Mahalo for your Support!

During the 2012-2013 school year we reached thousands through our programs. Here's a snapshot:

‘ĀINA In Schools

‘ĀINA In Schools is a farm to school initiative that connects children to their local lands, waters, and food in order to grow a healthier Hawai‘i.

This year 1,551 students took part in nutrition lessons, while 3,526 participated in garden and waste-reduction lessons and garden clubs at 13 schools. 514 parent and community volunteers supported the program by giving 6,519 hours. This spring, eight ʻAINA schools hosted nine local chefs who led cooking demonstrations with 675 students to make healthy, kid-friendly recipes with local and school garden-sourced ingredients.

Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation Field Trip Grants

Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation Field Trip Grants give schools the financial assistance needed to bring students to outdoor sites where they can experience hands-on learning about Hawaiʻi’s environment.

In the 2013-13 school year, 6,929 students from 75 schools throughout Hawaiʻi participated in field trips supported by Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation. Field trip destinations included Hawaiʻi Nature Center, Hoa ‘Āina o Mākaha, Ku‘u Home Kulāiwi Lo‘i, Ka‘ala Farms, Kahuku Farms, MA‘O Organic Farms, and many others.

Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation Mini-Grants

Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation Mini-Grants fund projects and teachers from Hawai‘i schools to assist in advancing their environmental goals in the classroom and pursuing stewardship endeavors.          

Over 4,800 students from 28 schools participated in environmental projects supported by KHF Mini-Grants this year. Project themes included composting, vermicomposting, school gardens, aquaponics, water catchment, student green summits, outdoor classrooms, and recycling.

3R’s School Recycling Program

3R’s School Recycling Program empowers students to engage and educate their school community about the 3R’s—reduce, reuse, recycle.

This year was a transition year for schools in the absence campus-based community recycling bins. KHF supported schools with their on-campus recycling efforts by working with schools to strategize collection and redemption options. Many schools created their own recycling solutions while also expanding their efforts to reduce waste campus-wide through composting green waste and cafeteria waste.

In January 2013, KHF kicked off monthly Aloha 'Āina Recycling Drives at a select group of 3R's participating schools across O‘ahu, with host schools receiving proceeds from the sale of the recycled materials. Recycling partners Schnitzer Steel, ACCESS Information Management, Goodwill, Interstate Batteries, InTrade, Pacific BioDiesel, Penske, RRR Recycling Service, Refrigerant Recycling, and T&N Recycling Services collected recyclable materials. Nearly 85,000 pounds of cardboard, paper, batteries, oil, bottles, cans, metals, electronics, TVs and computers were collected and diverted from the wastestream.

Plastic Free Hawaiʻi

Plastic Free Hawai‘i provides resources, tools, and trainings to educate schools, business partners, and community members on the environmental and health benefits of going plastic free to minimize the consumption of single-use plastics in our islands.

Nearly 2,000 volunteers participated in Beach Cleanups at Ka'ena Point, Hale'iwa, Kahuku, and Kailua beaches giving 3,812 hours and collecting over 6,000 pounds to keep our beaches plastic-free! In addition, movie screenings, upcycled t-shirt tote bag making, award-winning PSA's and a visit from Captain Charles Moore have kept participating schools and communities busy spreading the plastic free message.

Educational Events

Educational Events allow us to share a variety of environmental issues with a broader community audience including parents, educators, and school administrators.

This year thousands of people attended KHF-supported film screenings and discussions, presentations, trainings, workshops, and conferences. Highlights include: Taste of Summer Film Series, Kailua Eco-Nights, School Garden Workshop for Educators, Green Classroom Professional Certificate Workshop, and the Hawaii Environmental Education Symposium.

There are many ways you can support Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation: become a member, volunteer, or make a donation.