The purpose of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Community Grants Program is to support projects, programs and initiatives that address OHA’s four Strategic Directions in OHA’s Mana I Mauli Ola Strategic Plan, 2020-2035.
OHA’s newly created Homestead Community Grant awards $278,095 to address community needs and improve the quality of life of homesteaders. Funded projects include building a Hale Waʻa in Makuʻu Homesteads on Hawaiʻi Island, installing watering systems on 7 acres for Anahola Homesteaders to grow food on Kauaʻi, and building a playground for keiki in Papakōlea, Oʻahu. For a full listing of Homestead Community Grants, click here.
OHA’s new Iwi Kupuna Repatriation and Reinterment Grant is providing $167,298 to four community organizations. Nearly $33,000 will go toward facilitating the reburial of 700 to 900 iwi kūpuna and moepū (funerary possessions) disturbed at Kawaiahaʻo Church grounds. The remaining iwi kupuna grants will provide education in communities throughout the state to empower Native Hawaiians to protect and care for iwi and provide training on the proper treatment of iwi. For a full listing of Iwi Kūpuna Reinterment and Repatriation Grants, click here.
OHA has allotted $1.25 million to support the Native Hawaiian community through its new ‘Ohana and Community Program Grants. A total of 14 nonprofit organizations on Hawaiʻi, Maui, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi will receive funding intended to help reinforce and strengthen Native Hawaiians’ ‘ohana (family), moʻomeheu (culture) and ʻāina (land and water). For a full listing of ʻOhana and Community Grants, click here.
The ʻAhahui Grants program provides funding support for community events. Grant awards for the FY 2022, events occuring July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022, have been made. OHA will sponsor 20 community events statewide that will receive a total of $148,686 from OHA’s ‘Ahahui Grants program. In its 10th year, the ʻAhahui Grants program supports community events that serve as enrichment opportunities on Hawaiian culture, ‘āina stewardship, economic opportunity, food sustainability and strengthening ʻohana. For a list of all FY 2022 ʻAhahui Grant Awards, click here.
The Programmatic Community Grants Program supports non-profit organizations whose projects and programs serve the Native Hawaiian community and align with OHA’s Strategic Directions. Awards for the two-year funding period will be announced in September 2021.
For a list of all FY 2022 COVID-19 Impact and Response Grant Awards, click here.
$537,739 in Kūlia Grants have been awarded to six local nonprofits. The Kūlia Grant program is OHA’s most broad-based grant program, and awards include projects that will offer cultural learning opportunities, a homestead program in Anahola that will nurture ‘Ōiwi leaders, and a project that will help preserve and revive the traditional healing art of lāʻau lapaʻau. For a full listing of Kūlia Grants, click here.
Another new grant stream approved by the OHA Board of Trustees is the $175,000 Native Hawaiian Teacher Education & Professional Development Grant.
The first award for this new grant funding goes to the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture for its “Ka Lama – Teacher Education Academy,” which will provide a teacher education and credential pathway to individuals interested in teaching in Kula Kaiapuni or Hawaiian-focused charter schools to increase the number of qualified, culturally competent educators.
