U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono and U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda announced on Saturday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $42,585,500 in grants to nine Hawaii organizations to plant and maintain existing trees, combat extreme heat and improve access to green spaces in communities throughout the state.

What You Need To Know

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $42,585,500 in grants to nine Hawaii organizations

  • “This funding will help expand our urban tree canopy and mitigate the effects of extreme heat — all while providing job training opportunities to those who need it most,” said Sen. Schatz

  • “These investments arrive as cities across the country experience record-breaking heatwaves that have grave impacts on public health, energy consumption and overall well-being,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

The largest grant of $20 million was awarded to Kupu, a conservation and youth education nonprofit based in Honolulu.

“We need to be doing everything we can to make our communities more resilient to climate change,” said Sen. Schatz in the release. “This funding will help expand our urban tree canopy and mitigate the effects of extreme heat — all while providing job training opportunities to those who need it most.”

Sen. Hirono said, “As we work to mitigate the impacts of climate change and promote sustainability, this funding brings us one step closer in creating healthier, more equitable communities across Hawaii. This historic investment in urban forests will help ensure people in Hawaii have access to quality outdoor spaces, no matter where they live. I am proud to have helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act last year — the largest action on climate change ever passed by Congress, which made this funding possible.”

Rep. Case echoed the fact that funding was made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act, which led the way to help fund critical projects.

“These grants administered by the USDA’s Urban and Community Forestry Program provides the organizations the crucial funding needed to strengthen Hawaii’s capacity to advance climate resiliency efforts,” said Case.

“This grant administered by the USDA’s program provides Kupu the crucial funding needed to expand opportunities for, and develop marketable professional skills of, the Pacific workforce to strengthen Hawaii and other Pacific communities and their capacity to advance climate resiliency efforts,” he said.

"Communities across our state are looking at the extreme drought conditions and rising temperatures in their own backyards and they are scared,” said Rep. Tokuda. “This USDA funding is critical as we meet the moment and invest in adaptable green spaces, plant native trees and flora to combat heat and reduce fire risks, combat urban heat islands, mitigate the impacts of natural disasters, and ensure long term climate resiliency.”

In addition to Kupu’s $20 million award, other organizations that received grants include:

  • Smart Trees Pacific, $9 million
  • Grow Good Hawaii, $5 million
  • Friends of Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, $2 million
  • State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, $2 million
  • University of Hawaii, $2 million
  • Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests, $1 million
  • City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation, $1 million
  • Hawaii Division of Land and Natural Resources, $585,500

“These investments arrive as cities across the country experience record-breaking heatwaves that have grave impacts on public health, energy consumption and overall well-being,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

“Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are supporting communities in becoming more resilient to climate change and combatting extreme heat with the cooling effects of increased urban tree canopy, while also supporting employment opportunities and professional training that will strengthen local economies.”

The Urban and Community Forestry Program is the only federal program dedicated to enhancing and expanding the nation’s urban forest resources.