Hawaiʻi County invests in innovative collaborations with Puna Strong grants
Thirteen organizations working toward community resilience and disaster readiness in Puna were awarded a total of $586,917 in grants by the County of Hawaiʻi.
The county, in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, created the Puna Strong Collaboration Grant program in response to the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and has awarded more than $2.1 million in total funding.
“By fostering collaboration with our community organizations, we can increase community resilience and meet our current and future challenges,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda. “We want to thank Hawaiʻi Community Foundation for their ongoing partnership as we continue to offer these grant opportunities.”
ʻO Makuʻu Ke Kahua Community Center offers agricultural opportunities for a self-sustainable life.- Hawaiian Volcano Education & Resilience Institute offers education for young families in lower Puna.
- Hawaiʻi Animal Kuleana Alliance teach animal rescue techniques.
In this latest round, Puna Strong Collaboration Grants were awarded to organizations whose projects align with the Kīlauea Recovery and Resilience Plan and will advance sustainability and capacity building across various sectors with communities throughout Puna.
The organizations are:
| Organization Name | Program | Total Award |
| Arts & Sciences Center | Removing Barriers to Transportation for Puna Youth | $36,452 |
| Hawaiʻi Animal Kuleana Alliance Inc. | Hawaiʻi Animal Kuleana Alliance (HAKA) creates personalized emergency plan videos with a focus on the specific needs of Puna residents. | $47,465 |
| Hawaii Science & Technology Museum | The PueoWorks Community Robotics and Technology Center serves as a resource hub for students and community members at Keonepoko Elementary School. | $50,000 |
| Hawaiian Volcano Education & Resilience Institute | Establishes a teacher resource room to enhance access to education for young families in lower Puna. | $50,000 |
| Hawaii’s Volcano Circus, Ltd. | Access to Education and Outreach on Community Resilience | $23,000 |
| Malama O Puna | Smoke It Up! promotes the consumption of feral pig meat to enhance food security and support the agricultural economy. | $50,000 |
| Mālamalama Waldorf School | Malamalama Waldorf School Community Plant Nursery to increase its plant propagation capacity. | $30,000 |
| Men of PAʻA | Men of PAʻA Mentorship Initiative supports the successful reentry of justice-involved individuals. | $50,000 |
| Nā Maka Hāloa o Waipi‘o | Ku Mai Puna program enhances community capacity and resilience through two cohorts featuring four Hawaiian Cultural classes and one community event. | $50,000 |
| ʻO Makuʻu Ke Kahua Community Center | Māla Hoʻoulu ʻIke inspires agricultural opportunities to create a self-sustainable life for ʻohana and community. | $50,000 |
| Pohaku Pelemaka | Malama Kaʻakepa Pohaku Pelemaka and Na Lauʻo o Kaʻakepa are collaboratively stewarding the Kaʻakepa area by addressing environmental misuse and developing a comprehensive management plan. | $50,000 |
| Puna Rising Ohana | Puna Ola: Community Resource Center partners with 16 organizations to deliver 69 impactful events fostering community engagement and connection throughout Puna. | $50,000 |
| Purple Maiʻa Foundation | Malama Design Studio (MDS), a 9-month accelerator for early-stage Native Hawaiian-owned businesses, and internship opportunities. | $50,000 |
Each of these organizations was chosen for its commitment to addressing community needs and fostering innovative collaborations that will enhance resilience and quality of life for Puna residents.
“The Puna Strong program represents the spirit of collaboration and innovation that defines our community,” said Robbie Kane, Program Director at the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. “The Collaboration Grants continue to build a strong foundation for Puna’s future, enabling local organizations to work together and create lasting solutions.”
“We also know that a lot more work remains to be done to support Puna’s recovery, and our administration looks forward to delivering more progress for those affected by the eruption,” Alameda said.
More information on the county’s Kīlauea eruption recovery can be found at recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/multimedia/we-are-puna-strong.
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