The Office of Hawaiian Affairs today announced the release of two grant solicitations totaling $2.92 million to provide needed support and assistance to the Native Hawaiian community. 

OHA has committed $1.67 million to a COVID-19 Response Grant to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Native Hawaiian ‘ohana and communities. OHA has also committed $1.25 million to a ‘Ohana and Community Based Program Grant to support programs specifically designed to bolster the family unit. 

Applications are being solicited from nonprofit organizations that administer community-based projects designed to strengthen Hawaiian beneficiaries, families, and communities.  

“The COVID-19 pandemic has heavily impacted our Hawaiian community from the loss of employment to our families’ ability to provide the necessities of life like food and shelter. These grants will assist with finances in a variety of areas in this time of great need,” said OHA Board Chair Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey. “OHA is enacting a new grants structure that ensures every island will have a share of both of these grants so that there’s fairness in the distribution of these assets.” 

According to The Native Hawaiian COVID-19 Research Hui survey of Hawaiʻi residents in the summer of 2020, 60% of Native Hawaiians reported a negative or very negative impact of COVID-19 on their ‘ohana mental or spiritual health; 51% reported a negative or very negative impact of COVID-19 on their ‘ohana physical health and finances: and 38% reported a negative or very negative impact on their ‘ohana access to affordable healthy foods.  

A pre-recorded solicitation orientation session along with a PowerPoint presentation will be posted to the OHA Grants Program webpage on March 4, 2021. The grant application deadline is March 19, 2021, at 2 p.m.    

For more information about OHA’s COVID-19 Impact and Response Grant and the ‘Ohana and Community Based Program Grant, including the online application, please visit the OHA Grants Program webpage at https://www.oha.org/grants.