Pili Nā Moku Funding Opportunity

Pili Nā Moku Funding Opportunity is sponsored by University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant). This initiative supports community-led efforts in Hawaiʻi that focus on caring for ʻāina, strengthening cultural and ecological stewardship, and building resilient communities.

Pili Nā Moku Opportunities – Hawaii Sea Grant Listening & Visioning Session Info Submit a Statement of Interest Informational Webinar Recording Frequently Asked Questions In alignment with Pili Nā Moku, the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) is launching a funding opportunity to support community-led efforts that care for ʻāina, strengthen cultural and ecological stewardship, and build resilient communities across Hawaiʻi.

This funding initiative will invest in projects focused on five moku and hui moku: Kona Kauaʻi (South and West); Waiʻanae, Oʻahu; Molokaʻi; Central Maui; and Kohala, Hawaiʻi Island . Up to $1. 4 million is available per moku/hui moku to support projects that reflect community-identified priorities and advance long-term resilience.

This initiative seeks projects that build on established relationships of trust within the moku, invest in long-term community capacity, and embrace multi-generational knowledge .

Proposed projects should align with community-identified priorities and contribute to one or more of the following focus areas: Conserve and Restore Forests and Watersheds Enhance Coastal Stewardship Share Knowledge and Strengthen Networks Across Communities Reduce Risk and Improve Disaster Preparedness Expand Community Governance Request for Proposal (RFP) Documents and Templates Community Funding Opportunity RFP : Includes all essential details on how to apply, along with helpful templates for the budget, narrative, and more.

The Pili Nā Moku Community Funding Opportunity has two pathways to apply: Collaborative Project Pathway: $1,200,000 in funding available per moku (seeking to fund 1 award per moku) for a funding term of two years: Collaborative projects bring together multiple nonprofit organizations and their activities at the moku scale. Collaboration through this pathway is intended to maximize collective benefit to the moku.

Organizations selected through the collaborative project pathway will receive funding from the Community Funding Hub in their moku, with the Hub serving as the fiscal sponsor. Individual Project Pathway: $200,000 in funding available per moku (seeking to fund 1-2 awards per moku) for a funding term of two years: Open to nonprofit organizations working in the moku.

Funding for projects that are better suited for individual (direct) funding rather than through the Collaborative Project Pathway. Organizations awarded through the individual project pathway may be funded directly through a cost-reimbursable subaward agreement with the University of Hawaiʻi or through the Community Funding Hub in their moku.

For both the individual and collaborative funding pathways: Applicants must be nonprofit organizations with strong place-based relationships and a history of supporting ʻāina restoration and thriving communities in one of the five project moku or hui moku. Project activities must also be focused within the five moku or hui moku.

Application and Important Dates The application and review processes vary between the Collaborative Project Pathway and the Individual Project Pathway. For both pathways, interested applicants must submit a short Statement of Interest to be eligible to submit a full proposal. Statements of Interest due Friday, August 28, at 5 p.

m. (HST) . Submit by filling out this form.

Full Proposal due Friday, November 6, 2026, at 5 p. m. (HST).

See Request for Proposal (RFP) documents and templates for full submission requirements. Support for proposal submission To support applicants through the proposal submission process, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will provide a number of services, including the following. A recording of our Informational Webinar on the funding opportunity can be found here.

Moku Listening and Visioning Sessions Listening and visioning sessions will be held in each of the five moku/hui moku. These sessions are intended to build connections, develop a shared understanding of community priorities, and collectively begin generating ideas. This is an opportunity to celebrate successes within the moku and understand where the collective needs are.

Sessions are open to all. Attendance is optional and will not impact application review. Kona Kauaʻi (South and West): Thursday, July 23, 2026, 6-8 p.

m. , Hanapēpē Neighborhood Center. Register for Kona Kauaʻi Listening Session here .

RESCHEDULED Wednesday, July 29, 2026 , 5-7 p. m. , Kūlana ʻŌiwi.

NEW DATE: Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 5-7 p. m. , Kūlana ʻŌiwi.

Register for Molokaʻi Listening Session here. Central Maui: Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 5-7:30 p. m.

, UH Maui College (Pilina Building). Register for Central Maui Listening Session here. Saturday, July 25, 2026, 9:30-10:30 a.

m. , North Kohala Community Resource Center, Register for Kohala Listening Session #1 here. Saturday, August 8, 2026, 9:30-10:30 a.

m. , Thelma Parker Memorial Public & School Library, Register for Kohala Listening Session #2 here. Waiʻanae, Oʻahu: Saturday, August 8, 2026, 10 a.

m. -12 p. m.

, Leeward Community College Waiʻanae Moku (Māʻili). Register for Waiʻanae Listening Session here. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) FAQs are available here and updated regularly with new inquiries.

Office hours will be available to answer questions and provide additional support to applicants, in person or virtually. During office hours, staff from Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will work one-on-one with applicants. To schedule one-on-one office hours, email pnmoku@hawaii.

edu. *Participation in the informational webinar, moku listening and visioning sessions, and office hours is not required for the application process. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at pnmoku@hawaii.

edu.