About Noyle Foundation
About the Noyle Foundation
The Noyle Foundation was founded by Honolulu-based professional photographer Ric Noyle to address a longstanding gap in Hawai‘i’s creative education ecosystem.
In 2016, after attending a major photography convention in California, Ric recognized that Hawai‘i had never hosted a large-scale, accessible photography education event. To gauge local interest, he produced a three-day photography convention in Honolulu—intentionally pricing admission at just $15—and invited the Hawai‘i Department of Education (DOE) to participate at no cost. The DOE brought more than 500 students and teachers, and the response from educators and the creative community was overwhelmingly positive.
That first event clearly demonstrated both the demand for and the impact of accessible, industry-level creative education in Hawai‘i. Over the past five years, the initiative has continued in partnership with the DOE, expanding opportunities for students, educators, and creatives statewide through high-quality programming in photography, visual media, and related creative industries.
My intention has always been to maintain an open-door approach to education—sharing both creative skills and the business knowledge needed to succeed in photography and related fields
What began as a grassroots effort known as PhotoCON Hawai‘i has since evolved into the Noyle Foundation, a statewide nonprofit mission shaped by educators, industry professionals, and community partners committed to creative access and opportunity.
Organizational Background
- Build strong technical and creative skills
- Develop professional confidence
- Explore career pathways in photography, videography, digital media, and related creative fields
Organizational Capacity
The Foundation is governed by an experienced Board of Directors with backgrounds in photography, creative industries, design, nonprofit leadership, and education.
Programs are delivered through a network of qualified professionals, industry partners, and community educators who bring current, real-world expertise into classrooms and community settings.
This collaborative network enables the Foundation to deliver high-quality, scalable programming across multiple islands.
Legal & Governance Structure
Relationship to the Noyle Foundation
PhotoCON Hawai‘i, launched in 2017, now operates under the governance of the Noyle Foundation effective 2026. PhotoCON Hawai‘i LLC (PCH) is a wholly owned single-member LLC of the Noyle Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 85-4583955), through which the Foundation delivers its flagship educational program in furtherance of its charitable mission.
- The Noyle Foundation is the sole member and owner of the LLC
- The LLC exists solely to support the Foundation’s charitable and educational mission
- The LLC does not operate independently and does not distribute profits
- All revenues, expenses, grants, sponsorships, and program funds are consolidated into the Foundation’s nonprofit financial reporting
- All assets are used exclusively for tax-exempt purposes
Key Partnerships included
- Hawai‘i Department of Education (DOE)
- National and regional industry partners, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, and B&H Photo
- Cultural organizations
- Community centers
- Local creative professionals
- Higher education institutions
Our Values
- Education
We prioritize practical, hands-on learning grounded in real-world application. - Equity
We work to remove financial, geographic, and cultural barriers to creative opportunity. - Community
Collaboration strengthens Hawai‘i’s creative ecosystem and amplifies impact. - Integrity
We operate with transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of resources. - Innovation
We embrace emerging technologies and new approaches to creative education.