Hawaiʻi Rising

Community news for March 2026! After headlines, we feature interviews with two HPF partners advocating for their communities during this legislative session:

• First, Cameron Miyamoto (co-president of PFLAG Oʻahu) shares about PFLAG Oʻahu's participation in the 2nd annual Queer Day at the Capitol on February 17 and about HB 1875, a bill to protect access to gender-affirming care. To learn more about PFLAG Oʻahu, check out our fu...

In addition to fresh episodes in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi this Hawaiian Language Month, we're resharing this special episode in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi featuring Dr. Kū Kahakalau and Pōlani Kahakalau, with guest host Pualiʻi Rossi. Also check out our past English-language episode with Dr. Kū and Pōlani about EA Ecoversity.

Ma kēia hualono, kamaʻilio ʻo ʻAnakē Kū Kahakalau lāua ʻo Pōlani Kahakalau e pili ana i ko lāua hoʻomau ʻana i ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ...

We kick off Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi with a special episode in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi featuring Pualiʻi Rossi, the president of I Ola Wailuanui, with guest host Brad Watanabe. Also check out our English-language episode about I Ola Wailuanui with Pualiʻi and her fellow board member Mason Chock.

Ma kēia hualono, kamaʻilio ʻo Pualiʻi Rossi e pili ana i kona aʻo ʻana i ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi a me ka hana a ka hui ʻo I Ola ...

Community news for January 2026! After headlines, we feature interviews with updates from two long-time grantee partners:

• ʻĀinaaloha Ioane, the executive director of the Keliʻi William Ioane Legacy Foundation, shares the latest milestones in the efforts of the King's Landing community to secure long-term leases on the homestead lands they have lived on for decades.
• Kami Yamamoto and Lauren Taijeron from the Hawaiʻi Workers Cen...

How are organizations in Hawaiʻi addressing the need for sustainable and abundant food systems to feed our island communities?

In this issue area episode from the spring, we hear from three community partners working toward the restoration of Hawaiian food systems, in particular through the foundational practice of uhau humu pōhaku (Hawaiian drystack masonry).

First, we hear from Keʻalohi ...

Community news for December 2025! After headlines, we feature interviews with two Maui Aloha grantees organizing in Lāhaina:

• First, De Andre Makakoa from Lāhaina Strong shares about community organizing after the 2023 wildfire as well as the 2025 documentary Lāhaina Rising, which won the Made in Hawaiʻi award at the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival.
• Second, Carolyn Auweloa from the Lāhaina Community Land Trust speaks about ...

Today is Lā Kūʻokoʻa, the Hawaiian Kingdom’s Independence Day! On this day in 1843, the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was officially recognized as a sovereign nation by Great Britain and France in the Anglo-Franco Proclamation.

In this special episode, we speak with ʻĪmaikalani Winchester to hear the history behind Lā Kūʻokoʻa. ʻĪmai is a lead organizer for the annual celebration of Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea at Thomas Square. These two national holiday...

HPF and our partners are on the radio! In this special episode, we share a recording of a live radio show on KKCR Kauaʻi Community Radio highlighting our Kauaʻi-based grantee partners through a pop-up broadcast from Hale Līhue. Hosted by KKCR's executive director Anni Caporuscio, the broadcast features Akira "Kiki" Katsumata-Smith (Rice Street Business Association), Pualiʻi Rossi-Fukino (I Ola Wailuanui), Tina Aiu (Kīpuka Kuleana),...

A conversation with Nikki Cristobal, Ashley Mahaʻa, and Makanalani Gomes about the Missing and Murdered Native Hawaiian Women, Girls, and Māhū (MMNHWGM) movement.

The MMNHWGM movement and research work is a focus of Kamāwaelualani, a Kauaʻi-based grassroots organization dedicated to Native Hawaiian public art, education, and community activation. Kamāwaelualani undertakes this work to re-connect Hawaiʻiʻs people with cultural stori...

Our first monthly community news episode! In each news episode, you'll get community headlines followed by two interview segments sharing timely updates from our partners from across all our grantmaking programs.

Our November 2025 episode features updates from two hui who demonstrate that community takes care of community:

• Mōʻī Kawaʻakoa from Holomua Outreach shares about their urgent organizing with the houseless community li...

An interview about building up communities' capacity to heal their own lands with Kauʻi Lopes, Hannah Hartmann, and Kaʻimi Kaleleiki.

Earth RM is a Hilo-based nonprofit with a mission to develop, implement, and share accessible bioremediation solutions to heal communities, lands, and waters affected by environmental pollution. Bioremediation involves allying with microbes, fungi, and plant communities to break down environmental po...

An interview from early 2025 about community stewardship of ʻāina with Pualiʻi Rossi and Mason Chock from I Ola Wailuanui.

I Ola Wailuanui is a grassroots community organization formed and managed by Kauaʻi residents for the purpose of preserving, protecting, and restoring Wailuanuiahoʻāno and the environmental, historical, and cultural treasures there. Their vision is a living ʻili ʻāina for and by thriving kamaʻāina who are cultu...

A conversation about community restoration of place with Addison Bulosan of the Rice Street Business Association (RSBA).

RSBA is dedicated to fostering a thriving, just, and self-sustaining Downtown Līhu‘e by empowering local entrepreneurship, perpetuating Native Hawaiian culture, and strengthening community power. RSBA invites Kauaʻi community members to the annual Rice Street Block Party this coming Sa...

Season 5 of Hawaiʻi Rising is here! The new season kicks off with a conversation about building support and acceptance for LGBTQ+ loved ones with Ryna Yamada and Cameron Miyamoto, the co-presidents of PFLAG Oʻahu.

PFLAG Oʻahu is a local chapter of the US’ largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. PFLAG Oʻahu hosts a monthly support ...