OHA releases new grant solicitation
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs recently released its third grant solicitation of the month, announcing the availability of a new community grant targeted specifically to aid Native Hawaiian families living on Hawaiian Homestead lands.
OHA is dedicating $250,000 to its new Homestead Community Grant and is soliciting applications from nonprofit organizations that administer community-based programs or projects designed to strengthen Hawaiian Homestead beneficiaries, families, and communities. Funding awards will range from $25,000 minimum to a maximum of $75,000.
According to the 2010 Census, there are nearly 31,000 people living on Hawaiian Homelands, representing some 75 homesteads across the islands.
Project proposals may include, but are not limited to, programs that meet Hawaiian Homestead communities’ basic needs such as home repairs, handrails, guardrails, ramps, internet access and transportation; providing aids such as walkers, canes, eyeglasses, hearing aids, protective footwear and dental services; or program or activity supports in homestead youth, kupuna or community centers such as appliances, computers, internet access, safety patrol activities or after-school programming.
Proposals to provide advocacy education or support services to enable Hawaiian Homestead communities to advocate for ohana and communities will also be considered.
Proposals must identify the specific services or activities that will be completed with grant funds to benefit these communities.
A pre-recorded solicitation orientation session along with a PowerPoint presentation will be posted to the OHA Grants Program webpage on Friday. The grant application deadline is March 5 with one-year grants slated to start June 1.
For more information, visit www.oha.org/grants.
Buddha Day celebration set for March 14
The Hawaii Association of International Buddhists will host the ninth annual Buddha Day celebration virtually via Zoom on March 14.
The program, which will run from 10 to 11:30 a.m., will include a Buddhist service, traditional offering of sweet tea to the baby Buddha at the Hanamido, as well as guest speakers from several Buddhist traditions. The free event is open to the public to celebrate the birth of Shakyamuni who became the Buddha. A donation to The Food Basket is suggested.
The topic for this year’s celebration is “Dharma in Action” and the guest speaker is Mushim Patricia Ikeda from the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, California. Ikeda is a well-known Buddhist teacher, author, mentor and community activist who has been featured in the award-winning documentary film “Between the Lines: Asian American Women’s Poetry” and in “Acting on Faith: Women’s New Religious Activism in America.”
Also speaking will be Ryan Nakade from the Integral Buddhist tradition who will talk about “Mindful Politics: Dharma and Dialogue;” Lisa Lassner from the Triratna Buddhist Community who will talk about her experience of “The Dharma in Ordinary Life;” and Sheera Tamura from the Jodo Shin tradition who will present on “Historical Racism and Empowerment” from a Buddhist perspective.
For a Zoom link, visit https://forms.gle/8LQK7zAGSDELmZNB7 or contact Rev. Blayne Higa at bhiga@honpahi.org or (808) 323-2993.