Pating said. "Students need to see their face in the face of their teacher."

To that end, some UH programs help Native Hawaiians seeking education degrees to follow through, even though many are working, going to school, and raising their own families, Pating said.

Other UH programs help teachers of any background learn about "Native Hawaiian learning styles and how to be successful in classrooms," Pating said.

Other major collaborators and grant recipients include Alu Like, 'Aha Punana Leo, Kanu O Ka 'Äina, Partners in Development Foundation and the Institute for Native Pacific Education & Culture.

"What's heartwarming is to see so many of our graduates from our campus programs serving in Hawaiian communities. Many of our partners are led or staffed by Kamehameha Schools alumni — serving our people as our Princess served us," Kamehameha Schools CEO Dee Jay Mailer said in a news release.