The County of Maui Department of ʻŌiwi Resources is providing about $450,000 to nine local projects during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The funding is divided among three divisions—Kīpuka, Kumuwaiola, and Pai Ka Leo—with each project receiving close to $50,000. The Kīpuka Division is supporting the Kīpuka Kamalō Restoration Project in Molokaʻi with $49,999.99, KAʻEHU's Ka Wai Ola water hydrology project with $50,000, and the Kapahu Living Farm program by Kīpahulu ʻOhana with $50,000, according to the County of Maui.
The Kumuwaiola Division is supporting programs that focus on the preservation of eco-cultural landscapes, including the Hawaiian Crops Cultivars Program by Maui Nui Botanical Gardens to grow historic Hawaiian crops, and the MālamaʻI O Mūʻolea initiative by Nā Mamo O Mūʻolea to restore the Mūʻolea shoreline. The Waiehu Chinese Cemetery Restoration Project has received a $50,000 grant to restore the historic Chinese cemetery. The Pai Ka Leo Division is funding projects to promote the Hawaiian language, including the Hana Noʻeau: ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Support initiative by Hāna Arts and I Ka ʻŌlelo Nō Ke Ola by Ke Kula ʻo Piʻilani, both of which received $50,000 grants to support Hawaiian language programs, as reported by the County of Maui.
The Department of ʻŌiwi Resources in Maui awarded grants to local nonprofit organizations in its first year. Director Kaponoʻai Molitau said, “We, at the Department of ʻŌiwi, are truly honored to help facilitate the effort for and with our community.” He added, “The amazing work that our nonprofit communities provide enhances our commitment to our ʻŌiwi strongholds, resources and our ʻŌiwi voices, our mother tongue. May we continue to uplift our community, nurture the traditional and fundamental values that make Maui Nui truly special and indeed the best, and continue to pave the way forward for all to see the excellence of our people.” Molitau also encouraged organizations to apply for future grant opportunities. May is recognized as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, established by Congress in 1992 with support from Hawaiʻi Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga, as stated by the County of Maui.
