Grant program distributes $23M in aid
Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union distributed $23 million to local businesses in need at the end of 2020 as part of the Holomua Hawaii grant program, the credit union announced Monda. Hawaii County appointed HCFCU as the coordinator to distribute those funds that were provided by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES Act.
From September through December, HCFCU and five other Hawaii Island credit unions provided financial relief to 2,510 businesses or nonprofits with 50 employees or less. Grantees were provided up to $10,000 to use for supporting core operations, safe on-going and reopening costs, purchasing personal protective equipment, training, and technical assistance.
“We saw how longtime businesses were struggling to make ends meet. The grant helped to provide stability and hope for many in our community,” said Mel Ventura, vice president of member services. “Hawaii Community FCU was honored to lead this critical effort that made a significant and positive impact.”
Humpback whale
count continues
Seventy-two trained site leaders gathered data from the shores of Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island this weekend during the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count and Great Whale Count by the Pacific Whale Foundation.
The event was the second of three coordinated whale counts between the two organizations in 2021. Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, the sanctuary and Pacific Whale Foundation are running modified programs without the normal participation of volunteers. Instead, each site is monitored by trained site leaders working individually or as a couple.
Site leaders collected data from 42 sites across the islands on Saturday. Leaders collected data from 30 sites on the Big Island, Oahu and Kauai from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. From 9 to 9:15 a.m., 83 whale sightings were reported. On Maui, Great Whale Count site leaders collected data from 12 sites from 8:30 to 11:50 am. A total of 34 whale sightings were seen during the 8:30 to 8:45 am time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count.
Across the main Hawaiian Islands, weather conditions were not ideal whale viewing conditions with strong winds and high surf present at the majority of sites, according to the organizations. Many sites also experienced rainy conditions periodically throughout the count.
