Join me in supporting the 2021 Giving Project!

As a Native Hawaiian who has lived on the continent for the better part of the last decade, I've felt firsthand the ache for a homeland you cannot afford to quell. According to the 2010 census, 44.9% of Native Hawaiians lived outside of Hawai'i. As the cost of living continues to rise, I can only imagine that number has gotten higher over the years. I believe that when a Hawaiian is forced to leave their homeland because of financial instability, the community support system in Hawai'i as a whole is weakened. In these tumultuous times, Hawaiians and Hawai'i residents need all the support they can get. I've made it my goal to fight Hawaiian flight through community building and philanthropic efforts.

In January 2021, I was lucky to be accepted into the inaugural Hawai'i People's Fund Giving Project cohort. We are a group of about 20 cross-race, cross-class, gender-diverse, intergenerational community members that share a vision for a just and equitable Hawaiʻi. As a collective, we have dedicated 6 months to learning, connecting with the community, and fundraising $100,000 which we will then redistribute back to grassroots organizations fighting for social justice.

I've made it my goal to fundraise for one full grant to be distributed to a grassroots nonprofit doing great work in Hawai'i. One grant is $7,000 and I have personally donated $1,000 to this goal, meaning we have $6,000 to raise. The number 44 means a lot to me. It is the last two digits of my hometown's zip code (#44Bangahz) as well as the percentage of Hawaiians living outside of Hawai'i (I rounded down because 45 is a triggering number lol). I would be so honored if you would consider donating $44 either as a one-time gift or as a monthly donation.

Regardless of how far they have traveled, diasporic Hawaiians are always a part of the 'ohana. I hope you can help me ensure our family is never left behind and #never44gotten (<-- if anything, donate because that pun is genius).

Join me in supporting social change-making from the roots up! Your kōkua can help ensure that these grassroots huis have the resources they need to continue their important work.

Even a small donation will go a looooong way in helping me meet my fundraising goal for the 2021 Giving Project! The funds I am able to raise will be swirled around with the efforts of 20 others, amplifying the POWER of COLLECTIVE GIVING, and PROVING that what we may not have the capacities to do alone, we can CERTAINLY make happen TOGETHER!

You can read all about what we weʻre up to at the Hawaiʻi Peopleʻs Fund website.