Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 38, Number 8, 1 August 2021 — OHA Board approves additional $394,588 for grants [ARTICLE]

OHA Board approves additional $394,588 for grants

A budget reallocation approved by OHA's Board of Trustees just prior to the end of the 2020-21 fiscal year will release an additional $394,588 in grants to projects throughout the state designed to strengthen Native Hawaiians' connections to family, culture and land. The newly approved grants include a $50,000 award to a project on Kaua'i that will help protect iwi kūpuna at Polihale, and a $148,775 award to Salvation Army Family Treatment Services will help 'ohana that have experienced family trauma with programming that integrates Hawaiian cultural beliefs, concepts and practices that enhanee healing forthe entire family. And forthe firsttime in OHA's 41-year history, a noncompetitive grant is being awarded to support Ni'ihau residents with COVID-19 recovery and individual and 'ohana-strengthening efforts. The reallocation of funds also allowed five previously approved, but partially funded grants to receive increases in funding: The Homestead Community Development Corporation has been awarded an additional $21,905 to increase its award to $75,000 for its "Homestead Advocacy Education Project" to support the capacity building of homestead associations. The lnstitute for Native Pacific Education and Culture has been awarded an additional $10,768 to increase its award to $134,309 for its "Kupu Ola Enhancement" project to provide culture-based learning activities to Native Hawaiian students and families on the Wai'anae Coast. The Big lsland Substance Abuse Council has been awarded an additional $118,832 bringing the total award to $150,000 for its "Therapeutic Living Re-Entry Program" to provide therapeutic living treatment to adults previously incarcerated. Hana Arts has been awarded an additional $23,507 bringing the total grant award to $50,000 fortheir "Empowering East Maui Youth through Arts and Culture Education" project. The Hanalei River Heritage Foundation has been awarded an additional $20,801 to bring its total grant award to $30,000 for its "O Wailua Ku'u Kulaiwi" project to provide Hawaiian language and culture classesto Hawaiian families on Kaua'i experiencing homelessness.