The Kukio Fund supports high-quality organizations serving Hawai‘i Island. In 2014, we awarded almost $400,000 in grants focusing primarily on uplifting youth and stabilizing families while also improving future prosperity for our entire community. For the upcoming 3 years, we will be focusing our grants on increasing the success of Hawai‘i Island youth in school, in work and in life. Please enjoy learning more about the following organizations serving our community.
After-School All Stars Hawai’i ($10,000)
After School All Stars Hawai‘i provides after-school and summer programs that keep children safe and help them achieve in school and in life. Their programs operate in Title 1 schools to ensure that children have adequate supervision, structured homework time, and access to athletics and enrichment activities. ASASH serves three schools on Hawai‘i Island in Ka‘u, Keaau and Pahoa.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawai‘i, Inc. ($5,000)
Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawai‘i Inc. partners with families and volunteers to provide one-on-one mentorship to at-risk youth between the ages of six to eighteen. Priority is given to families who are of Hawaiian ancestry, live in poverty, or have a single, deployed, foster or incarcerated parent. BBBSH’s goal is to give youth the tools to achieve success by matching them in long-term relationships with mentors to help encourage, model and support good decisions and behaviors. In addition to one-to-one matches, they also have programs in schools in Keaau, Waiakea and Hilo Intermediate and High.
Website: www.bbbshawaii.org
Big Island Mediation, Inc. ($7,500)
Big Island Mediation, also known as West Hawai‘i Mediation Center provides mediation services through a confidential process providing community members with a low cost, effective and empowering process for resolving a wide spectrum of disputes such as child custody agreements, foreclosures, landlord/tenant issues, employer/employee relations and community and neighbor conflicts.. They also serve 5 elementary, 3 middle and 1 high school by training students in conflict resolution and peer mediation.
Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island ($7,500)
Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island provides quality out of school programming for youth ages 6 to 18 in the Hawai‘i Island communities of Hamakua, Hilo, Keaau, Pahoa, Pahala and Oceanview/Naalehu. All clubs focus on the three outcome areas of academic success, healthy lifestyles; leadership and community development.
Boys Scouts of America Council ($7,500)
The Boy Scouts of America Council is a well-known program preparing young people for life through providing role models, encouraging civic responsibility, teaching self-discipline and personal responsibility, offering opportunities for interaction with other youth in a safe, supervised environment, and the development of leadership skills. BSOA serves 1,345 youth on Hawai'i Island.
Child and Family Service ($10,000)
Child and Family Services (CFS) serves children, families and seniors in communities statewide who are affected by serious issues – such as abuse and neglect. Services are provided in homes, schools and in the community as well as statewide offices. Their programs address pressing health and human services needs for the educationally and/or economically disadvantaged. CFS operates treatment and prevention programs on 43 sites on Oahu, Hawai‘i Island, Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Lanai.
Habitat for Humanity West Hawai‘i ($15,000)
Habitat for Humanity West Hawai‘i is a non-profit, faith-based organization whose mission is to empower families and build community and hope through home ownership opportunities for low-income partner families. HHWH believes that all families deserve a chance to live in a safe and decent home, and their vision is that all residents of West Hawai‘i will achieve that through their affordable homebuilding and home repair efforts. HHWH serves the entire west side of the Big Island of Hawai‘i from Hawi to South Point, including Waimea (Kamuela).
Hale Kipa, Inc. ($7,500)
Hale Kipa is committed to providing services for youth at all intervention points – early intervention designed to prevent involvement with State agencies; prevention services for youth who’ve just entered the judicial or child protection systems; tertiary interventions that target youth who are incarcerated; youth serious mental health issues or live on the streets; transitioning incarcerated youth or who are in institutional care into adulthood. Website: www.halekipa.org
Hawai‘i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development ($10,000)
HACBED works statewide to address the social and economic challenges faced by individuals and families living in poverty and asset poverty so that these families can become self-sufficient. On Hawai’i Island, HACBED supports the Ho‘owaiwai Network which consists of nonprofit, government and for-profit partners building genuine wealth for island families through programs such as an Asset Policy Roadmap for the County, pilot Kids’ Saving Initiatives, and free tax services through the Financial Empowerment Coalition.
Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice ($7,500)
The work of Hawai‘i Appleseed Center includes policy research, report writing, community education through the media, coalition building, and advocacy in the courts, legislature, and government administration to address quality affordable housing, improved nutritional opportunities, income and tax fairness, positive learning environments and other self-sufficiency barriers.
Hawai‘i First Community Ventures ($10,000)
Hawai‘i First Community Ventures is a nonprofit outreach program of Hawai‘i First Federal Credit Union serving as a one-stop shop providing access to resources to achieve self-sustainability. Services are at no-cost and include financial/homeownership counseling, job seeking assistance, small business development, financial education/homebuyer workshops, foreclosure prevention, assistance, free income tax preparation (VITA) and business services (computer/internet access, printing/faxing). HFCV have resource centers in Hilo and Waimea. Website: www.hawaiifirstfcu.com
Hawai‘i HomeOwnership Center ($5,000)
Hawai‘i HomeOwnership Center is working to provide homeownership opportunities through public outreach, education and individual coaching and partnerships. They also aim to reduce reliance on public assistance by building assets and equity through homeownership in the low/moderate income groups. Community needs are determined through consumer feedback and data, third party reports and community response.
Hawai‘i Institute of Pacific Agriculture ($5,000)
HIPA is a farm and educational center located in rural, historic North Kohala. It is a 7-acre living and learning environment where a diverse collection of native Hawaiian and Polynesian plants, tropical fruit orchards and perennial vegetable crops are cultivated along with poultry and livestock. This farm is the base of operations for intensive residential internship for young adults and educational workshops for community members. They’ve recently developed a public education garden site that supports K-12 field trip programs.
Hawai‘i Island Hoops ($8,000)
Hawai‘i Island Hoops provides student athletes with opportunities to advance their academic and athletic career through camps and skill building workshops. They work closely with youth to connect them to college coaches, as well as help in completing college and scholarship applications, and assistance in finding housing as needed. Their leadership team includes members with experience working with youth, education and researching opportunities.
Hawai‘i Montessori Inc. ($7,500)
Hawaii Montessori has served the West Hawai‘i Community since 1980. HMS (Hawai’i Montessori Schools) is made up of two campuses, one in Waimea (Kamuela) and the second in Kailua-Kona. Using the Montessori pedagogy for education, HMS serves126 children, ages 15 months to 6 years, in part and full-time programs. They offer carefully planned, stimulating environments for learning. The curriculum covers a broad range of topics including social skills, social and natural sciences, language, math and the arts.
Hawai‘i Public Television Foundation dba PBS ($7,500)
PBS Hawai’i is a community-supported, nonprofit alternative to commercial media and has served this community for almost 50 years. Delivering non-commercial children’s programs, providing accurate information through programs dedicated to civil discourse, creates a venue for creativity, experimentation and diverse cultural experiences. Their digital literacy initiative, HIKI NŌ, specifically designed to address the widening gap between the “haves” and “have nots” in Hawai'i, is offered in 17 schools on Hawai'i Island.
Hawai‘i State Science Olympiad ($8,000)
Hawai‘i State Science Olympiad partners with a wide range of organizations to implement STEM experience with a reach of over 3000 students per year in grades 6-12. Their programs are open to public, private charter schools and home school students to promote STEM learning and science education.
Ho‘okako‘o Corporation ($7,500)
Ho‘okako‘o was established in 2002 to manage and operate public conversion charter schools in Hawai’i including Waimea Middle School. They operate a network of high quality, Hawaiian-focused charter schools, free to all children Pre-K through 12th grade that implement a shared system of student-centered and research-based educational innovations.
Holualoa Foundation for Arts and Culture ($10,000)
HFAC was established in 1995 and serves the residents of North Kona. Their mission is to enrich the lives of persons of all ages through arts and culture education. Their programs have been developed to engage local and visiting artists, involve community members in special events, and stimulate children’s learning through arts educations in schools and their Donkey Mill art center. Through their Youth Program, 520 area children in grades K-12 receive art education at little or no cost to the school. Donkey Mill Art Center, home of HFAC, provides after school classes for additional students.
HOPE Services Hawai‘i, Inc. ($10,000)
HOPE Services is a statewide, non-profit agency with over 25 years of experience serving the homeless, through education, support and advocacy. They strive to help those they serve rebuild their self-confidence, overcome challenges and develop self-sufficiency as they restructure their lives. Services provided in both East and West Hawai'i include emergency and transitional housing 365 days a year, in addition to core services such as homeless outreach and supportive housing.
Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture ($7,500)
INPEACE is a statewide organization and delivers services to Hawai‘i Island through various programs, providing opportunities in early childhood education, workforce development; and cultural and land stewardship. Their mission is to “improve the quality of life for Native Hawaiians through community partnerships that promote educational opportunities and foster self-sufficiency.”
Kahilu Theatre Foundation ($10,000)
Kahilu Theatre is located in Waimea and provides education programs that include youth afterschool and summer arts programs; live performances for youth at the theatre and at schools; classes for adults, and free art events giving youth and adults the opportunity to engage and prosper in and through the arts. Their mission is to create a place where community, creativity and inspiration thrive for students, residents and visitors alike.
Kailapa Community Association ($10,000)
Kailapa Community Association mission is to empower Native Hawaiians living in Kohala, supporting physical, mental, spiritual, and cultural health and well-being. The populations served include the Kailapa Community, Kawaihae Community and South Kohala residents. They are moving forward with plans to develop a much-needed Community Resource Center on 14.33 acres within the Kailapa Homestead.
Kailua Village Business Improvement District, Inc. ($10,000
KVBID is engaged in addressing the deterioration (in physical appearance and ambiance) of the Historic Kailua Village. Their strategic plan includes events to build and foster a sense of community; attract more economic development activity; encourage active, healthy lifestyles and implement improvements. The population served includes residents, landowners, business owners and visitors alike who invest, live work and play in Kailua Village.
Ka‘u Rural Health Community Association ($8,000)
Ka‘u Rural Health Community Association is located in a rural area of Hawai‘i Island, with limited access to resources – healthcare, social services, employment, education and vocational training and activities for youth. Their services include an academy that offers mentoring classes to teach job skills as well as increase the knowledge of health, education and prevention. The Nana I Ke Kumu o Ka‘u is a year round program where students learn job skills, volunteerism and participate in various community projects.
Kona Pacific Public Charter School ($8,000)
KPPCS is located in the town of Kealakekua whose community has deep roots in agriculture, and provides service to North and South Kona. Beyond their K-8 educational services, KPPCS provides family literacy and parenting workshops, nutrition education, an annual Health Fair and their W.H.O.L.E. Food Service program that feeds the most impoverished and vulnerable members of this community.
Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center ($7,500)
Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center (KMC) serves to bring about peaceful resolutions to conflicts in the East Hawai'i community. They help individuals, families, organizations, businesses, schools, and others to find creative solutions to challenging situations. Their services include mediation and educational programs.
Leeward Steelers ($8,000)
Leeward Steelers is a youth football organization engaged in mentoring male and female athletes ages 7 – 15 years instilling values of respect, discipline, dedication, determination, team work, confidence and integrity through athletic pursuits. They are led by coaches who also work off season with players to maintain a standard of academic level and physical conditioning. Adult volunteers from Waimea to Milolii assist by manning food booths, preparing food and organizing fundraisers.
Lokahi Treatment Centers ($7,500)
Lokahi Treatment Center holds rehabilitation facility accreditation and incorporates evidence based models into programming that have been developed from multiple university studies nationwide. Since the late 1990’s LTC has provided quality integrated mental health, substance abuse treatment and prevention services that are culturally appropriate for Hawai‘i Island adults, adolescents, and children.
Makua Lani Christian Academy ($7,500)
Makua Lani is a private Christian school located in the heart of Kailua-Kona, which serves 260 students and families in Pre-K through 12th grade. MLCA’S administration and teachers continually implement appropriate learning tools based on educational research, cost effectiveness and best practices. The small student-teacher ratio demonstrates MLCA’s commitment toward meeting the needs of each individual student.
Na Kalai Wa‘a ($7,500)
“He wa‘a he moku, he moku he wa‘a” translates to “The canoe is our island, and the island is our canoe.” Na Kalai Wa‘a’s vision explains the unique holistic nature of voyaging practices, and how they relate to everyone individually and as a larger community. Na Kalai Wa‘a is an education based organization whose mission is to protect, perpetuate and honor the Hawaiian traditions and practices of wa‘a (canoe) culture through the Makali‘i voyaging canoe and related programs for the past, present and future generations.
North Kohala Community Resource Center ($10,000)
NKCRC’s mission is to increase the number of successful community projects in North Kohala by providing training, coaching and a fiscal umbrella to a diverse group of volunteer community project organizers. They opened in 2002 with six sponsored projects and have grown to 85 projects, a measure of their success. They opened the Kohala Welcome Center which provides a museum-quality interpretive corridor that conveys the history of their community to visitors of this rural area.
Partners in Development Foundation ($10,000)
The mission of Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF) is to inspire and equip families and communities for success and service using timeless Native Hawaiian values and traditions. PIDF accomplishes this through delivery of free programs in areas of education, social services, and environmental sustainability for at-risk communities in the State. The programs imbed the host culture, values and language in the curriculum to reach the children and families with an approach that is meaningful. Programs on Hawai'i Island include traveling preschools and youth tutoring.
PATCH (People Attentive to Children) ($10,000)
PATCH has been Hawaii’s only statewide agency specializing in child care training, resource and referral services. They serve parents of young children seeking childcare; childcare providers seeking licensing and professional development; and the overall childcare sector by working with families to develop home childcare centers. Their clients are from a wide ethnic demographic and are between 25-65 years of age. Their office in Kainaliu serves West Hawai‘i.
Website: www.patchhawaii.org
PATH Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii ($5,000)
PATH is a 28 year old nonprofit community organization based on Hawai’i Island. They promote active living and active transportation for Hawai‘i Island residents by working to safely connect the people and places with pathways and bikeways. They participate in advocacy for the Complete Streets concept of keeping streets safe and accessible for pedestrians, transit riders, bicyclists and all users of the road. PATH offers education that encourages active living through pedestrian and cycling safety programs.
Pohaha I Ka Lani ($2,500)
The Kahuli Program of Pohaha I Ka Lani is located in historic Waipi’o Valley on Hawai‘i Island. The participants experience hands-on learning on a one-time or regular basis. The leadership group includes individuals educated and working in Hawaiian culture, agriculture and education fields. The mission of the Kahuli Program is “To preserve and restore Hawaiian culture by fostering relationship between kanaka (man) and the ‘aina (earth) through the restoration of the ancient village sites of Napo‘opo‘o and other sites of Waipi‘o Valley”.
Small World Preschool ($10,000)
Small World Preschool is a private, nonprofit, state-licensed preschool serving the greater South Kohala area of Hawai‘i Island. It was originally created (1981) as a place for 3 and 4 year old children of local families with distinct ties to the lifestyle and employment within the small community of Waimea. Their mission is to provide a preschool program that is developmentally based and age-appropriate.
Teach for America ($10,000)
TFA believes all students can achieve. They recruit teachers who inspire students and help them grow emotionally and academically. They’ve partnered with communities on Hawai‘i Island since 2009 and have expanded their Hawaii Island-based staff. Student impact data demonstrates increase in student academic scores as well as positive response for teacher quality.
The Kohala Center ($10,000)
TKC is a community-based center for research, conservation, education and builds aina-based programs for community well-being. They turn research and traditional knowledge into action, so that communities can thrive ecologically, economically, culturally, and socially. Their main areas of interest are energy self-reliance, food self-reliance, and ecosystem health. Website: www.kohalacenter.org
Three Ring Ranch ($5,000)
Three Ring Ranch is a USDA licensed exotic animal sanctuary providing an After School Mentors (ages 11 – 13) program with students attending five hours a week minimum. They also utilize the efforts of older students (ages 14 – 24) as program leaders on the five acre animal facility. Their mission is to positively impact the environment and assist in the development of an environmentally responsible generation of youth.
Waimea Arts Council ($5,000)
Waimea Arts Council is the only nonprofit organization serving North and South Kohala and Hamakua communities by providing a venue for artistic expression and display as well as workshops for local artists and schoolchildren at their facility, The Firehouse Gallery. Their vision is to develop interest in the arts in local schools and communities and to promote creative arts and cultural activities.
West Hawaii Community Health Center ($15,000)
WHCH is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable health care in West Hawai’i from Kawaihae to Ocean View. Their mission is to make quality, comprehensive and integrated health services accessible to all, regardless of their ability to pay. They have three sites: Kailua-Kona, Kealakekua and Waikoloa that address comprehensive family medical and behavioral health. The Kealakekua site also provides pediatric dental care.
More about our 2013 grant recipients.
Kukio Community Fund