Hawaii Community Foundation

Join us for an engaging panel focused on the vital topic of water conservation in Hawai’i, with “The Waiverse,” a virtual learning circle series focused on Fresh Water strategies in Hawai‘i. The Waiverse webinar series continues with, “Dive into Hawai’i’s Water Conservation Strategies.” With this event, we hope to increase awareness and inspire action through place-based, collaborative, innovative, and community-centered approaches centered on water conservation. This series is brought to you by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Natural Environment Team in partnership with Kamehameha Schools ‘Āina Pauahi and co-hosted by Funder Hui. The second webinar session in a series of four will be on Wednesday, July 17, noon to 1:15 p.m. In this second session, we’ll touch on what water conservation is and different ways it’s being implemented in Hawai’i, including: 💦 Water System Efficiency: Learn about water audits, rural systems, and demand-side water reduction strategies. 💦 Community Engagement: Hear from community-led water conservation projects. ✅Register at https://lnkd.in/gE8F-GxB 📤Do you know someone who would be interested in attending? Please share this! #freshwater #watersecurity #watersustainability #nonrpofithawaii #hawaiicommunity #waiverse

Are you with a Hawaiʻi nonprofit working to tackle the issue of ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) families in the Islands? The Hawai‘i Community Foundation is partnering with Aloha United Way to provide a new round of funding for a cohort of organizations working to reduce affordability challenges for Hawaiʻi residents, called The ALICE Initiative 2025-2027. Interested agencies can submit a letter of intent up until August 2, 2024, at 4 p.m. Selected entities will then be invited to complete a full application between August 12 - September 6, in addition to participating in an interview with the review council. Visit https://lnkd.in/gupAKPM6 to learn more and apply. #HawaiiforALICE

Are you a nonprofit serving communities on Maui? An important deadline for the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation is fast approaching. The deadline to apply online through HCF’s Grants Portal is August 1, 2024, at 4 p.m. HST. The Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation believes that supporting the people and places of Maui County is important, not just because of the impact on the community, but because this support reflects and perpetuates the shared values of the Baldwin family and founders. The foundation supports programs and projects, including capital projects, that benefit the people of Maui County. Projects in the arts, education, environment, health, and human services are of greatest interest. To learn more or to apply, visit https://lnkd.in/gaknx4Fu #FredBaldwinMemorialFoundation #MauiStrong

Since 2015, Maui Rescue Mission has provided hygiene assistance and critical resources for Maui’s homeless community. Instead of operating a brick-and-mortar facility, which can be difficult for unhoused individuals to reach, this nonprofit travels from Kīhei to Kahului and beyond. Its mobile trailer is equipped with a private shower stall and a washer and dryer. This flexible, meet-the-people-where-they’re-at approach put them in a perfect position to offer aid in the wake of the Maui wildfires. “When the fires hit in August, our mobility allowed us to quickly jump into action,” says Maui Rescue Mission’s executive director Scott Hansen. “Our trailer was able to provide showers for those living in upcountry Maui, as well as people in Lahaina whose homes didn’t burn down but were without water. We also helped folks apply for FEMA assistance and receive relief benefits they were eligible for.” This March, Maui Rescue Mission was able to secure a second, larger mobile hygiene trailer. With the financial support of a grant from the Maui Strong Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, they have been able to hire additional staff with the goal of having two fully staffed trailers going out to communities across Maui multiple times a day. Since the wildfires, Maui Rescue Mission has expanded their outreach program to operate four hours a day, five days a week. Hansen estimates they serve around 20 people each day, or more than 300 people a month. And the nonprofit’s services go beyond just a hot shower and clean laundry. Hansen’s team can assist people with securing Social Security income, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, access to medical and psychiatric care, and transportation to Maui’s Aloha House for detox and sobriety, among other services. Read the full story on our website at https://lnkd.in/gp26mWiS #MauiRescueMission #MauiStrong #HawaiiCommunity #giveback

Are you a 501(c)(3) organization working toward effectively managed nearshore marine areas in Hawai’i? An important funding opportunity deadline is fast approaching for the The Holomua Marine Initiative Laulima Grants. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 26, 2024 at 4 p.m. HST. The Holomua Marine Initiative Laulima Grants is a funding opportunity designed to support projects and programs that positively impact progress toward reaching the goal of the Holomua Marine Initiative—effectively managed nearshore marine areas in Hawai’i, with strong community co-management partnerships. Learn more about the focal areas for this funding opportunity and apply on our website: https://lnkd.in/g_m6ub2s #HolomuaMarineInitiative #HawaiiOcean #HawaiiNearshoreWaters #HawaiiConservation #nonprofitnews #fundingopportunity #grant #HawaiiMarine #HawaiiOceans

Mahalo Augie Tulba for visiting the Hawai‘i Community Foundation headquarters this past week for our staff meeting, inspiring us with your words, reminding us in the importance of having someone believe in you, and for the many laughs! 🤣

At first, Candes Gentry was taken aback when her son, Poet, refused a hot fudge sundae as a treat. “Why would we eat that?” he asked. “I thought you said empty calories aren’t good for you?” The questions kept coming—What are nutrients? Where does our food come from? What’s fertilizer? Why don’t we compost?—and it became clear this wasn’t just a typical 8-year-old being inquisitive. Candes' ongoing conversation with her son led to a cookbook, “Eat Pono,” which they co-authored as a pandemic project, packed with nutritious recipes—many of which are easy for kids to make themselves, such as Poet’s favorite, overnight oats, and an entire section dedicated to smoothies. Candes also established the Eat Pono Fund at Hawai‘i Community Foundation, to benefit community projects aligned with its mission: providing hands-on opportunities for children to learn to make healthy choices for themselves and their planet. Read the full story, “From a Child’s Questions to a Sustainability Movement” on our website at https://lnkd.in/gicqxPBE

🌊 Hawaii Water Workforce Fellowship Program: fill out the expression of interest form and get notified of positions as they are posted later this summer - https://lnkd.in/eNcpkiWP 📽️ To get a look into one of the offices that will offer fellowships, watch this video from City and County of Honolulu's Storm Water Quality Division. The Hawaii Water Workforce Fellowship Program, founded in partnership with the Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF) and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) is a program of HCF's Hawaiian Islands Environmental Finance Center (HIEFC). It is an annual initiative that supports the development of a sustainable and inclusive water workforce in Hawaii. With a cohort of fellows each year, the program offers full-time opportunity for participants to gain invaluable experience by working within local government agencies and various water-related organizations. Relevant interest and/or education experience includes, but is not limited to: engineering, environmental studies, finance, geographic information systems, law, public administration, and urban/regional planning. #fellowship #internship #sustainabilityjobs #jobalert #careers #hiring

We are delighted to announce that Michelle Ka‘uhane, HCF senior vice president and chief impact officer, will be speaking at Hawaii Business Magazine’s Leadership Conference on July 19. Michelle will be presenting in the breakout session “Rediscovering Hawaiʻi’s Soul”, along with Kamanaʻopono Crabbe, Māpuana De Silva, Gov. John Waiheʻe III, and Lynelle Marble. During this session, participants will learn about a network-convening movement bringings together diverse cultures and perspectives to uncover Hawaiʻi’s soul. The movement began in 2022 with a gathering of Native Hawaiian leaders, CEOs, and community members, to discuss Hawaiʻi’s most divisive issues. Today, more than 150 businesses and organizations are involved in collaborating to bring positive change statewide. Listen in as the conference panelists delve into the deep meaning, history and value of Hawaiʻi, and discuss the urgency and collective commitment needed to preserve our Island home. Learn more about this breakout session and register for the Leadership Conference at https://lnkd.in/g3Dir9Te #leadership #nonprofitleadership #hawaiileaders #hawaiibusinessmagazine #hawaiicommunity #nonprofitnews

The LIVING PONO PROJECT has been nourishing those affected by the Maui wildfires. Working out of its Kahului hub, the organization is purchasing and distributing food for between 400 and 500 families a week with its Mahiʻai Baskets program. The project is also helping to promote a positive circular economy, because its food is being purchased from local producers. Hoapili Ane, executive director of the Living Pono Project, says, “We start with as many 100-percent-Maui-produced foods as we can, then move toward other Maui County sources, and, if necessary, go to food suppliers on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island.” The Maui Strong Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation is providing financial resources via a grant to help support these efforts. Living Pono offers foods such as “‘ulu, poi, kalo, apples, bananas, oranges, zucchini, tomatoes,” says Ane. Various proteins are available too, such as cod, catfish, ground turkey, ground venison, salmon, shrimp—as well as staples like bread, eggs, and milk. The venison meat serves a dual purpose, too, as the deer are an invasive species. “No matter what you are going through, if there’s food on the table, there’s less worry,” says Ane. “When people come in and they say, ‘You don’t know how much this means,’ and I don’t because I am not in their shoes, but that is what keeps us going. Our kuleana is to feed our people.” To read the full story on our website at https://lnkd.in/g3UtPb3q #mahiaibaskets #livingpono #livingponoproject #MauiStrong