A new statewide storm relief fund by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation has already awarded more than a dozen grants to nonprofits statewide.
On Friday, HCF activated its “Stronger Hawai‘i Fund,” a disaster fund intended to deploy resources to groups on all islands in the state to aid in disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts. As of Wednesday, that fund has already awarded grants to 13 nonprofits statewide, with more to come.
HCF CEO Terry George said the foundation used $500,000 of seed funding to launch the fund, and have received commitments from donors for an additional $1 million. He said he hopes the fund will collect and distribute more than $10 million to storm recovery projects across the state.
During a news conference Wednesday, HCF CEO Terry George announced seven grants awarded via the Stronger Hawai‘i Fund, although HCF senior program officer Kehau Meyer later said HCF had awarded another six grants mere hours before the conference.
Grants include a total of $150,000 to Vibrant Hawai‘i for water catchment support and emergency response needs on Hawai‘i Island and another $10,000 to the same group for work on the North Shore. HCF also awarded $10,000 each to nonprofits KEY Project on O‘ahu, HOPE Services Hawai‘i on Hawai‘i Island, and to the Living Pono Project, Lahaina Strong, the Maui Grassroots Collective and Sust‘āinable Moloka‘ī in Maui County.
George said HCF had previously launched island-specific funds in response to the Lahaina fire or the 2018 Lower Puna eruption, but added that the nature of the Kona Low storm emphasized the need for a statewide fund.
“The clear reality is that disasters like this are becoming more frequent and more complex,” George said.
Michelle Ka‘uhane, HCF’s senior vice president, said the Stronger Hawai‘i Fund doesn’t disburse funds to storm victims directly, but serves as a central hub connecting donations to the groups carrying out relief projects where they are needed most.
However, Keanu Hee, HCF’s vice president of community resilience, said the foundation is “still trying to understand the scale and scope” of the storm’s impact throughout the state and that assessments of where funds should best be allocated are ongoing.
Meanwhile, the City and County of Honolulu will open a Community Assistance Center at Waialua District Park on Thursday, connecting residents to in-person assistance and resources from several county and state agencies, nonprofits and utility providers.
Farmers and ranchers are also encouraged to apply for the state’s Emergency Farmer Relief Program, which will provide eligible businesses with a one-time $1,500 grant.
Those impacted by the storm are still advised to report residential damage to the City and County of Honolulu by Thursday, March 26.
And the Hawai‘i Chamber of Commerce is accepting donations for a relief fund to help feed storm-displaced residents.
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