Hawaii Kuleana Connect Grant Program

connect@hsrha.org

The Hawaii Kuleana Connect Grant Program offers grants to support creative, community-driven ideas that strengthen connections between healthcare providers, community, and well-being throughout rural Hawaii. The program encourages projects that foster connection, belonging, collaboration, and shared responsibility while supporting provider wellness, recruitment, and retention.

Program goals:

• Foster connection between rural healthcare providers and community
• Encourage cultural understanding and sense of place for rural healthcare providers
• Promote collaboration between rural healthcare providers and community sectors

Grant levels include (with examples of projects):

• Hoomaka - Starting the connection, for simple, easy to implement ideas
  • Provider-community volunteer day
  • Cultural immersion experience for clinicians and community/patients
  • Community talk-story with clinicians
  • Neighborhood welcome activities
  • Staff/clinician/community joint wellness gatherings
• Hooulu - Growing and nurturing connection, for projects involving multiple partners or recurring activities
  • Ongoing provider-community engagement programs
  • Community health and wellness events
  • Cultural learning series
• Kukulu - Building lasting foundations, for larger collaborative efforts with broader community impact
  • Develop a walking track, fitness trail, or outdoor wellness space to improve community health
  • Create an ongoing fitness, wellness, or movement program at a community center
  • Establish a community garden that engages healthcare providers, patients, and community members
  • Develop a cultural immersion and place-based orientation program for new healthcare providers and their families
  • Create a provider-family integration program that helps healthcare professionals and their families build lasting connections within the community

The program welcomes ideas from individuals and organizations who are interested in strengthening connections between healthcare providers, community, and well-being in rural Hawaii. This may include:

• Healthcare providers
• Healthcare staff
• Medical residents and students
• Provider spouses and family members
• Community organizations
• Cultural practitioners
• Patients and community members
• Collaborative teams and partnerships

Eligible areas include Hawaii County, Maui County, Kauai County, and designated rural Oahu ZIP codes: 96712, 96717, 96731, 96762, 96786, 96791, 96792, and 96795.

Award ranges:

• Hoomaka: $1,000 - $7,500
• Hooulu: $7,500 - $15,000
• Kukulu: $15,000 - $30,000

Project periods will be 12 months unless otherwise approved.

A link to the online application form is available on the program website.