LIHU‘E — Some nonprofit organizations on Kaua‘i are getting a boost from the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs, thanks to a round of grants that will support community projects and education on care of the ‘aina.
A total of 14 nonprofit organizations across the state will receive funding intended to help reinforce and strengthen Native Hawaiians’ ‘ohana, mo‘omeheu and ‘aina.
The awards total $1.25 million that will go toward the support of the Native Hawaiian community through its new ‘Ohana and Community Program Grants.
The Anahola Hawaiian Homestead Association and West Kaua‘i Hawaiian Homestead Association received $3,450 and $1,450, respectively, to hold community-visioning sessions regarding projects in each region. The Homestead Community Development Corporation, a statewide, 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to homesteads, is the fiscal sponsor for both organizations.
AHHA will host the Anahola Stables Community Visioning Session on Thursday, July 15, in-person at the Anahola Marketplace and virtually.
The purpose of this session is to provide the community of Anahola and the larger Kaua‘i community of Native Hawaiians a dedicated event to share values and priorities to produce a strategic plan to open and operate an Anahola Stables to create jobs in the field of equestrian practices.
“We are very grateful for OHA’s support of our community visioning session,” said AHHA President KipuKai Kuali‘i. “This event will bring together families, on and off homesteads, Kaua‘i leaders, equestrian talent and subject-matter experts, to accomplish a social-enterprise strategic plan that has been a regional priority in Anahola for over a decade.”
WKHHA will host the Kumu Camp Mauka Community Visioning Session on Saturday, Aug. 14, in-person at the West Kaua‘i Enterprise Center and virtually. The purpose of this event is to bring the west Kaua‘i community together to complete a visioning process to finalize a strategic plan for a low-footprint campground on state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for youth and family campers, which will double as a tsunami-evacuation location when needed.
“Mahalo nui to OHA and its ‘Ahahui grant program for this funding,” said WKHHA President Myrna Bucasas. “We are so excited to engage with community members on the vision of Kumu Camp Mauka, and to continue the momentum towards accomplishing this project.”
Additionally, Kukulu Kumuhana O Anahola has been awarded $10,000 to hold an ‘Aina to ‘Opu event.
This two-day event will be held on Oct. 7 at the Ulupono Anahola Mauka site, 4541 Hokualele Rd. This is the former site of the Anahola farmers’ market. Day two of the event is Oct. 11 at the Ulupono Anahola makai site, at the corner of Kukuihale and Pilipoli roads in Anahola.
This event is an ‘ohana-oriented kalo education fair, providing demonstration stations for Native Hawaiian participants to learn about kalo from ‘aina to ‘opu. There will be six stations, with participants moving through each station.
Registration will begin in September and, due to COVID-19 guidelines, space is limited.
“The ‘Ahahui grant provides an avenue for KKOA to connect the Anahola community with skilled mahi‘ai and cultural practitioners willing to share their manaʻo with the next generation regarding the importance of kalo in our culture. Resources and recipes, demonstrations,and hands-on activities will be available to all participants.” says Rae Nam, KKOA executive director.
“On behalf of KKOA’s board of directors and volunteers, we would like to thank OHA for their support in making sure that the Native Hawaiian culture, their love for their ‘ohana and the ‘aina remains perpetuated in Anahola,” she said.
“It is our belief that we can best address the disparities that Native Hawaiians face today by focusing on supporting and building on the foundational strengths of our culture,” said Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey, OHA board chair. ”We recognize that these foundations have the power to affect the wellbeing of Native Hawaiians, and we are very proud to partner with these community organizations who share our goals and objectives in moving the lahui forward,” she said.
