Puna Strong has a community-based disaster management approach that values the knowledge and capacities of residents; builds on local resources, including social capital; and aims to increase community resilience. Community resilience is the ability for the community to efficiently use available resources to respond to, withstand, and recover from adverse situations such as the Kīlauea eruption of 2018.
In January 2021, The County of Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i Community Foundation launched Puna Strong to assist with disaster readiness and community resilience, both strategies identified in the Kīlauea Recovery and Resilience Plan (KRRP), following the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. It is supported by the County’s recovery funds and HCF’s Hawai‘i Island Strong Fund In addition to providing grants, the County and HCF will work with intermediaries in the community to assist with technical support, peer learning and network building among recipients.
Puna Strong Collaboration Grants have been awarded to 13 organizations totaling $586,917 whose projects align with the Kīlauea Recovery and Resilience Plan (KRRP) and will advance sustainability and capacity building across various sectors with communities throughout Puna. This round of funding has been awarded to the following organizations:
Arts & Sciences Center
Program: Removing Barriers to Transportation for Puna Youth
Total Award: $36,452
Hawaiʻi Animal Kuleana Alliance Inc
Program: Hawaiʻi Animal Kuleana Alliance (HAKA) creates personalized emergency plans videos with a focus on the specific needs of Puna residents.
Total Award: $47,465
Hawaiʻi Science & Technology Museum
Program: The PueoWorks Community Robotics and Technology Center (PCRTC) serve as a resource hub for students and community members at Keonepoko Elementary School.
Total Award: $50,000
Hawaiian Volcano Education & Resilience Institute
Program: Establishes a teacher resource room to enhance access to education for young families in lower Puna.
Total Award: $50,000
Hawai‘i’s Volcano Circus, Ltd.
Program: Access to Education and Outreach on Community Resilience
Total Award: $23,000
Malama O Puna
Program: Smoke It Up! promotes the consumption of feral pig meat to enhance food security and support the agricultural economy.
Total Award: $50,000
Mālamalama Waldorf School
Program: Malamalama Waldorf School Community Plant Nursery to increase its plant propagation capacity.
Total Award: $30,000
Men of PAʻA
Program: Men of PAʻA Mentorship Initiative supports the successful reentry of justice-involved individuals.
Total Award: $50,000
Nā Maka Hāloa o Waipi‘o
Program: Ku Mai Puna program enhances community capacity and resilience through two cohorts featuring four Hawaiian Cultural classes and one community event.
Total Award: $50,000
ʻO Makuʻu Ke Kahua Community Center
Program: Māla Hoʻoulu ʻIke inspires agricultural opportunities to create a self-sustainable life for ʻohana and community.
Total Award: $50,000
Pohaku Pelemaka
Program: 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.
Total Award: $50,000
Puna Rising Ohana
Program: Puna Ola: Community Resource Center partners with 16 organizations to deliver 69 impactful events that engages Puna Ola: Community Resource Center.
Total Award: $50,000
Purple Maiʻa Foundation
Program: Malama Design Studio (MDS), a 9-month accelerator for early-stage Native Hawaiian-owned businesses, and internship opportunities.
Total Award: $50,000
The application for Puna Strong is currently closed. Please contact Michelle Pope of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation at mpope@hcf-hawaii.org with any questions.