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Water Scarcity XPRIZE The $119M XPRIZE Water Scarcity is a 5-year competition to reimagine and revolutionize seawater desalination technologies.

https://www.science.org/content/article/after-protests-u-s-agency-drops-plan-limit-pesticide-use-report

After protests, U.S. agency drops plan to limit pesticide use report U.S. Geological Survey will continue reporting farm use of some 400 compounds

IT'S TIME!!! The next Revitalize Puna is tomorrow, Saturday, July 8th!!!
Date: 06/09/2023 1:42 PM
REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE

Save the date for Saturday, July 8th! The next Revitalize Puna event will be held at the Billy Kenoi Pāhoa District Park Gym from 10am to 2pm. Come connect with government officials and community leaders working on eruption recovery and resilience projects in Puna. Drop in for a few minutes or stay for the whole event - it's sure to be a fun, engaging, and informative experience!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/revitalize-puna-tickets-596343428247
County, State, and Federal leaders will be there to update you on ongoing eruption recovery efforts and share their insights on the challenges and opportunities in the Puna region. Plus, the State Department of Land and Natural Resources will give an update on the Pohoiki Boat Ramp restoration progress. Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity to stay informed and engaged with the community's recovery efforts!

Puna community police officers will be conducting Keiki ID services. This is a valuable opportunity for parents and guardians to have their children's identification cards created and registered with law enforcement. Make sure to spread the word and take advantage of this service!

Get ready for some exciting updates from the Resilience Capacity Areas (RCAs)! These multi-sector groups are the driving force behind Puna's recovery efforts, and they're eager to share their progress with you. With a focus on collaboration and innovation, the RCAs are implementing projects outlined in the Kilauea Recovery and Resilience Plan, which supports three key strategies: recovery, readiness, and resilience. Led by community and County co-chairs, the six RCAs cover a range of areas, including Social, Cultural, Economic, Natural Environment, and Youth. You won't want to miss this chance to learn about their ongoing efforts and how you can get involved!

We are also exited for Resilience Resource Row, which will showcase a variety of pop-up displays from local nonprofit organizations that focus on mental wellness. Our Resource Row is designed to provide volunteer opportunities to those who wish to make a positive impact in the Puna community. If you are interested in participating in Resource Row, you must apply by emailing [email protected] before June 9th. It's important to note that participation in Resource Row is subject to approval by our planning team.

To honor the 5th anniversary of the Kilauea eruption, we'll be placing a special emphasis on mental wellness. The Youth RCA and Resource Row will be providing a range of information and fun activities aimed at promoting mental well-being. The activation is free. All residents interested in learning more about Puna's recovery and contributing to its resilience are welcome!

The upcoming July 8th event marks the eighth convening of the Revitalize Puna series, which is co-hosted by the Kīlauea Recovery Team and Council District 4. The primary objective of this activation is to promote regular interactions between the community and the County, fostering the sharing of information, perspectives, and building relationships that increase trust and collaboration. By bringing together various stakeholders, this event will help advance the community's efforts towards recovery and resilience.

Let's stay connected! Get event updates and sneak peaks by following us on Facebook and Instagram & facebook.com/revitalizepuna

Revitalize Puna Stop by Pāhoa District Park Gym on Saturday, July 8 for Revitalize Puna, a community activation. All Puna residents welcome!

SAVE THE DATE: The next Revitalize Puna is Saturday, July 8th!!!
Date: 06/09/2023 1:38 PM
Save the date for Saturday, July 8th! The next Revitalize Puna event will be held at the Billy Kenoi Pāhoa District Park Gym from 10am to 2pm. Come connect with government officials and community leaders working on eruption recovery and resilience projects in Puna. Drop in for a few minutes or stay for the whole event - it's sure to be a fun, engaging, and informative experience!

County, State, and Federal leaders will be there to update you on ongoing eruption recovery efforts and share their insights on the challenges and opportunities in the Puna region. Plus, the State Department of Land and Natural Resources will give an update on the Pohoiki Boat Ramp restoration progress. Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity to stay informed and engaged with the community's recovery efforts!

Puna community police officers will be conducting Keiki ID services. This is a valuable opportunity for parents and guardians to have their children's identification cards created and registered with law enforcement. Make sure to spread the word and take advantage of this service!

Get ready for some exciting updates from the Resilience Capacity Areas (RCAs)! These multi-sector groups are the driving force behind Puna's recovery efforts, and they're eager to share their progress with you. With a focus on collaboration and innovation, the RCAs are implementing projects outlined in the Kilauea Recovery and Resilience Plan, which supports three key strategies: recovery, readiness, and resilience. Led by community and County co-chairs, the six RCAs cover a range of areas, including Social, Cultural, Economic, Natural Environment, and Youth. You won't want to miss this chance to learn about their ongoing efforts and how you can get involved!

We are also exited for Resilience Resource Row, which will showcase a variety of pop-up displays from local nonprofit organizations that focus on mental wellness. Our Resource Row is designed to provide volunteer opportunities to those who wish to make a positive impact in the Puna community. If you are interested in participating in Resource Row, you must apply by emailing [email protected] before June 9th. It's important to note that participation in Resource Row is subject to approval by our planning team.

To honor the 5th anniversary of the Kilauea eruption, we'll be placing a special emphasis on mental wellness. The Youth RCA and Resource Row will be providing a range of information and fun activities aimed at promoting mental well-being. The activation is free. All residents interested in learning more about Puna's recovery and contributing to its resilience are welcome!

The upcoming July 8th event marks the eighth convening of the Revitalize Puna series, which is co-hosted by the Kīlauea Recovery Team and Council District 4. The primary objective of this activation is to promote regular interactions between the community and the County, fostering the sharing of information, perspectives, and building relationships that increase trust and collaboration. By bringing together various stakeholders, this event will help advance the community's efforts towards recovery and resilience.

Let's stay connected! Get event updates and sneak peaks by following us on Facebook and Instagram & facebook.com/revitalizepuna

Revitalize Puna Collaborative placemaking initiative by County of Hawai'i and community to support Puna's resilience.

So here's the update from today.

The bad news: Money Chairs Donovan Dela Cruz and Kyle Yamash*ta haven't committed to fully funding publicly financed elections, despite over a $20 billion budget and a $1 billion proposed "rainy day fund." Publicly financed elections would cost less than .04% of the overall budget and less than .75% of that discretionary rainy day fund.

The good news: ​We still have legislators fighting to win Clean Elections and get big money out of our politics, and there's still time left to make your voice heard...but not much of it.

This legislation will live or die in the next 24 hours. Here's what you can do:

Write Dela Cruz, Yamash*ta, leadership, and your Representatives​ (even if you've done it already)
​Call Dela Cruz and Yamash*ta and ask them to do the right thing! (below)
Share on social media and ask your friends to do the same (Facebook​, Instagram​, Twitter​)
​Here are some call scripts:

Call Chair Yamash*ta’s office at 808-586-6330. Here’s a sample script:
Hi there, my name is ________ and I’m calling from _______ to demand Representative Yamash*ta pass and fully fund SB 1543 in conference committee. We don't need another pilot, we need to get money out of politics now. The issue of private money corrupting our politics and our elections process is very important to me and this is sound this is sound, proven, and affordable legislation. I hope Chair Yamash*ta will allow this bill the full funding it deserves not, and not delay it's start to 2028.
Call Chair Dela Cruz' office at 808-586-6090. Here’s a sample script:
Hi there, my name is ________ and I’m calling from _______ to demand Senator Dela Cruz pass and fully fund SB 1543 in conference committee. We don't need another pilot, we need to get money out of politics now. The issue of private money corrupting our politics and our elections process is very important to me and this is sound this is sound, proven, and affordable legislation. I hope Chair Dela Cruz will allow this bill the full funding it deserves not, and not delay it's start to 2028.
FOR EASY SUBMIT EMAIL TO YOUR LEGISLATORS - ACT NOW - TAP HERE!

ʻONIPAʻA! MAHALO!

Support our work towards a more equitable and sustainable Hawaiʻi

As a grassroots organization, we depend on community support. If you find value in our work, please consider supporting us with a one-time or monthly donation. By doing so, we can continue fighting for Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems and people.

This is not good. It was good until the last minute. A common tactic used by certain legislators is to smile and nod while you're looking and as soon as you turn your back, they gut and replace the bill. You could work on a bill for years and convince people to vote for it then at the last minute it gets changed to something no one should vote for. Our current legislature is 80% criminals. Keep your eye on the names below to see how they treat your fight to clean elections. Call them.

--
BREAKING: Legislators trying to handicap by delaying to 2028, underfunding, and only commiting for 1 year.

Contact leadership and Money Chairs NOW to tell them HEWA: Pass & Fund FULL Clean Elections NOW!

FOR EASY SUBMIT EMAIL TO YOUR LEGISLATORS - ACT NOW - TAP HERE!

MORE INFO:

According to Civil Beat and many other sources too afraid to speak publicly – SB1543 publicly funded elections – will/may be sentenced to a slow and twisted death today April 27th at 3:05PM in Conference Room 325.

It’s time for that final and all-important push. Public pressure is the only tool we have left, and that means all of us must step up and apply it – liberally.

The 7 Senators and 6 Representatives listed below are the primary legislators responsible for whatever decision is made, and ALL should be contacted now, today, as early in the day as possible.

Yes, after passing every committee in both the House and Senate, behind the scenes and in the dark, SB1543 is being eviscerated.

It seems that SB1543 passes but not have it take effect until 2028 and then only for a single election, and then to limit via a lottery the number of candidates who can participate. AND to make absolutely sure this cluster muster won’t fly they are only funding 50% of even appeasement.

This way they can claim to have passed this incredibly important measure, promise to “fix it” in the future, and keep open the option of thoroughly killing it again at any time between now and 2027 – while making advocates grovel over the next 4 years begging to extend and properly fund it.

Seriously – can’t make this stuff up. Read “Sunshine Blog: So much for game-changing legislation.” Civil Beat

And then – make those calls and send that email for what is likely to be the very last day and the very last opportunity to change the hearts and minds of key decision-makers.

Please don’t let your own district legislators off the hook on this either. They may not be the key decision-makers, but their voice can make the difference – IF they choose to use it. Find your legislator’s contact info here:

The message is basic: “Pass SB1543. Properly fund it, make it permanent, and have it begin no later than 2026.” Short messages are fine – professional and courteous, please.

**If you live in their district – your call/email is 100 times more important so please let them know that important fact.

The below legislators are all either a member of the Conference Committee or “leadership” and ultimately control what happens to SB1543. Please don’t accept a “There’s nothing I can do” response from any of them.

Senate President Ron Kouchi – 808-586-6030 [email protected]
WAM Chair Donovan Dela Cruz – 808-586-6090 [email protected]
Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads – 808-586-6130 [email protected]
Senator Sharon Moriwaki – 808-586-6740 [email protected]
Senator Brandon Elefante – 808-586-6230 [email protected]
Senator Mike Gabbard – 808-586-6830 [email protected]
Senator Brenton Awa – 808-586-7330 [email protected]

House Speaker Scott Saiki – 808-586-6100 [email protected]
Finance Chair Kyle Yamash*ta – 808-586-6330 repyamash*[email protected]
Judiciary Chair David Tarnas – 808-586-8510 [email protected]
Representative Lisa Marten – 808-586-9450 [email protected]
Representative Gregg Takayama – 808-586-6340 [email protected]
Representative Kanani Souza – 808-586-8465 [email protected]

We need to pour it on friends. Please Please Please – make the calls, send the emails, and contact your friends and networks to do the same.

Share: Instagram | Twitter

FOR EASY SUBMIT EMAIL TO YOUR LEGISLATORS - ACT NOW - TAP HERE!

WE CAN DO THIS! MAHALO!


Support our work towards a more equitable and sustainable Hawaiʻi



As a grassroots organization, we depend on community support. If you find value in our work, please consider supporting us with a one-time or monthly donation. By doing so, we can continue fighting for Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems and people.

DONATE HERE

Did you see the news? This morning in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, five former Governors and Mayors added their endorsement to our clean elections bill, SB 1543, and called on the House and Senate to act boldly and swiftly to pass and fund the critical legislation for the public financing of our elections.

It’s huge news, right on time. Will you share it with your friends and family?

Share: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Share: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Governors John Waihe‘e III, Neil Abercrombie, and Mayors JoAnn Yukimura of Kaua‘i County, Harry Kim of Hawai‘i County, and Kirk Caldwell of Honolulu County did not mince words. They stated clearly and unequivocally:

“As former mayors and governors, we have witnessed firsthand the influence of money in politics. We have seen how wealthy donors and special interests can sway the decisions of elected officials, often at the expense of the public good. We have also seen how the cost of running for office can deter qualified and diverse candidates from entering the political arena, limiting the choices and voices of the voters. That is why we strongly support the adoption of fully publicly financed elections in Hawaii as proposed in Senate Bill 1543….This is not only a matter of fairness and justice, but also a matter of survival and prosperity for Hawaii. We cannot afford to let money continue to dominate our politics and undermine our democracy.”

Please share the article with your ‘ohana, friends, and network. As final negotiations loom, this public endorsement can help keep the pressure on the legislature to do what is pono.

Share: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

And, if you haven’t already, add your name to the former Mayors and Governors by writing the legislature now with our easy tool. It only takes 60 seconds.​

Yall rock,

The HAPA Team


Full article: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/04/19/editorial/island-voices/column-full-publicly-financed-elections-are-needed-to-create-a-better-hawaii-for-us-all/


Mahalo nui for your support!


Support our work towards a more equitable and sustainable Hawaiʻi



As a grassroots organization, we depend on community support. If you find value in our work, please consider supporting us with a one-time or monthly donation. By doing so, we can continue fighting for Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems and people.

DONATE HERE
https://www.hapahi.org/donate

Donate — HAPA: Hawai'i Alliance for Progressive Action Mahalo nui, we thank you for sponsoring grassroots initiatives and activism across Hawai’i. All questions can be directed to [email protected]

E WELINA MAI KĂKOU!
Come and join us as we celebrate Lei Day in Hilo, Hawai'i.
Our annual celebration will be held on May 1st from 10 am to 2 pm at Kalākaua Park in Downtown Hilo.
Made possible by the generous support from Hawai'i County Council Member Jenn Kagiwada Hawaii County R&D Council Chair Heather Kimball & Councilmember Sue Lee Loy and Destination Hilo.

Activity Specialist at Youth Center - education / teaching - job... The Activity Specialist (AS) is responsible for specialized activities with Hamakua youth center and families, such as music, art, STEM, cultural, multicultural learning, and holistic family...

A healthy soils program is a win-win for farmers and the environment, please take a moment to submit testimony in support!

SB660 - Healthy Soils Program

SB660 requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a Healthy Soils Program. The program will:

Create a statewide soil health assessment with a list of practices specific to the State that are most effective in improving soil health and building soil carbon stocks
Provide farmers with education and technical assistance to implement farm management practices that contribute to healthy soils
Establish standards that apply to the healthy soils program and are based on the findings of the greenhouse gas sequestration task force established relating to minimum levels of soil carbon and water content and required soil health practices
Subject to available funding, issue awards and other financial incentives to implement farm management practices that contribute to healthy soils


Learn more: Hawaii Needs Good Soil To Grow More Food. Here’s How That Can Happen - Thomas Heaton for Civil Beat

SB660 will be heard by the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment on Friday, February 3rd, 2023 at 1:30 PM in Conference Room 224 and via Zoom.

Testimony is due on Thursday, February 2nd at 1:30 PM.

Submit Testimony
Sample Testimony



Aloha,



Please support SB660 to establish a healthy soils program. Soil is a vital and living ecosystem that provides critical functions supporting ecological, economical, and social well-being in Hawaiʻi. Healthy soils are the foundation of sustainable food production, climate readiness, and diverse ecosystems.



In recent decades, we have learned a great deal about the importance of microbial life, soil biodiversity, and the capacity for soil to capture carbon. Regenerative farming practices capture carbon to enrich soil health. This mitigates agricultural climate impacts while increasing soil productivity for farming.



Much of Hawai’i’s soils are severely depleted from over a century of industrial agricultural practices. If we are to meet Hawaiʻi’s food security goals, assessing and restoring soil health is critical to increasing local food production.



SB660 is a win-win for our farmers and our local environment. Please support this important measure.



Mahalo,

Your Name, Residence/Town


Mahalo for taking action!
Anne Frederick

Executive Director

Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action


HAPA 501(c)(3) | [email protected] |
P.O. Box 1534, Kapaʻa, Hawaiʻi 96746

Get Ready! Revitalize Puna Is Coming up Saturday, February 4th!
Date: 01/18/2023 4:00 PM
The next Revitalize Puna is set for Saturday, February 4 at Billy Kenoi (Pāhoa District) Park Gym. Stop by anytime between 10am and 2pm to connect with Government and community leaders working on eruption recovery and resilience projects in Puna.

County, State, and Federal leaders will be on hand to provide updates on eruption recovery and speak to challenges as well as opportunities for the Puna region. The State Department of Land and Natural Resources will be present to provide a status update on the restoration of Pohoiki Boat Ramp.

Revitalize Puna Resilience Capacity Areas will provide updates on their recovery efforts and share opportunities for Puna residents to get involved. Resilience Capacity Areas (RCAs) are multi sector groups that work to implement projects identified in the Kilauea Recovery and Resilience Plan supporting three strategies: recovery, readiness, and resilience. Implementation of the plan is organized around collaboration between six RCAs: Social, Cultural, Economic, Natural Environment, and Youth. Each RCA is led by Co-Chairs from the community and County.

A Resilience Resource Row will feature pop-ups from local nonprofits and volunteer opportunities to get involved in to make a positive difference in Puna. Keiki crafts, and free lunch plates are planned!

The activation is free. All residents interested in learning more about Puna's recovery and contributing to its resilience are welcome!

Register in-advance at http://revitalizepuna7.eventbrite.com

For more information on the event:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/revitalize-puna-tickets-505494596947

To see what we’ve accomplished during past events:
https://recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/revitalize-puna

Revitalize Puna Stop by Pāhoa District Park Gym on Saturday, Feb. 4 for Revitalize Puna quarterly community activation. All Puna residents welcome!

USDA Offers Grants for Programs to Create High-Wage Jobs and New Businesses in Underserved Rural Communities
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is accepting grant applications for community-driven programs that will help create high-wage jobs and new businesses in underserved rural communities.

The Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) program provides grants for job accelerator partnerships that will serve people in low-income and underserved rural communities.

For fiscal year 2023, the RISE program is making $2 million available to consortiums of local governments, investors, industry, institutions of higher education, and other public and private entities in rural areas. The funding may be used to support innovation centers and job accelerator programs that improve the ability of distressed rural communities to create high-wage jobs, form new businesses, and identify and maximize local assets.
To learn more, read the full Stakeholder Announcement:

www.rd.usda.gov

STAKEHOLDER ANNOUNCEMENT
USDA Seeks Applications to Support Regional Economic and Community Development Planning to Create Thriving Communities for Rural People
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is seeking applications to implement regional economic and community development projects to create thriving communities for people in rural America.

The 2018 Farm Bill authorized USDA to make this funding available under the Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) initiative to support projects that will help rural people and economies prepare for the future. It can be used to implement projects that are included in multi-jurisdictional and multi-sectoral strategic community investment plans. To learn more, watch USDA's SECD Initiative video.

SEC-D


For more information, read the full Stakeholder Announcement.

USDA Seeks Applications to Support Regional Economic and Community Development Planning to Create Thriving Communities for Rural People USDA Seeks Applications to Support Regional Economic and Community Development Planning to Create Thriving Communities for Rural People USDA Rural Development sent this bulletin at 11/07/2022 10:02 AM EST Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. STAKEHOLDER ANNOUNCEMENT USDA Seeks A...

https://www.rural.gov/community-networks

Community Networks | Rural.gov Community Networks

Check out the new Student Ambassador from Girl Rising. This is a new community of student advocates from middle school to high school who are mobilizing their communities, raising funds, taking action, and making a difference for girls worldwide:

Student Ambassador Landing Page Girl Rising’s vibrant community of Student Ambassadors are mobilizing their communities, raising funds, taking action and making a difference for girls around the world. Register to become an official Girl Rising Student Ambassador below to gain access to free student resources (including our Take...

TODAY IS THE DAY! It's time for Revitalize Puna!
Date: 10/11/2022 9:18 AM
Come join us TODAY, Tuesday, October 11th at Pāhoa District Park Gym. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and presentations begin at 4:30 p.m.

There will be updates from local and state officials on infrastructure projects, the latest on the Pohoiki Boat Ramp, and information on other community-led projects. Residents will have the opportunity to talk story with Mayor Roth, Planning Director Zendo Kern, District 4 City Council Ashley Kierkiewicz and others about issues important to the community.

There will be free meal vouchers for on-site food trucks (while supplies last) for those who participate in activities. Bring your keiki to participate in a special craft table! ASL interpreters will be also be at the event to help spread the word.

The event is FREE and we welcome all residents who want to contribute to Puna’s recovery and resilience.

Register in-advance at revitalizepuna6.eventbrite.com

For more information on the event, click here:
https://recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/305371/637998771778306308

recovery.hawaiicounty.gov

https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/add/md/mgfsp-application-fy21/

Microgrants for Food Security Program

Voluntary Housing Buyout Program Update
https://recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/resources/housing-buyout-program

Date: 06/03/2022 2:45 PM
A quick update on the latest news about the Voluntary Housing Buyback Program:

Last week, the County of Hawai’i’s Disaster Recovery Division submitted proposed changes to the VHBP Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for review and approval.

Before we submitted the amendment, our team reviewed every single public comment and feedback note that was submitted to us. We then organized all the responses by topic and answered each concern in the Substantial Amendment Appendix C. After considering all the feedback, we decided to move forward with the submission without making any changes.

You can find a breakdown of what changes were made and why we made them on our latest posts on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

If you’d like to view the press release for the Substantial Amendment, click here.

If you’d like more information on the VHBP or would like to register for Phase 3, click here.

You can also call us at (808) 961-8996 or send an email to [email protected].

COUNTY TO SUBMIT CDBG-DR ACTION PLAN SUBSTANTIAL
AMENDMENT TO HUD WITHOUT CHANGES
The County of Hawai‘i’s Disaster Recovery Division has decided to submit the proposed +U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for review and approval. All proposals
from the public comment period were carefully reviewed and considered, but the County has decided to push forward with the Substantial Amendment to the Action Plan with no additional
changes. The Action Plan maps out how the County will spend the $107,561,000 in Community
Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery grant funds from HUD to assist with the recovery from the 2018 Kīlauea eruption.
The changes to the current action plan submitted in the Substantial Amendment for the VHBP were made to ensure Phase 3 of the program remains focused on the primary objective of the
program. The sole purpose of the VHBP program is to help as many eligible property owners as possible, with a particular focus on those who are Low- to Moderate-Income (LMI) range, who
were impacted by the recent eruption.
The Action Plan Substantial Amendment being submitted for approval by HUD has four main substantial changes proposed:
• Establishment of a new maximum grant award specifically for undeveloped
properties that would be acquired through VHBP;
• Clarification of the program’s policies and procedures including eligibility, exceptions, and duplication of benefits analysis;
• Revision of timeframes for Phase 3 to apply for the VHBP;
• Elimination of the Housing Relocation Services Program with funds being reallocated to the main VHBP fund.
“In April, the County released a draft of the Substantial Amendment to the public for a 30-day comment period,” said Douglas Le, County Disaster Recovery Officer. “We want residents to
know that we carefully reviewed every comment we received, and we responded to those concerns in the Action Plan Substantial Amendment we submitted to HUD.”
The majority of those who participated in the public comment period were primarily concerned that the establishment of the new $22,000 maximum grant award for undeveloped properties was
premature, too low, or not based on a thorough review of data. The County wants to assure residents that the new maximum grant award was proposed after data was painstakingly analyzed
and reviewed by expert members of the VHBP staff. Extensive data was also given to the public
for review on how and why the new maximum grant award was chosen based on the 2017 preeruption median values of eligible undeveloped properties. The data showed that if the VHBP
continued without the new maximum grant award, fewer residents would benefit from the program as well as limiting the County’s ability to focus its efforts on serving as many LMI residents as possible with the remaining CDBG-DR funds.
To date, the County is processing nearly 500 applications to the VHBP from primary and second homes from Phase 1 & 2 which commits $90.6 million out of the total approximately $107.6
million in CDBG-DR funding. An additional $11 million is committed for grant administration and program delivery costs necessary to fulfill federal grant requirements. This leaves
approximately $5.8 million of funds available as the County begins accepting Phase 3 applications in July 2022. The County has already received 160 registrations from property owners of undeveloped properties that are eligible to apply during Phase 3, with 700-800
additional eligible undeveloped properties still able to register. Also, during this time there may be additional primary and second homes that could apply for the first time during the Phase 3
process which would further decrease the remaining funds.
Even though we expect some slight variation with these numbers in the coming months depending on participation, the remaining funds will very likely not be enough to serve the remaining undeveloped properties in Phase 3 at current enrollment rates. The clear choice moving forward was to adjust the maximum grant award for undeveloped properties to ensure the remaining grant funds benefit as many residents as possible, especially those who are LMI.
“We understand that this is a complicated issue and residents, especially those who are LMI, are hoping to get as much help as possible from this program,” said Le. “Ultimately, this Substantial
Amendment is going to make sure we help as many residents as possible with the remaining program funds.”
Even though funds will be limited for Phase 3, residents who want to apply can register now by downloading and submitting this form from the Voluntary Housing Buyout Program website.
Applicants are still required to submit a formal application when they become available on July 18, 2022. Registrants will be notified by staff when formal applications become available, you
must submit a formal application for Phase 3 to be considered for the program. To view the Substantial Amendment, visit https://recovery.hawaiicounty.gov.

https://recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/304751/637891751170118526