“We Are Friends… COVID-19 Relief” for Hawai‘i’s Music Industry

A new “We Are Friends… COVID-19 Relief Program” to benefit Hawaii’s Music Industry was launched this week by The Henry Kapono Foundation in partnership with the Kawakami Family and with support from Foodland.

“On Tuesday, March 22, the State of Hawaiʻi issued a six-week minimum mandatory stay at home order. This means all of Hawaiʻi’s music professionals are currently out of work,” said longtime Hawaiʻi musician and entertainer Henry Kapono.  “They are in great need of our help right now.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the minimum six week Hawaiʻi stay-at-home order, the Foundation launched the program to provide immediate and urgent relief for basic essentials to industry professionals.

According to the Foundation, professional musicians in Hawaiʻi have lost gigs, lessons, recording sessions and other music related professional work. “We are honored to be able to give what we can to help our fellow music professionals,” according to a program announcement.

“The Henry Kapono Foundation’s We Are Friends… COVID-19 Relief Program will provide $50,000 in Foodland gift cards to musicians, producers, engineers, dancers and other music professionals who have been affected by this current pandemic. An additional grant of up to $1,000 may be awarded to provide additional relief in more extreme situations,” according to the Foundation.

All gifts will be given on a first come, first serve basis, based on an application process.

“We encourage all music professionals in need to apply. Priority will be given to those most in need,” according to the announcement.

Applicant information will remain confidential and may also be considered by the HKF for future music community projects and support efforts.

The application and more information can be found at https://www.henrykaponofoundation.org/covid-19-musicians-relief-project