We Are Puna Strong

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The 2018 Kīlauea eruption destroyed hundreds of homes, covered miles of roadways, and altered the landscape of lower Puna. But, through this adversity, the people of Puna have shown their resilience. The County is aiming to tell the stories that show how residents rose to the challenge and implemented community-driven actions, often with partnership from the County. Puna Strong is a grant program supported by the County of Hawai'i and Hawai'i Community Foundation that remains focused on disaster readiness and building community resilience for the Puna communities impacted by the 2018 Kīlauea eruption on the Island of Hawai‘i with an investment in nonprofit organizations and partnerships leading community-driven projects.

For more information on our Puna Strong grantees, click here.

Puna Strong Highlight Videos:

Presentations:

June 13, 2023:

If you missed our webinar with Hawai'i Tracker about the AI revolution, not to worry! Check out the video below:

April 19, 2023:

PART I + PART II of the Grants for Grassroots webinars including recordings, slides and additional resources.

PART I + PART II WEBINAR RESOURCES:

PART I - Grant Vocabulary + Narrative

Webinar Recording
Slide deck
Federal grants training series that includes information on the SAM.gov and DUNS numbers
More on de minimis rate
Additional grant vocabulary

PART II - Funder Landscape

On Friday February 24th, 2023, Puna Strong held two Technical Assistance presentations about non-profit board recruitment and board governance.

Session 1: Board Recruitment slide deck and accompanying audio:

Session 2: Board Governance slide deck and accompanying audio:

Imua Lower Puna

As we pass the three year milestone of the 2018 Kilauea Eruption, I reflect on my involvement with the recovery efforts and response our community has received. As a founder of the community organization Imua Lower Puna, formerly titled Lower Puna Rising, my goal is to strengthen the voice of the community by banding together affected residents and creating a unified voice through sharing what is crucial for restoring our quality of life.

I am Smiley Burrows, steward of Kapoho Crater, and the county has supported my recovery by granting us funding to help restore access to our property. As we work on this, we continue seeking restoration of infrastructure to bring power and water back to our community. We will do whatever it takes to succeed, even if that means having to live off grid, creating our own alternative energy and water sources.

As I am a supporter of the County's buy-out program, I feel many hope to create a new life, on the new land formed here, planting new trees and regenerating the land, as has been done on this volcanic island for hundreds of years. Our community has an entrepreneurial spirit, we are resilient and with this new chapter, we continue to ask that we be supported in our fresh ideas. Our quality of life is returning as our roads are restored. I have a deep sense of gratitude for the people that have pushed for us and I am inspired to accomplish my goals that bring abundance and goodness to our thriving new Kapoho life. Mahalo nui Loa.

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