Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 2022 — OHA Awards More Than $750,000 in Grants to Support 'Ohana, Mo'omeheu and 'Āina Initiatives [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA Awards More Than $750,000 in Grants to Support 'Ohana, Mo'omeheu and 'Āina Initiatives

By Ed Kalama Ten community nonprofits will be receiving a total of $754,840 in grant awards from the OEEiee of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to help support their efforts in strengthening the Native Hawaiian community. Leading the way are a pair of $100,000 'Āina Oommunity Grant awards going to Ke Ao Hāli'i on Maui and 'Āina Ho'okupu o Kīlauea on Kaua'i. Ke Ao Hāli'i's project is intended to activate community stewardship to bolster the health of lands at Mokae and Maka'alae while the Kaua'i group's goal is to provide locally grown fresh produce boxes for 300 Native Hawaiians in 10 island eommunities with the produce coming from four different farming operations. OHA's Grants Program supports Hawai'i-based nonprofit organizations that have projects, programs and initiatives that serve the lāhui in alignment with OHA's Mana i Mauli Ola Strategic Plan. "OHA cannot accomplish its mission of raising a be-

loved lāhui alone, and it is our belief that the best way to stretch our dollars is by supporting the outstanding work that these community nonprofits are already undertak-

ing in serving the Native Hawaiian community," said OHA Board Chair Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey. "Together, in a spirit of lōkahi, we ean accomplish so mueh more." OHA trustees also approved three 'Ohana Community Grant awards including $100,000 to Papahana Kuaola on O'ahu, $85,000 to Ke Kula o Pi'ilani and $80,000 to Hana Arts, both located on Maui. A Mo'omeheu Community Grant award of $99,840 went to Hui Mālama O Ke Kai Foundation on O'ahu. Two $50,000 Iwi Kūpuna Repatriation & Reinternment Grants were awarded to The Hawaiian Church of Hawai'i Nei and Huliauapa'a to assist with mālama iwi kūpuna initiatives statewide. Additionally, the homestead community on Hawai'i Island was supported with a $50,000 Homestead Grant to the Keaukaha Pana'ewa Community Allianee and a $40,000 award to the Homestead Community Development Corporation, whieh is located in Anahola but governed by associations statewide. The 10 newly approved grants wrap up OHA's grant awards for the year. A new cycle of OHA grant solicitations will be posted to the OHA Grants Program website, www.oha.org/grants, in January 2023. ■

OHA grants support Hawai'i-based nonprofits that offer projects, programs and initiatives that serve the lōhui - like this board and stone class with Unele Earl Kawa'a. - Photo: Courtesy