Kanu Hawai‘i issues call for volunteers to support organizations as funding cuts threaten

Kanu Hawaiʻi is sounding the alarm about a worsening crisis within the state’s nonprofit sector.

Recent data indicate additional federal funding cutbacks are placing an unprecedented strain on organizations that provide the backbone of support for Hawaiʻi’s social, environmental and educational safety nets.

April is Volunteer Month throughout the nation and Kanu Hawaiʻi urges businesses, community groups and individuals statewide to step up and help those organizations by lending some manpower.

“Unfortunately, we continue to see a challenging trend where federal funding that Hawai‘i nonprofits have long relied on is becoming increasingly uncertain,” said Kanu Hawaiʻi Executive Director Keone Kealoha in a release. “Roughly 1 in 3 nonprofits in Hawaiʻi depend on federal support for more than 20% of their operational revenue.”

However, the work doesn’t stop because the funds continue to disappear.

Kealoha said volunteering is a way for the community to step in when the funding has stepped out.

The detrimental impact of federal funding cuts is spreading throughout the community.

“More than 60% of Hawaiʻi nonprofits are reporting they cannot keep up with the community’s growing demand for services.” Kealoha said. “The sweat equity needed from local volunteers has transitioned from a helpful addition to an absolute necessity for survival.”

The need for volunteer support is diverse and deep within the community.

For example, organizations supporting housing for survivors of domestic violence have faced the loss of federal programs while environmental groups are bracing for gaps in climate science and restoration funding.

Exacerbating the situation for Hawaiʻi’s nonprofits is the widespread devastation in communities caused recently by the severe rainfall and flooding from back-to-back kona lows in March, and the resulting increase in demands from families and residents for recovery.

Kanu Hawaiʻi launched a dedicated Kona Low Storm Response page developed in part by support from the City and County of Honolulu.

The page is updated daily and serves as a centralized hub, connecting residents with a comprehensive list of volunteer opportunities, along with donation links and recovery resources from dozens of organizations statewide.

“When disaster hits, people want to help but don’t always know where to start,” Kealoha said. “This page brings it all together in one place so that energy goes where it’s needed most.”

A 2025 analysis by University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization and Hawaiʻi Community Foundation revealed $126 million in federal grants — supporting 59 local nonprofits — are “politically vulnerable.”

These cuts directly impact essential services, ranging from health care and affordable housing to environmental restoration and youth mentorship programs.

How to get involved for Volunteer Month

• Post your event: Nonprofits and community organizers are encouraged to list their April volunteer opportunities on Kanu Hawaiʻi’s statewide dashboard.
• Find an opportunity: Individuals and corporate teams can browse hundreds of local service projects — from beach cleanups food bank support — and sign up directly online.
• Become an Impact Partner: Businesses looking to engage their employees can join Kanu Hawaiʻi’s Impact Partner Program to track their collective hours and receive recognition for their community contributions.

“Volunteering is often seen as a one-way gift, but in Hawai‘i, it’s more than that — it’s an exchange. An act of aloha,” Kealoha said. “When you show up to serve a meal for kūpuna, clean up your local park where ‘ohana relax or help repair housing for those in need, you aren’t just filling a gap left by a budget cut, you are strengthening the connections that keep our islands strong.”

Visit the Kanu Hawaiʻi website for additional information, to register a volunteer event or sign up for service.