Hawaiʻi County awards $450K in Impact Grants

Hawaiʻi County announces $450,000 was awarded by the county Department of Research and Development to 23 projects as part of its fiscal year 2026-27 Impact Grants.

The program is an annual competitive opportunity for nonprofit organizations.

Eligible proposals include research, programs or projects that have a positive impact on Hawai’i Island communities through these following programs:

• Agriculture.
• Food security.
• Business and industry development.
• Film and creative industries.
• Regenerative tourism.

Grant awards

Agriculture and food systems

• Big Island Resource Conservation and Development Council (fiscal sponsor): $18,465.
  Project: Aloha ʻĀina Aʻo water security and propagation infrastructure project.
• Big Island Resource Conservation and Development Council (fiscal sponsor): $20,000.
  Project: Kaʻū Coffee Festival 2027.
• Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation: $25,000.
  Project: Growing Hawaiʻi Island’s Agricultural Workforce Pipeline.
• Paniolo Preservation Society: $15,000.
  Project: Community Marketplace.
• University of Hawaiʻi Foundation: $25,000.
  Project: Big Island AgResilience Initiative: Producer-driven research and extension for climate-ready agriculture.

Business and industry development

• East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center: $23,000.
  Project: YAS (Youth Arts Series) Creative Entrepreneurship Program fiscal year 2026-27.
• FoundHer: $25,000.
  Project: Hawaiʻi FoundHer Kapalili Cohort.
• North Kohala Community Resource Center (fiscal sponsor): $10,550.
  Project: North Kohala Community Resource Center workshops.

Film and creative industries

• Hui Kākoʻo O Laupāhoehoe (fiscal sponsor): $25,000.
  Project: Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School Career and Technical Education Media Lab and Nā Leo TV Hub.
• Mālama O Puna: $15,000.
  Project: Puna Youth Media Program.
• Nāʻālehu Theatre: $22,000.
  Project: Mālama Kō Aloha Creative Workforce Initiative.
• Nā Leo ‘O Hawaiʻi: $24,500.
  Project: Nā Leo TV Community News Fellowship.
• North Kohala Community Resource Center: $15,000.
  Project: Kohala Oral History Project.

Food security

• Fern Forest Community Association: $21,000.
  Project: Fern Forest Community Food Security and Resilience Initiative community garden.
• Humanity Hale: $21,000.
  Project: Growing Futures.
• North Kohala Community Resource Center: $15,000.
  Project: Kohala Resilience Hub — food preservation workshops.
• Rotary Club of Kona Community Foundation: $12,085.
  Project: Nāʻālehu Resilience Hub expanding local food access.
• St. James Episcopal Church: $15,000.
  Project: Waimea community meal.
• YWCA Hawaiʻi Island Developmental Preschool: $23,000.
  Project: Preschool meal program.

Regenerative tourism

• Destination Hilo Foundation: $14,400.
  Project: The Hilo Visitor Newsletter.
• Hilo Hawaiʻi Visitor Industry Association Inc.: $15,000.
  Project: Hilo Hula in Downtown Hilo.
• Hilo Hawaiʻi Visitor Industry Association Inc.: $25,000.
  Project: Hilo Pier greetings 2027.
• VASH Hawaiʻi Island: $25,000.
  Project: VASH Hawaiʻi Island Services.

Visit the Hawaiʻi County Research and Development website to view project summaries.