Coinciding with Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, Maui County’s Department of ʻŌiwi Resources announced it is investing about $450,000 into nine projects that fall under its core divisions of Kīpuka, Kumuwaiola and Pai Ka Laeo.

What You Need To Know

  • “We, at the Department of ʻŌiwi, are truly honored to help facilitate the effort for and with our community,” said Department of ʻŌiwi Resources Director Kaponoʻai Molitau in a release

  • Molitau said awarding the community grants is one of the major achievements during the department’s inaugural year

The Kīpuka Division (ʻŌiwi Strongholds) safeguards and stewards lands of concentrated natural and cultural importance to ensure continued access for communities.

The Kumuwaiola Division (ʻŌiwi Resources) provides programs that champion and preserve life-giving and life-sustaining aspects of the natural world by defending and amplifying the conditions essential to thriving eco-cultural landscapes and vital cultural resources.

The Pai Ka Leo Division (ʻŌiwi Voices) empowers and uplifts native Hawaiian voices to reinvigorate the use of Hawaiian language in government and in the larger community while respecting both official languages of Hawaii — English and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.

Three projects were awarded grants under the Kīpuka Division:

• The Kīpuka Kamalō Restoration Project ($49,999.99) of the Ka Ipu Makani Cultural Heritage Center aims to restore the ecological and cultural health of the Kamalō Ahupuaʻa on the island of Molokai.

• The Ka Wai Ola: Indigenous Community Water Hydrology Project ($50,000) of KAʻEHU aims to lead a community-based, cross organizational study of our watershed with the intention of collecting stories, gathering data, and using this information to better the lands, waters and people of Kaʻehu Bay.

• Ola Hāloa, Ola Ka ʻOhana ($50,000) of Kīpahulu ʻOhana aims to maintain and expand Kapahu Living Farm, a regenerative farming and cultural education program in East Maui.

Three projects received grants under the Kumuwaiola Division:

• The Hawaiian Crops Cultivars Program ($50,000) of Maui Nui Botanical Gardens will focus on growing, displaying, propagating, distributing and hosting education and interpretation for the remaining historic heritage Hawaiian varieties of kalo — kō, maiʻa, ʻawa and ʻuala.

• MālamaʻI O Mūʻolea ($50,000) of Nā Mamo O Mūʻolea will restore native and culturally important plants, to plant food-producing crops, remove invasive species, expand water infrastructure and enhance the community’s usage of the Mūʻolea shoreline.

• The Waiehu Chinese Cemetery Restoration Project ($50,000) of the Waiehu Chinese Cemetery Association is working to restore the historic Kwong Fook Tong Chinese Cemetery.

Three projects received grants under the Pai Ka Leo Division:

• Roots of Resilience: Keiki, Kumu, and Community in The Maile Grove ($49,000) of the Archive for Health, Arts and Spirit will provide a three-part initiative offering arts and ʻāina-based field trips, in-school residencies with community showcases and a teacher wellness institute.

• Hana Noʻeau: ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Support Through Creative Afterschool and Summer Program ($50,000) of Hāna Arts aims to strengthen ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi proficiency among East Maui’s Kula Kaiapuni haumāna by providing engaging, culturally rooted learning opportunities beyond the school day.

• I Ka ʻŌlelo Nō Ke Ola ($50,000) of Ke Kula ʻo Piʻilani aims to hire and train members of the lāhui who have the language skills to work in a language immersion program yet need mentorship and skill development to instruct an elementary school class.

“We, at the Department of ʻŌiwi, are truly honored to help facilitate the effort for and with our community,” said Department of ʻŌiwi Resources Director Kaponoʻai Molitau in a release. “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 said awarding the community grants is one of the major achievements during the department’s inaugural year. He thanked all Maui Nui organizations that submitted grant applications, encouraging them to apply for future grants.

“He leo mahalo kēia i nā hui kūloko o Maui Nui i waiho aku i ka palapala noi haʻawina kālā i kēia makahiki. Eia mākou ke paipai hou aku nei iā ʻoukou e waiho hou mai i ka palapala no kēia wā haʻawina kālā hou i loko o kekahi mau mahina e hiki mai nei,” Molitau said.

Visit the Department of ʻŌiwi Resources website for information and call 808-270-1719 or email oiwigrants@co.maui.hi.us for information on grants.