Mulch fees suspended longer
Amid the continued water restrictions in North Kona, the County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management has extended the temporary suspension of mulch loading fees at the Kealakehe Transfer Station, in hopes of continuing to encourage the public to utilize mulch around their plants to save water.
DEM has directed its contractor, Hawaiian Earth Recycling, to provide free mulch loading services through Dec. 31. As always, the free mulch is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Mulch loading hours at the facility’s Mulch Public Pick-up Area are from 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
Hawaiian Earth Recycling will load mulch into your truck and or trailer at no cost. Mulching boosts water retention in the soil while conserving water.
Info: 935-2277
$20K available for school projects
Kupu, Hawaii’s leading conservation and youth education organization, and Kokua Hawaii Foundation, announced the second annual Hawaii Youth Sustainability Challenge mini-grant program opportunity.
Students and educators in grades 6-12 at public, private and charter schools on Hawaii Island can apply for funding to support innovative and grassroots environmental initiatives that will create new and sustainable solutions for their schools and communities.
This coming year, $20,000 in funding is available for individual project grants between $150 to $1,000, based on project scope and needs.
Last year, Kupu and Kokua Hawaii Foundation awarded funds to support four projects on Hawaii Island. There was a wide a range of projects including: creating a children’s book about harvesting paakai (sea salt) by students at Kealakehe Intermediate School; building and placing recycle bins and signage throughout Kohala High School; planting a community garden at Parker School; and restoring a garden and incorporating traditional Hawaiian cultural lessons and protocol at St. Joseph School.
“Our youth are the change makers; they see solutions in challenges that many of us adults have a hard time envisioning,” Natalie McKinney, Kokua Hawaii Foundation executive director, said. “The HYSC offers them the opportunity to pilot sustainability solutions for their school community.”
Applications are aavailable online, https://kokua.fluxx.io. Deadline to apply is Dec. 15.
Red Kettle Kickoff Nov. 16
The Salvation Army’s Kona Corps will jumpstart the holiday fundraising season with a Red Kettle Kickoff luncheon event at The Old Kona Airport Beach Park, located at 75 Kuakini Highway, on from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 16
“We encourage businesses and individuals to help us kick off the holiday season and learn more about our social service programs and outreach in West Hawaii,” said Lt. Jose Santiago, Corps Officer for The Salvation Army’s Kona Corps. “Working together, our island communities can ‘Fight for Good’ and help those in need during the upcoming holidays.”
Funds raised for The Salvation Army’s Kona Corps provide life-changing opportunities for families and individuals receiving outreach assistance through the Corps’ various programs and services including pier feeding, after-school programs, summer camp, among other activities. Last year, The Salvation Army’s Kona Corps served 4,441 people, provided 48,642 meals, and 515 items of clothing, furniture and gifts to those in need.
To register, visit hawaii.salvationarmy.org/hawaii/KonaKettleKickoff.
Table sponsorships for 10 guests are $400 and individual tickets are $50.
Info: Jennifer Oyer via email at jennifer.oyer@usw.salvationarmy.org or 440-1864.
Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation gets $150K grant
The Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a healthier, stronger community with an emphasis on HIV and related health issues in Kailua-Kona was awarded a grant for $150,000.
Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation’s BRADDAH Project will provide high-risk Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian young men with the life skills to thrive.
It was a grant from Forward Promise, a national grant making program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which announced Monday grant awards totaling $3.15 million to nine organizations across the United States that are helping boys and young men of color.
This first round of grant-making entitled, Empowerment Projects, will support organizations that provide culturally-relevant and evidence-supported responses to trauma for boy of color in schools, health systems, juvenile detention, and community-based settings.
These organizations help them overcome the effects of systemic and historical trauma linked to discrimination, oppression, dehumanization and prolonged exposure to violence, poverty and other forms of toxic stress.