RES 335 Draft 01 2024-2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Project Information * 48. Project Title EXHIBIT A Black Sands Beach Community Garden's Keiki Resilience Project 49. Project Start Date 07/01/2025 50. Project End Date 06/30/2026 51. Please select all areas of Hawaii Island where the project will be administered, delivered, and implemented. Puna South Hilo * 52. Please select the district of the Council Member from which you would like to apply for Contingency Relief Funds. Council District 4 * 53. In 2,000 characters or less, describe the project. The Black Sands Beach Community is one of the most remote subdivisions in Puna, located off Hwy 130 near its end at Kalapana. Properties in this area are among the most affordable on the island, attracting many low-income residents. The Keiki Resilience Project provides hands-on educational opportunities for youth considered at risk due to the neighborhood's socioeconomic status and has expanded to support kupuna with nutritional and hygiene needs. The distance to food markets and drug stores, along with the high cost of items, poses a challenge for many households. Through the project, keiki learn about food production by planting fruits and vegetables, using tools and -materials to maintain the garden, and participating in safe, supervised activities such as fire ant control with appropriate treatments. Keeping keiki engaged on weekends and during breaks in the year-round K-12 public school schedule has fostered additional learning, including prize-winning events at the Cooperative Extension office in Hilo. The project also provides educational and recreational games, music instruction with ukuleles, and sports equipment to support cognitive, cultural, and physical development. The project ensures that keiki receive snacks and lunch while participating in activities that strengthen reading and math skills. Distribution of diapers, personal hygiene items, and specialized nutritional support meets the needs of keiki and kupuna, promoting health, well-being, and dignity. Many community volunteers have contributed to the success of these programs and wish to continue supporting the Black Sands Beach community with the requested funding. Joel Hau Can, a resident of Black Sands Beach, serves as Project Coordinator to organize events, manage volunteers, and ensure successful program delivery. * 54. 501(c)(3) Mission Statement Malama 0 Puna is a Hawaii nonprofit 501(C)(3) corporation and volunteer service organization that focuses on environmental health, community sustainability, and stability. Our mission is to protect critical habitat, native species, open spaces and traditional cultural landscapes for future generations through hands-on projects, environmental education, advocacy, and networking. * 55. In 1,000 characters or less, explain how the 501(c)(3) is connected to the project. Malama 0 Puna has established Food Security as one of its primary goals under our mission to serve the Puna community. We've assisted the Keiki Resilience Project almost from its inception, bringing in resources to help with Little Fire Ant (LFA) control and education about Rat Lung Worm disease and the spread of Rapid Ohia Death and other invasive insects and plants. As we have assisted other Puna communities (Hawaiian Shores and Nanawale) with setting up gardens and fruit orchard, hosting these efforts by the Black Sands Beach community to support a garden, train and educate keiki, and provide hygiene and care to kupuna is perfectly in line with Malama 0 Puna's purpose which includes community capacity building and organizational goals to help eradicate food insecurity. * 56. Please upload a completed CRF Grant Budget Form. Smoke It Up CRF Budget Form complete.xlsx