The Hawaii Community Foundation announced Monday it is opening the state’s first environmental finance center, which will help nonprofits and other organizations with water conservation projects.  

What You Need To Know

  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded Hawaii Community Foundation $3.2 million to establish the state's first environmental finance center. The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

  • The Hawaiian Islands Environmental Finance Center will help nonprofits, community groups and government agencies secure federal funding for water conservation, recharge and reuse projects

  • The new center will also focus on creating a workforce dedicated to stewarding Hawaii’s water sources

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded HCF $3.2 million to establish the environmental finance center, according to a news release. The money comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is awarding $50 billion over five years to improve water infrastructure across the nation. 

The Hawaiian Islands Environmental Finance Center will help nonprofits, community groups and government agencies secure federal funding for water conservation, recharge and reuse projects. The new center will work with agencies to develop new water projects, to identify funding opportunities and to assist with grant applications. 

“In Hawaii, water is an invaluable resource, essential for cultural and traditional practices and to assure we have thriving healthy ecosystems from mauka to makai,” said Micah Kāne, CEO and president of HCF in a news release. “We also need water for our local families to prosper, which requires affordable housing infrastructure so people can stay in Hawaii — and a regenerative water system to support that need.”

The new center will also focus on creating a workforce dedicated to stewarding Hawaii’s water sources. In order to do this, HIEFC will partner with the University of Hawaii Economic Resource Organization and the University of Hawaii - Water Resources Research Center to determine the gaps in Hawaii’s current water workforce and create models for career pathways. HIEFC will also launch the Hawaii Water Workforce Fellowship Program, with 10 fellows per year. Fellows will gain experience by working full time with local government agencies and water-related organizations.   

"We are so thankful for the HIEFC’s kōkua,” said Cheyenne Hiapo Perry, coordinator of the Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance. The alliance was one of the first groups to receive help from HIEFC during its launch year, which resulted in the successful submission of a federal grant application. “The team guided us through the grant application process, providing assistance with application review and editing, and helping us craft a thorough and comprehensive project narrative that captured the essence of what’s happening on Mauna Kea, strengthening the overall grant application.” 

With the 2021 fuel leaks at the U.S. Navy’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, many government officials, nonprofit leaders and community members have brought up the urgent need for improvements in Hawaii’s water infrastructure. The HCF pointed to this and the Aug. 8 wildfires on Maui as reasons the state needs HIEFC’s services.

For more information on the HIEFC, visit www.hawaiianislandsefc.org.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.

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