By Staff Reports
(LĪHU‘E) – Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. held a ceremony Friday morning to award a total of $500,000 in grants to six nonprofit community organizations continuing flood recovery work in the aftermath of the historic April flood.
“I am so excited to support these outstanding organizations for the tireless work they do every day for our community,” said Mayor Carvalho. “Each are vital to the health, safety, and well-being of our people and I know the work they have ahead will ultimately serve the needs of those affected by the devastating floods this year.”
The following organizations were presented with ceremonial checks on Friday:
· Hale Halawai – $125,000 to fund the Flood Project Continuation-Wainiha. In partnership with the Wainiha-Hā‘ena community, Hale Halawai will prepare the grounds of the Wainiha Cultural Beach Park for stewardship and community engagement.
· Child and Family Service – $111,738 for the funding of services. The CFS team will offer a combination of services to help survivors heal and rebuild their lives through case management, coordination of services, counseling, and collaboration with other community based organizations.
· National Tropical Botanical Gardens – $92,054 for the funding of Limahuli garage road repairs and improvements. The project will rebuild and provide improvements to the access road and facilitate recovery for the Limahuli Garden and Preserve.
· Hanalei Watershed Hui – $64,000 to fund hazard mitigation for flood-areas on the North Shore of Kaua‘i. The project will include updating the Hanalei to Hā‘ena Community Disaster Plan, and the purchase of emergency staging area supplies.
· Mālama Kaua‘i – $57,208 for the funding of the Mea‘ai on Wheels program. This program will continue to provide meals and assist vulnerable and less mobile individuals and families in the Wainiha-Hā‘ena area.
· YMCA – $50,000 to fund the YMCA of Kaua‘i Camp Naue repairs. The project will address damages sustained while relief efforts were operating from the camp.
Funding for these projects is provided through the Act 12 Community Service Grant Program – appropriated by the State of Hawai‘i to the County of Kaua‘i as part of the $100 million measure to help finance the flood recovery effort on Kaua‘i. The County of Kaua‘i Office of Economic Development has been designated to facilitate and manage the grants given to the six organizations.
“Mahalo to Governor David Ige, Senate President Ron Kouchi, State Representative Nadine Nakamura, and all of our Kaua‘i legislative delegation, for your tremendous partnership, support, and quick action to release substantial state funds that will benefit the overall recovery of our island,” said Mayor Carvalho. “We look forward to rebuilding and restoring our community, with renewed hope in our hearts.”