GRASSROOTS
SOCIAL CHANGE
SINCE 1972
Grantmaking
Kāmau
to keep on, continue, persevere, last, add a little more
Leaning into trust-based philanthropy practices and the incredible abundance that continues to bless our ʻohana, HPF extended 24 continuation grants to grassroots huis who have proven year over year their work towards long-lasting social change in our communities. We recognize the incredible work our partners do to advance justice in our communities, and also recognize our own kuleana to help to build capacity and sustain the general operations of Hawaiʻi-based grassroots organizations who have a proven track record of challenging systems of oppression as an HPF grantee. Theyʻve shown UP, again and again, and we are honored to support these fierce huis and the powerful force for change they are in Hawaiʻi!
Kāmau Grantees
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Kaiāulu o Kahalu’u
Kaiāulu ‘o Kahalu’u is a grassroots hui created to serve, organize, and uplift Kahalu’u community voices. Their mission is to mālama the people, resources, history, wahi pana, and community wellbeing of the Kahalu’u ahupua’a on O’ahu’s east side, and envisions an established collective of voices to advocate for the Kahalu’u community. Presently, their primary focus is the restoration of the Kahalu’u Lo’i, hosting community engagement events, and serving and advocating for the Kahalu’u ahupua’a.
Read more: Kaiāulu o Kahalu’uKaiāulu ‘o Kahalu’u is a grassroots hui created to serve, organize, and uplift Kahalu’u community voices. Their mission is to mālama the people, resources, history, wahi pana, and community wellbeing of the Kahalu’u ahupua’a on O’ahu’s east side, and envisions an established collective of voices to advocate for the Kahalu’u community. Presently, their primary focus…
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Kalauokekahuli
Kalauokekahuli supports Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people by providing culturally-based perinatal support and education. Through Ka ʻĀmana Mentorship Program Cohort ʻElua, they seek to continue directly addressing Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander disparities in birth outcomes by sustainably growing a solid foundation of four additional Kalauokekahuli Koʻokua, supplementing their six Cohort ʻEkahi graduates, to serve the pae ʻāina. These new Kalauokekahuli Koʻokua will contribute to the regeneration of a culturally-rooted, extended-ʻohana network by continuing to offer free, high-quality and culturally-competent perinatal care and services accessible for the advancement of the lāhui and Pasifika communities.
Read more: KalauokekahuliKalauokekahuli supports Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people by providing culturally-based perinatal support and education. Through Ka ʻĀmana Mentorship Program Cohort ʻElua, they seek to continue directly addressing Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander disparities in birth outcomes by sustainably growing a solid foundation of four additional Kalauokekahuli Koʻokua, supplementing their six Cohort…
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Ke Ea Hawai’i
Ke Ea Hawai’i is an interscholastic student council composed of elected representatives from 17 Hawaiian-focused charter schools. Each year, the hui hosts two immersive camps to equip students with leadership tools, visit sacred places, speak with constituents on campuses during school hours, hear from community leaders, identify strategic priorities, and develop action plans for the coming year. The council anticipates focusing on interscholastic activities, their student-produced news show, selecting student officers, and awareness raising campaigns around legislation impacting charter schools.
Read more: Ke Ea Hawai’iKe Ea Hawai’i is an interscholastic student council composed of elected representatives from 17 Hawaiian-focused charter schools. Each year, the hui hosts two immersive camps to equip students with leadership tools, visit sacred places, speak with constituents on campuses during school hours, hear from community leaders, identify strategic priorities, and develop action plans for the coming…
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Keli’i William Ioane Legacy Foundation
The Keli’i William Ioane Legacy Foundation was created to honor and perpetuate the legacy of Keli’i “Skippy” Ioane, and encompasses the work of the Mālama Ka ‘Āina Hana Ka ‘Āina Association (M.A.H.A), the Keaukaha Makahiki Ceremony, and the promotion of Hawaiian Nationalism through his music.
In 1980 Keli’i arrived on Kaho’olawe and was trained by Nalani Kanakaole in Lonoikamakahiki protocols, and in 1984, Keli’i and his wife Carol established the Keaukaha Makahiki. Keli’i’s children continue today in leadership roles of planning and holding space for Makahiki at Lehia in Keaukaha, his daughter, ‘Āinaaloha, conducting Makahiki ceremony training for community members in preparation for the celebration.
2023 marks 39 years of Makahiki ceremony, celebration, and community gathering in Keaukaha.
Read more: Keli’i William Ioane Legacy FoundationThe Keli’i William Ioane Legacy Foundation was created to honor and perpetuate the legacy of Keli’i “Skippy” Ioane, and encompasses the work of the Mālama Ka ‘Āina Hana Ka ‘Āina Association (M.A.H.A), the Keaukaha Makahiki Ceremony, and the promotion of Hawaiian Nationalism through his music. In 1980 Keli’i arrived on Kaho’olawe and was trained by…
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Kīpuka Kuleana
Kīpuka Kuleana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and community land trust that perpetuates kuleana, ahupua’a-based natural resource management and connection to place through protection of cultural landscapes and family lands on Kaua’i.
There is no just, sustainable future for Hawaiian communities without ‘āina (lands and waters or that which feeds). Hawaiian identity is rooted in rights and responsibilities to care for specific ‘āina, our kuleana. Kuleana is also the word for lands handed down by generations of ‘ohana (families) as long as they fulfilled their responsibility to care for these lands, keeping them productive and feeding community. Ability to care for, make decisions about and restore connections to land is foundational to Hawaiian sovereignty, self-determination and thriving ahupua’a (traditional mountain to sea land divisions).
On Kaua’i, long-time families struggle to hold on to ancestral ‘āina. Lands on Kaua’i have become some of the most coveted and expensive in the world. Local families face escalating land value and taxes, pressure to sell, encroachment of lands, and lawsuits by new foreign owners to force sales and block historic access ways. During the pandemic, an influx of new residents seeking a safe haven for remote work exacerbated these problems, as reflected in the 57% increase in median house prices between November 2020 and November 2021. One in eight homes on Kaua’i sits vacant, purchased as luxury second homes, vacation rentals or investment.
Kīpuka Kuleana supports ‘ohana in defending their lands, developing restored and new connections to ‘āina, and decolonizing through return of ancestral lands to communities and communities to land.
Read more: Kīpuka KuleanaKīpuka Kuleana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and community land trust that perpetuates kuleana, ahupua’a-based natural resource management and connection to place through protection of cultural landscapes and family lands on Kaua’i. There is no just, sustainable future for Hawaiian communities without ‘āina (lands and waters or that which feeds). Hawaiian identity is rooted in…
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Kuhialoko
Through the utilization of ahupua’a based management techniques, Kuhialoko focuses on raising awareness and community driven involvement to address ongoing issues impacting Hawai’i’s resources, including water rights, access, native and endangered species habitat management, food security and regenerative community based subsistence practices. By focusing on perpetuating indigenous and culture based knowledge and skill sets, Kuhialoko embraces an opportunity to kōkua community in shifting mindset towards an open and interconnected relationship with ‘āina and ‘ohana. Located at the center of Pu’uloa, this hui is an active part of restoring a sense of community ownership and kuleana to an area riddled by a prolonged history of military occupation and displacement.
Read more: KuhialokoThrough the utilization of ahupua’a based management techniques, Kuhialoko focuses on raising awareness and community driven involvement to address ongoing issues impacting Hawai’i’s resources, including water rights, access, native and endangered species habitat management, food security and regenerative community based subsistence practices. By focusing on perpetuating indigenous and culture based knowledge and skill sets, Kuhialoko…
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Lā Ho’iho’i Ea Honolulu
Lā Ho’iho’i Ea Honolulu‘s mission is to uphold a “big tent” for the Hawaiian independence movement. They provide safe and inclusive spaces to celebrate, learn about, and strengthen the political autonomy of Hawai’i’s people, past, present, and future. Through the perpetuation of Lā Ho’iho’i Ea (Hawaiian sovereignty restoration day), they bring people together in educational, cultural, and community networking events that center social justice and open dialogue. Activating and nourishing communities around multi-faceted practices of EA (life, breath, rising, sovereignty) throughout the month of July, their annual month-long series includes film, poetry, community dialogues, and ceremony lifting up Hawaiian Independence.
Read more: Lā Ho’iho’i Ea HonoluluLā Ho’iho’i Ea Honolulu‘s mission is to uphold a “big tent” for the Hawaiian independence movement. They provide safe and inclusive spaces to celebrate, learn about, and strengthen the political autonomy of Hawai’i’s people, past, present, and future. Through the perpetuation of Lā Ho’iho’i Ea (Hawaiian sovereignty restoration day), they bring people together in educational,…
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Ma’i Movement Hawai’i
As a Native Hawaiian, women-led organization, Ma’i Movement Hawai’i is deeply committed to menstrual equity and ending period poverty in Hawai’i. They have taken on the kuleana (responsibility, privilege) to ensure all individuals of menstruation age have access to sanitary products, safe and hygienic places to use them, and the right to manage their bodies without shame or stigma. The hui collects and distributes free menstrual products to menstruators in need and advocates for systemic change in the government, schools and community to end period poverty in Hawai’i.
Read more: Ma’i Movement Hawai’iAs a Native Hawaiian, women-led organization, Ma’i Movement Hawai’i is deeply committed to menstrual equity and ending period poverty in Hawai’i. They have taken on the kuleana (responsibility, privilege) to ensure all individuals of menstruation age have access to sanitary products, safe and hygienic places to use them, and the right to manage their bodies…
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Mālama Kaua’i
Founded in 2006, Mālama Kaua’i focuses on increasing local food production and access for Kaua’i. They do this through a lens of resilience and sustainability, leveraging workforce and economic development efforts, partnerships, and innovative programs to grow community capacity. They consider the interrelatedness of all issues and the need for a holistic approach, with a focus on ‘Āina, Community, and Culture.
Kaua’i F.A.R.M.S. will Facilitate Agriculture by Reconnecting Mahi’ai Sustainably through a land matching and educational program designed to increase long-term agricultural leases and land ownership by locals on Kaua’i while creating land access leaders to grow the movement into the future. This project is an objective target of their Kaua’i Food Access Plan 2030, which identified land access and land back movements as a key missing piece to the success of Hawai’i’s future food system.
Read more: Mālama Kaua’iFounded in 2006, Mālama Kaua’i focuses on increasing local food production and access for Kaua’i. They do this through a lens of resilience and sustainability, leveraging workforce and economic development efforts, partnerships, and innovative programs to grow community capacity. They consider the interrelatedness of all issues and the need for a holistic approach, with a…