Hawaii People's Fund / Recent Grantees

Hui Noeau-KCI The Politics of Paper/Many Stories, Many Voices: This project marks a first-time effort Hawai'i People's Fund hopes will take roots in this organization and beyond. The grant supports a series of artist-community collaborations to develop visual messages around social justice. Two-week summer residencies of carefully selected politically outspoken artist will include public panel discussions, hands-on visual arts workshops for youth and adults, professional development workshops for classroom teachers. All will end with a public exhibition of the works created.
Na Maka O Ka 'Aina Kahoolawe Video Archive: "The Eyes of the Land" has for decades focused on the land and people of Hawai'i and the Pacific., giving voice to traditional and contemporary culture, history, language, environment and the politics of independence and sovereignty. Now, much of the video footage is fast approaching deterioration. A Hawai'i People's Fund grant will allow video documenting the movement to stop the bombing of Kaho'olawe (1977-1986) to be digitized, not only to preserve it for future generations, but to make it available online.
UH Marianas Club Insular Empire: A small discretionary grant from Hawai'i People's Fund helped these students provide cultural entertainment and refreshments for the premiere public showing of this important film about the US military expansion on Guam. The panel discussion that followed the screening is now online at:
Na Loio: Na Loio is a newly formed non-profit with historically strong ties to the legal services community. It's mission is to focus on expanding connections between civil and human rights, the legal community, and writers, artists, workers and students. A modest donor-advised grant gave them their "official" launching. Stayed tuned for more.
Kaiao Garden: A 2005 Hawai'i People's Fund grant helped to launch this project. Kaiao continues to develop as a gathering place for "garden-based nourishment." Activities include youth learning, food sovereignty, collective planting and harvesting, and community exchange-based economics.
Maui Tomorrow Foundation Project Hamakua Action: Hawai'i People's Fund grant supports a project tied to a longstanding effort to restore stream flows in East Maui. Rural residents dependent upon these streams have struggled for a decade or more as the water has been diverted to irrigate sugar plantations. The project will include innovative uses of social media, video documentation, community action, interaction with visitors, and coalition building.
Waikikena Foundation: Waikikena provides environmental resource management, sustainable life skills, health and wellness and community capacity building. A donor-advised grant from the Kim Coco Iwamoto Social Justice Fund will assist Waikikena in building up its seed bank and expanding community partnerships, especially for at-risk youth and adults, in land-and-culture-based training.
God's Country Waimanalo Aquaponics in Action: No, it's not a religious cult; it's what people who live in Waimanalo call the beauty and bounty of the place! The organization perpetuates Hawaiian culture, language, arts and history, serving as advocates for Native Hawaiians of all ages. Hawai'i People's Fund grant will support a year-long collective learning process through a pilot neighborhood aquaponics project.
La'a Kea Foundation: Inspired by the philosophy of Rudolph Steiner (which also launched the Waldorf schools), an international movement has, since the 1930s, established life-sharing communities to meet the needs of people with developmental disabilities. La'a Kea Foundation has been steadily planning the establishment of a farm community to begin in 2010. La'a Kea Community Farm will offer a unique alternative to conventional care where coworkers, residents, and day program participants will thrive. Hawai'i People's Fund will support the culmination of the first phase of this project
KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance Huaka'i Kako'o: Riding the Bus for Environmental Justice: Hawaii People's Fund grants have supported the development of their Environmental Justice Program. This series of bus tours is the "last piece of the puzzle" to build a broader coalition in support of concrete actions. Hawai'i People's Fund's investment is expected to advance the EJ program from a pilot project to a full program of KAHEA.
Mauna Kea Anaina Hou: For years a dedicated volunteer leadership has been outspoken about the cultural exploitation and environmental misuse of Mauna Kea. They are up against wealthy nations, corporations, educational institutions and attorneys. But they are building on over 15 years of successful advocacy based on cultural, environmental, and technological expertise. "The system which is failing Mauna Kea is failing us all." A Hawai'i People's Fund grant will support outreach, education and advocacy for the protection of Mauna Kea.
Hawaii Farmers Union: The National Farmers Union had been advocating for family farmers, ranchers, fishers and rural communities since 1902. Its newest branch, the Hawaii Farmers Union, intends to advance the rights of farmers through cooperation, legislation, and education. Just formed in 2008, Hawaii Farmers Union now has active chapters on almost every island (seeking representation on Molokai!). This Hawai'i People's Fund grant will assist them in linking all small farmers, agricultural workers, food security activists, stewardship and sustainability proponents for collective education and advocacy
Maui Peace Action: Maui Peace Action is a diverse group of citizens committed to ho'omaluhia (making peace) and encouraging disarmament through peaceful international cooperation, protesting pre-emptive aggression, promoting nonviolent solutions to world conflict, and educating for social justice. .On the 7th anniversary of the war on Iraq, a small grant Hawai'i People's Fund made jointly with from the Kim Coco Iwamoto Social Justice Fund helped support this ad.
AFSC-Hawai'i: A donor-advised grant from the Kim Coco Iwamoto Social Justice Fund added support for our fall 2009 grantee. American Friends Service Committee held Rise Up! a youth peace and justice camp during Spring Break. Nineteen young people, future leaders, worked with about a dozen mentors to develop critical analysis and strong, effective advocacy skills.
Ka Ohana O Honaunau: Over a year ago, Hawai'i People's Fund supported this organization's 2009 summer program bringing Hawaiian culture to the youth of the area. This year, the sudden closing of their fiscal sponsor meant a significant delay in an already-promised grant for their 2010 summer program. Our emergency grant will allow them to implement a program for the youth of Honaunau, even though it will be scaled back from what was originally planned.

In 2010, Hawaii People's Fund has so far facilitated almost $70,000 in grant awards. YOUR donations make this possible!

Vision & Voice: blending arts, culture and activism

Malama Aina: environmental sustainability and food security

The People's Rights: civil rights, human rights, indigenous rights

Community Organizing: mobilization, advocacy, education by and for those most directly impacted