The Maui News
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs on Tuesday approved a $1.36 million grants package, which includes funding for programs in Maui County.
This includes an Economic Stability Grant of $398,000 that was awarded to Hawai’i Community Lending for its Native Hawaiian Owner-Builder Project, which will increase the economic stability of 58 native Hawaiians in Naiwa, Molokai, by establishing a culturally relevant program that will increase access to capital, credit and technical assistance for native Hawaiians to build and own homes on Hawaiian home lands, according to an OHA news release.
The Purple Mai’a Foundation, which has programs online, was given a $498,660 award for its Malama Design Studio.
The studio is intended to educate 20 native Hawaiian business owners through a collaborative design research process that will result in the implementation of a technology solution that can improve their businesses and ultimately cultivate economic development for Hawaiian communities. Each participant will be provided a $2,500 stipend to implement a technology solution that improves their business.
Two Health Community Grants were also announced, including a $220,000 award to Ma Ka Hana Ka ‘Ike Building Program, based in Hana, for its Mana ‘Aina, Mauli Ola project and a $250,000 award to Alu Like Inc., for its Koho Pono project. Alu Like also has services in Maui County.
OHA’s Health Community Grants supports initiatives, leverages partnerships and engages in strategies to promote healthy and strong families.
“We are proud to partner with such outstanding entities like Purple Mai’a, Hawai’i Community Lending, Ma Ka Hana ‘Ike Building Program and Alu Like, Inc., to address the economic and health needs of our people, and we salute them for their innovative strategies and programs that will serve native Hawaiians,” said OHA Board Chair Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey, who is also the Maui trustee.
For more visit www.oha.org/strategicplan.
See the Maui News.