12 programs receive grant funding to tackle community issues, push innovation on Kauaʻi

After receiving 28 proposals for its innovation grants for fiscal year 2025-2026, the Office of Economic Development has selected 12 initiatives that advance innovation, address community challenges, and strengthen Kaua‘i’s economic development.

Now in its sixth year, the Innovation Grant Program aims to support new or pilot initiatives in the areas of small business support, energy, transportation, sustainability, workforce development, creative industries, agriculture, destination management, cultural opportunities, and circular economy initiatives.

The goal of the program is to fund innovative projects that generate both short-term and long-term economic growth and diversification.

After receiving the 28 proposals, the public was invited to review eligible submissions and provide feedback through the Consider.It platform. Public comments were incorporated into the evaluation and scoring of the proposals.

A selection committee reviewed all eligible projects and selected 12 proposals to receive a total of $368,362. The list of projects that received funding this year include:

Kauai Federal Credit Union Foundation – Kalukalu Katalyst

• One-year pilot program aimed at strengthening Kauaʻi’s economy by providing small businesses with essential and otherwise unaffordable resources;
• Builds both technical skills and collective resilience through expert-led training, peer learning, and practical application at community pop-up markets.

I Ola Wailuanui – Wailuanuiahoana Wahipana Mapping Project

• Land protection by conducting essential land surveying to protect public real estate and support all development projects;
• Cultural preservation by supporting the marina master plan by preserving and highlighting Hawaiian culture and by continuing the restoration of Malae Heiau;
• Regenerative tourism by integrating these significant sites into the East Kauaʻi Mobility Transportation Hub to align with regenerative tourism goals.

Malama Kauai – Kauai Local Food Cooperative Farmers Market Booths 

• Project will launch a pilot farmers market booth for Mālama Kauaʻi’s online food hub to boost access to local food and promote over 100 local producers;
• Staffed booth will be a point of sale and an outreach center that will accept SNAP/WIC benefits and share information on food access programs.

Aina Hookupu O Kilauea – Smart Harvesting

• Project to improve labor productivity and local food excellence with an agricultural hub that includes on-site growing, processing, storage, and retail;
• Purchase of a mechanized root vegetable harvester and a row builder from Japanese suppliers that will be piloted for mechanized harvests
• Plans to train staff, develop new value-added products and share findings with the broader farmer network through a farmer workshop and a practical “playbook.”

Hoomalu Ke Kai/Kauai Sea Farm – Kauai Limu Lab

• Dedicated program for cultivating clean seedstock cultures of native Hawaiian limu (seaweed), supporting both food innovation and coastal restoration;
• Partnership with the Oʻahu-based Limu Hui to exchange and maintain native limu varieties, creating a living seed bank and reliable seedstock supply;
• Primary focus on food production, filling a critical gap in sustainable aquaculture and expanding community access to highly nutritious native limu products.

Storybook Theatre of Hawaii: CRB Educational Initiative on Kaua‘i 

• New educational show, “The Rhinoceros Beetle Show,” for Kauaʻi schools and venues;
• Live theater, an inflatable classroom set, and a coloring book aims to educate over 4,000 children about the urgent threat of the invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle.

Hoomalu Ke Kai – Building Kauai’s Coral Restoration Workforce

• Creates the island’s first pathway for scholar shipped community members and youth to become certified scientific divers and receive training in coral reef emergency response;
• Prepares under-resourced community members for careers in coral restoration by providing gear, certifications and mentorship.

National Tropical Botanical Garden – Loulu Love Fest 

• Conserves native palms with two-day initiative dedicated to rescuing Hawaiʻi’s native loulu palm and raising awareness of its cultural and ecological importance.
• Day 1 will be a professional symposium for experts to share research and tools for loulu protection, focusing on threats like the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle;
• Day 2 will be a free community celebration featuring cultural demonstrations, guided walks, and workshops to educate residents and visitors on the loulu’s significance.

Hawaii Farmers Union Foundation/Hawaii Ulu Cooperative – Growing ‘Ulu & Niu Processing

• Plans to expand certified ʻulu (breadfruit) processing and establish baseline niu (coconut) processing capacity on Kauaʻi. and strengthen farmer participation, create new market opportunities, and increase community access to locally grown staple foods;
• Includes farmer and consumer education on agroforestry, Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle mitigation, and culinary uses, ultimately reducing reliance on imported foods and supporting small farm viability.

E Ola Kakou Hawaii – Niu Ola, Kauhale CRB Mapping Project on Kaua‘i 

• Plans to document a baseline data collection map of nā kumu lāʻau niu (coconut trees) on Kauaʻi by using a network of Moku Alakaʻi (regional leaders) to survey their areas
• Project will collect data on Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle feeding and breeding sites and Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle entrapments and treatment measures;
• Creates a community-based mapping system to provide accurate data on Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle damage for broad awareness and targeted mitigation efforts.

CG Foundation/Kauai Fresh Fish – Scaling Local Seafood

• Project will transform locally caught, underutilized fish into smoked, dried, canned and flash-frozen products for a value-added seafood line;
• Expands customer access to 100% Hawaiʻi-caught seafood and ensures a more reliable income for local fishermen;
• Research and development to be done on fish emulsion fertilizer to repurpose waste and divert it from the landfill.

Malama I Na Honu – Poʻipū Honu Research Project

• Project aims to enhance the understanding of sea turtle behavior, distribution and seasonal patterns around Kauaʻi;
• Leverages field data on basking turtles and seasonal nesting behaviors.

Visit the Office of Economic Development website to view the proposals submitted for this year’s Innovation Grant Program. For more information, call 808-241-4946 or email oed@kauai.gov.