Holomua Marine Initiative Pāpio Grants

The Holomua Marine Initiative Pāpio Grants, administered by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF), is a funding opportunity aimed at fostering effective community co-management of Hawai‘i’s nearshore marine ecosystems. This grant program aligns with the larger Sustainable Hawai‘i Initiative launched in 2016, which commits to the effective management of Hawai‘i’s marine resources through collaboration between the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), and local communities. The initiative supports the State's leadership in achieving international conservation goals and implementing the Aloha+Challenge and Promise to Pae‘āina frameworks. These combined efforts seek measurable improvements in marine resource protection through community partnerships, traditional knowledge, and strategic planning. The purpose of the Pāpio Grants is to support programs and projects that achieve strategic outputs and outcomes to enhance the effective management of nearshore marine areas in Hawai‘i. Grants are awarded to community-based projects that embody strong stewardship, community engagement, and co-management principles. The grant is rooted in the CHANGE Framework by HCF, a data-driven system that encourages collaboration across multiple sectors to resolve some of Hawai‘i’s most pressing challenges. The grant focuses on five key areas: Capacity, Coordination, Data and Monitoring, Engagement, and Governance—each essential to fostering sustainable and community-supported marine management systems. Eligible activities under this grant include education campaigns, mentorships, community events, community-led monitoring, and applied research that support local management efforts. Specific examples include promoting Indigenous knowledge systems, leadership coaching, surveillance and enforcement activities, and innovative entrepreneurship related to marine stewardship. Projects that build organizational or technical capacity, strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, enhance monitoring systems, and promote policies aligned with the Holomua Marine Initiative are also encouraged. Funding supports short-term (up to 12 months) project implementation with a maximum award size of $10,000. The grant is open to nonprofit organizations with valid 501(c)(3) status. Entities without such status may apply in partnership with a fiscal sponsor. Government entities may also apply, but only if their proposals are developed in collaboration with community-based organizations. Proposals centered on research must be community-invited and demonstrate direct application to nearshore marine co-management. Proposals from federal entities are not eligible. Applicants must also have completed all required reports for previously awarded HCF Holomua Marine Initiative funds to be considered. Applications are submitted through HCF’s online Grants Portal. Applicants must ensure that their organization profile is certified, which requires submission of detailed financial information, a board of directors list, service demographics, and IRS documentation. The grant application includes four main components: Program Overview, Program Information (including history, problem statement, activities, and expected results), Budget, and Supporting Documents. Additional documentation such as workplans, proposal narratives, and strategy plans may enhance the proposal but are not mandatory. Funding decisions will be made in July 2025. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with specific deadlines in February, April, August, and October 2026, supporting recurring cycles. Projects must be implemented within 12 months of the award. Applicants should be prepared to submit interim and final reports detailing program outcomes and financial expenditures. For assistance, applicants can contact HCF via phone at 808-537-6333 or toll-free at 1-888-731-3863. Applications should be submitted at https://hawaiicf.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp.

Ensure required reports from past HCF grants are completed; profile must be certified prior to submission; incomplete or late applications are not accepted.