FOUR MAUI GROUPS GET SHARE OF $1.2 MILLION IN OHA GRANTS

Four Maui organizations will benefit from the latest round of grants issued by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The OHA board issued a total of 16 grants totaling $1.2 million to non-profit organizations that serve the Native Hawaiian community.

The largest Maui allocation of $82,000 goes to `Ohana Makamae, Hana’s sole sober living home for men returning to East Maui from inpatient treatment. A similar allocation goes toward the ongoing restoration efforts of Ko’ie’ie fishpond in Kihei. In central Maui, allocations of $50,000 each goes to the Neighborhood Place of Wailuku for a Ropes challenge course and to the Ke Kahua agricultural project for clients enrolled with Maui Economic Opportunity’s BEST Reintegration Program for inmates making the transition back into society.

Anyone interested in submitting an application for an OHA community grant in 2009 must do so before June 30. All applicants must attend an OHA grant application workshop. Sessions are scheduled for each island-county now through April 30. OHA program directors review grant applications and assess which ones have the greatest capacity to better the conditions of the Native Hawaiian community. For information on the OHA community grants program or for the OHA grant application workshop schedule, go to oha.org

Recipients of OHA community grants in the latest funding cycle and a description of their funded projects are as follows:

A`oa`o O Nä Loko I`a O Maui – $81,965: Ongoing restoration efforts of Ko`ie`ie fishpond in Kïhei, Maui and to implement a formal education/outreach program to increase educational opportunities.

Maui Economic Opportunity – $50,000: The Ke Kahua agricultural project and cultural education center, a family and community-based training school and learning center helping incarcerated members transition back into society (part of the BEST Reintegration Program).

Neighborhood Place of Wailuku – $49,990: The construction of a ROPES challenge course for family strengthening and development targeting at-risk youth.

`Ohana Makamae – $82,390: Expansion of their substance abuse treatment/ intensive outpatient continuum, specifically Häna’s sole sober living home for men returning to Häna from inpatient treatment.

Catholic Charities Hawai`i – $50,000: The Mä`ili (O`ahu) Land Transitional Housing program which assists homeless families gain the knowledge and tools needed to enable them to obtain and retain a permanent housing situation.

Community Links Hawai`i (a.k.a. Community Conservation Network) – $80,000: Cultivation of resource managers in various Hawaiian communities through networking and providing tools and training for future self-sustainment.

Domestic Violence Action Center – $61,078: Legal services such as temporary restraining orders, divorces, and various other post decree matters for Native Hawaiian victims of domestic violence.

Hawai`i First Federal Credit Union – $99,993: Education and vocational training for micro-enterprise IDA accounts and financial education for Native Hawaiians.

Hoakalei Cultural Foundation – $49,000: Oral history documentation of Kupuna Arline Eaton about the history and culture of `Ewa, O`ahu.

Honolulu Symphony Society – $47,883: A pilot music program to be offered to students at Nänäkuli Elementary incorporating the talents of Symphony instructors which will teach the students to read music and play various instruments.

Hope, Help & Healing Kaua`i – $99,292: The internal Empowerment Program which will train and hire staff from within the program to provide case management, substance abuse treatment, life skills and recovery training, integration services, and more housing options to struggling families.

Hui Mälama I Ke Kai Foundation – $98,488: Its after-school youth mentoring program that includes a healthy snack program and family strengthening activities.

I Ola Lähui – $99,962: Its rural Hawai`i training program for students who will provide behavioral health services in community health center and Native Hawaiian health care system clinic settings on three islands.

Kai Makana – $83,125: Restoration of the fishing village on Mokauea island to be used as an educational and cultural resource.

The Queen’s Medical Center – $100,000: A program underinsured Native Hawaiians with morbid & significant obesity related health problems the option of bariatric surgery, which is currently not an option for Medicare or Medicaid patients in the State of Hawai`i.

Waikïkï Health Center – $50,000: Expansion of services to the North Shore, focusing on küpuna, providing Hawaiian healing, primary care services, and outreach to Hale`iwa Senior Housing, and Care-A-Van homeless outreach.

(Photos & Posting by Wendy OSHER © 2009)