Three Grants Awarded for 2023 & 2024

Friends of King Kaumuali’i are excited to share that we are an awardee for the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (@hawaiihta) Kūkulu Ola program which provides support to community groups and cultural practitioners that enhance, strengthen and perpetuate Hawaiian culture. We have also received support from Hawai’i Council for Humanities/National Endowment for the Arts, and HCF/Annie Sinclair Knudsen Memorial Fund. We are humbled and grateful for the support to expand appreciation and culture for Kaumuali’i and Kaua’i.

With the funding, we will offer events over the coming year within the theme of

Kuʻu Home ʻo Pāʻulaʻula: Re-Connecting LāhuiOur kuleana is to provide residents and visitors with correct cultural and historical mana’o on Kaua‘i’s King Kaumuali‘i, his kauhale and his fort. We strive to help build ancestral connections to Pāʻulaʻula, which may have been lost over time due to misinformation and misuse. As site kahu with DLNR, we strive to honor and protect the beauty and rich history of this wahi pana with a goal to develop a strong sense of place to Waimea.

The organization became a non-profit in 2012 to raise awareness and install a statue to honor Kaua‘i’s King Kaumuali‘i. It was installed in 2021 at Pāʻulaʻula, the location where our Mōʻī reigned. For more information about the Talk Story series please visit FB/or https://kauaikingkaumualii.org/.

Details on Talk Stories & Workshops

Nov. 18, 2023: Talkstory: ReVisioning the Past at Pāʻulaʻula: Dr. Peter Mills, UH-Hilo
Mills share stories of Kaumualiʻi’s life from his new book: Connecting the Kingdom: Sailing Vessels in the Early Hawaiian Monarchy,1790–1840. A well-known Friend, he continues to guide projects at Pāʻulaʻula, inc corrections to National Historic Registry. His Waimea/Kauaʻi connection spans three decades from his 1996 archeological survey to LIDAR infared conducted this past June 2023.

Jan 19, 2024: TalkStory: Waimea Heroes: Kūkona-Kaumuali’i: Brook Kapūkuniahi Parker

Historian, Artist, Genealogist, Brook uses his moʻokuʻauhau & paintings to enliven histories, and will create an original work on life at Pāʻulaʻula. Jan 20, 2024-Art workshop: Drawing Kauaʻi Heroes & Ancestors. (Details & requirements forthcoming. Middle & High School Students; space limitations; contact for infor and updates.)

March 9, 2024 (tent)- TalkStory/Workshop: Native Plants Thrive At Pāʻula’ula: Mike DeMotta
Mike, Curator of Living Collections, NTBG will share past & current uses of natives as medicinals, food or in cultural practice. He will design, overseen and plant additional Natives for Friends’ garden at Pāʻulaʻula. Participants will make/take sample.

June 22, 2024, Summer Solstice: Historical Retrospective: Reflection of Kūʻu Homē ʻO Pāʻulaʻula.
Dr. Mills & renown Friends inspire perspectives on past events towards living history today. Preview of related Multimedia, Digital Storyboards. Community Celebration.

GIA Grant Award & Annual Giving Succeed

Winter 2019: Funds Released & Permit Approval

Governor Ige released grant funds for the statue and construction of ahu and structure at Paʻulaʻula, Waimea Kaua‘i. He congratulated Dee Morikawa saying, “Mahalo for your work on behalf of the residents of your district to secure these funds. Projects such as these are critical components of the public infrastructure and contribute to building a better home for our kupuna, keiki, and all the residents of Hawai’i.”

Funds will be forthcoming as soon as DLNR codes and finalizes contract. Friends will go before BLNR on January 10th for SMA site approval within Historic & Coastal zone. Kaua’i County permits follow with an approximate 3 months process before foundation, pedestal and ahu may be constructed. Locals have committed to bringing hearts and hands to rebuilding this foundation for Kauaʻi’s beloved Mo’i Ali’i Kaumualiʻi.

Spring 2018: GIA Grant Awarded

Board and Friends gathered at Paʻulaʻula to express gratitude for the King and our good fortune in receiving a legislative Grant In Aid grant in the amount of $220,000 to erect the statue of King Kaumuali’i. Mahalo to Dee Morikawa, State Rep who persevered for two years on our behalf!

2017: Friends of King Kaumualiʻi Seek Grant to Erect Statue

Earlier this year, Friends of King Kaumualiʻi submitted a grant to state officials to help fund a bronze, life-size statue to honor Kauai’s last Aliʻi Nui. On March 17, 2017 Aletha Kaohi, President and founder of Friends of King Kaumualiʻi, presents the request to officials in the hope that a grant will help pay for a portion of the statue, which will be placed at Paʻulaʻula in Waimea (Russian Fort). The Friends of King Kaumualiʻi grant writing team has worked hard at writing the grant request and are grateful for the opportunity to present it at Friday’s hearing. With gratitude, they thank our State Representatives and State Senator President.

2016: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Status & A County Grant Award

‘Ahahui Kaumuali‘i received 501c3 federal non-profit status with a cultural/historical/educational designation. A county grant has been awarded to expand Na Mele O Kaumualiʻi event into He Inoa No Kaumualiʻi Hoʻolauleʻa – Na Makana Poinaʻole which will include a Kaumualiʻi themed student art contest and Kupuna directed traditional crafts to be made by participants.

2015: The 3ft. bronze maquette was completed