Men of PA‘A receives $100,000 ‘aina community grant from office of hawaiian affairs (OHA)
Men of PA‘A receives $100,000 ‘aina community grant from office of hawaiian affairs (OHA)
The Men of PA’A today announced a grant award totaling $100,000 that will support the Native Hawaiian community through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) ‘Aina Community Grant Program to support MOP’s Imu Mea Ai project. The grant will help to reinforce and strengthen Native Hawaiians’ connections to ‘ohana (family) mo‘omeheu (culture) and ‘aina (land and water) and support OHA’s work in creating pathways to economic stability, perpetuation of Native Hawaiian culture and positive health outcomes among Kanaka Maoli.”
“Receiving this generous grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs marks a pivotal moment for Men of PA’As’ mission to reinvigorate the heart of the Native Hawaiian community. This funding will be instrumental in deepening our community’s connection to ‘ohana, mo‘omeheu, and ‘aina, reinforcing the roots that sustain our cultural identity and collective well-being. Through immersive programs like Imu Mea Ai, we are not just teaching skills or sharing knowledge; we are nurturing a generation grounded in their heritage, poised to cultivate a resilient and prosperous future” said Iopa Maunakea, Executive Director of Men of PA‘A. “
The purpose of the ‘Aina Community Grant program is to support community projects that are designed to positively increase Native Hawaiian wellbeing in alignment with OHA’s 2020-2035 Strategic Plan Framework’s Strategic Foundations and Strategic Directions.
About: Men of PA‘A – Our mission is to enable and empower Kanaka Maoli, particularly Native Hawaiian men coming out of the justice system who see recovery, restoration, and reconciliation with themselves, their ‘ohana and their community through what we call Ho‘okanaka; A culturally rooted, communally relevant process of personal change catalyzed by servant leadership.
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