Kauaʻi County awards 15 culturally-based projects, events with grant funding

Grant funding has been awarded to 15 community-based cultural projects and events that will strengthen Kauaʻi’s cultural landscape, celebrate place-based knowledge, and create meaningful experiences for residents and visitors.

The County of Kauaʻi Office of Economic Development announced the recipients of its Kauaʻi Cultural Program and Events grants, marking the first year the program has been offered as a standalone funding opportunity.

Following a competitive review process, a selection committee evaluated 26 proposals and awarded $141,628 in funding to 15 projects.

According to the Office of Economic Development, all funded projects are on Kauaʻi and align with community priorities and the Kauaʻi Destination Management Action Plan. Awardees include:

• Garden Isle Resource Conservation and Development Council, Wings and Woodlands Art Exhibit and Festival – An immersive art exhibit and workshop series held Nov. 13 to 20, 2026, in Līhuʻe that honors Kauaʻi’s native birds and forests through creative expression and community education.
• National Tropical Botanical Garden, ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest and Nā Lauaʻe o Makana Summer Education Program – The annual ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest and a hands-on student cultural and environmental education program in Hāʻena rooted in ʻike Hawaiʻi.
• Kukulu Kumuhana o Anahola, Ola Ka ʻĪ Kauaʻi me Niʻihau – A two-day, community-based Hawaiian language celebration held Feb. 27 to 28, 2026, during Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi that elevates the everyday use of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi while strengthening connections among residents, visitors, and cultural practitioners.
• Malie Foundation, 2026 Kauaʻi Kings Parade – Community-centered workshops held March through May 2026 preparing participants for the June floral parade in Līhuʻe, that celebrate Hawaiian paniolo culture through lei and horse lei making, paʻū wrapping, equestrian skills, float building, and traditional floral practices.
• Kauaʻi Federal Credit Union Foundation, Salt and Color – Expansion of a successful inaugural event into a two-event series held May through July 2026, featuring public exhibitions and evening gatherings with live art and cultural demonstrations, film screenings, music, and locally sourced food honoring Hawaiʻi’s ocean culture through Common Ground’s philosophy.
• YWCA of Kauaʻi, Kauaʻi Pride Parade – A free, family-friendly parade and celebration held June 6, 2026, featuring floats and walking groups from across the community, followed by local vendors, food trucks, entertainment, community resources, and inspiring speakers in a welcoming and inclusive public space.
• Iwikua, Nā Heihei a Ola – A community running event held Feb. 21, 2026, celebrating wellness, resilience, and the living history of the West Kauaʻi community.
• Mālama Kauaʻi, 2026 Kauaʻi Chocolate and Coffee Festival – The 11th annual festival held Oct. 2026, honoring two of Kauaʻi’s most important agricultural crops –– cacao and coffee –– through community celebration, education, and local enterprise.
• Anaina Hou Community Park, Home in the Islands Festival – A three-day festival in partnership with the Henry Kapono Foundation that raises awareness and support for the On the Rise artist mentorship program through public cultural activities.
• Hōʻike Kauaʻi Community Media, Hōʻike Youth Media Education Project – An expansion of free public service announcement bootcamps in Spring 2026 that teach Kauaʻi youth to create meaningful, community-driven media.
• Garden Island Arts Council, Līhuʻe Airport Window Displays – Continuation of the educational and cultural programming featured in the Līhuʻe Airport window displays showcasing local artists.
• Kauaʻi Concert Association, Laughing Fox Outreach Educational Services and Performance – A weeklong series of educational outreach services for Kauaʻi public and private schools by Native American flutist and storyteller, Laughing Fox, culminating in a public performance.
• Kauaʻi Veterans Council, 2026 Kauaʻi Veterans Celebration – A community gathering held Nov. 7, 2026, at the Kauaʻi Veterans Center honoring and supporting veterans and their families.
• Royal Coconut Coast Association, Kapaʻa Walking Tour Project – A community-based cultural initiative preserving and sharing Kapaʻa Town’s history through a fully digital, self-guided walking tour.
• Kekahu Foundation, Ka Leo o Ka Mālama: The Voice of Stewardship – A 12-month media project running Feb. 2026 through Jan. 2027 leveraging Kauaʻi Community Radio to support the Kauaʻi Destination Management Action Plan by promoting responsible tourism and strengthening communication between the County and residents.

“These projects reflect the heart of Kauaʻi, our people, our stories, and our deep connection to place,” said Nalani K. Brun, director of the County of Kauaʻi Office of Economic Development. “We are proud to invest in community-driven work that uplifts local voices, strengthens cultural practice, and brings people together in meaningful ways.”

For more information, contact the Office of Economic Development at 808-241-4946 or email oed@kauai.gov.