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Apply for Urgent Action Grants up to $5,000 from the Hawaiʻi People's Fund's "Maui Aloha: The People's Response"

Hawaiʻi People’s Fund is committed to supporting grassroots organizations implementing direct actions to reduce the harm of current systemic failures and organizing to build power for indigenous and marginalized communities. We welcome strategic proposals that aim to support our beloved community and build towards a more just and equitable future ($5,000 maximum request).

Hawaiʻi People’s Fund is mobilizing to help provide immediate relief to those directly impacted by the wildfires on Maui Island. While organizations may apply for Urgent Action Grants to support change-oriented direct actions happening in communities across the pae ʻāīna, the Hawaiʻi People’s Fund is prioritizing assistance to huis mobilizing to provide immediate relief to those directly impacted by the wildfires on Maui Island.

Grant amounts: The maximum grant request is $5,000.

Apply for Urgent Action Grants from Maui Aloha: The Peopleʻs Response: 
Online Application or Paper Application This paper application can be downloaded, filled out, and sent to peoples@lava.net

We understand that low-income families, houseless communities, people with disabilities, indigenous, immigrant, and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by crisis (in addition to ongoing systemic oppression). Community organizing is essential at this moment to protect ‘āina kulaiwi, heal lives and spirits, and ensure our most vulnerable communities can stay safe.

Examples of projects/responses can include:

  • Participatory mutual aid projects serving vulnerable communities (food justice, kūpuna care, childcare)
  • Building solidarity economies
  • Community centered indigenous traditional healing and medicine
  • Organizing transportation and deployment of essential goods
  • Organizing against evictions, utility shut offs, ICE and immigration enforcement
  • Organizing for mental health and grief counseling resources
  • Organizing to protect affected lands from predatory investors and speculators

To accommodate real-time response to community needs, the Hawaiʻi People’s Fund will make the following special considerations to those responding to issues related to the August 2023 fires on Maui:

  • Current grantees or past grantees mobilizing in Relief and Response on Maui may seek direct awards for urgent response. Please contact the Executive Director directly at hawaiipf@gmail.com.
  • Committee will make all efforts to expedite review and make determinations within a week of receipt or less
If you are a current or past HPF grantee responding to the Maui fires, please contact us directly before filling out this application - peoples@lava.net

Read our FAQ on Funding Guidelines And Eligibility

(The People’s Fund reserves the right to expedite larger awards to past and current grantees providing direct, immediate relief to those recovering from the Maui wildfires. Email hawaiipf@gmail.com)

Since 1972, the Hawaiʻi People’s Fund has stood in solidarity with those individuals and organizations who have been working to upend and heal systems of oppression for 50 years.

Tax ID/EIN 23-7250803Hawaiʻi Peopleʻs Fund is a 501c3 nonprofit organization registered in the State of Hawaiʻi.

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For Lahaina & Kula residents impacted by the fires

Talk Story with Mayor Bissen

Lahaina and Kula residents who have been impacted by the August fires are invited to talk story with Mayor Richard Bissen. There are several dates to choose from. Each talk story session will welcome up to 30 residents to give folks a chance to share mana‘o and ask questions.

Series of events from December 9 through January 27.