Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 5, 1 May 2013 — OHA approves $8 million in grants [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA approves $8 million in grants

By Harold Nedd

The Board of Trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has awarded $8 million in grants to 32 community-based organizations that have tied their missions to helping improve conditions for Native Hawaiians. More than 6,200 Native Hawaiians are expected to directly benefit from the grant money that addresses such OHA priorities as combating obesity, improving middle school as well as high school test scores, and increasing housing stability. The grant money received by the 32 nonprofit organizations will also fund programs that fit into a variety of other OHA priorities, ranging frompreserving culture and raising family ineome, to protecting land and supporting prenatal care. "The important work these organizations do has inspired our confidence and support," said OHA Chairperson Colette Machado. "We look forward to seeing many positive results from their efforts to help improve a sense of overall well-being among Native Hawaiians." The grants have been made available to fund OHA priorities over a two-year period between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2015. The 32 nonprofits were selected from 146 applications for OHA grant money. Among the first-time applicants was a nonprofit organization called Effective Planning Innovative Communications Ine., known also as EPIC 'Ohana. It was awarded a $27,900 grant to provide rental-housing assistance statewide to Native Hawaiian foster youth, between ages 14 and 25, who are trying to make a successful transition to adulthood. "The grant will help Native Hawaiian youth secure housing by matching their savings dollar for dollar to pay for first month's rent and security deposit," said Laurie īoehiki, CEO and president of EPIC 'Ohana. "This OHA grant is critical to help support these youth for a better start in life, just as we support the children in our own families." ■

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OHA trustees and CE0 Kamana'opono Crabbe, third from right, congratulate housing services grantees, including Laurie īoehiki, fifth from left, whose nonprofit EPIC 'Ohana is helping Native Hawaiian foster youth transition to adulthood. - Photo: Francine Murray