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Ka Po’e … The People

Beneficiary ApplicationThe Kona Brewers Festival is truly a heartfelt event in Hawaii. People from all walks of life come together at this event. People meet, catch up on each others lives, work hard together, celebrate success, promise to support each others initiatives and then go back, energized, to continue to deliver their diverse programs.

The Kona Brewers Festival organizers are humbled by the generosity and amazing talents of our island community. It is with great pleasure to note that over the past 26 years, the Kona Brewers Festival has become one of Kailua Kona’s premier events and raised $1,400,000 for well-deserving non-profit organizations.

All of the beneficiaries contribute to the success of the Kona Brewers Festival by recruiting volunteers and professional expertise. Careful evaluation is made to ensure that these organizations effectively achieve their goals and meet critical needs in our community. Priority is given to groups that share resources as well as continually strive to improve and create collaborative programs.

Beneficiary Application

The following organizations are past Beneficiaries of the Kona Brewers Festival. We encourage you to check out these websites and continue to support their good work throughout the year.

Kai Opua Canoe Club

Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club offers outrigger canoe racing to people of all ages, from keiki (children) to seniors. With teams ranging in ability from groups of novices to world champions, we provide activities for enthusiasts of all levels.
Kai ‘Opua Canoe Club is also host to the World’s Largest Long Distance Outrigger Canoe Races – “The Queen Lili’uokalani”, now in it’s 43rd year. Crews from around the world converge on Kona for this prestigious event every Labor Day weekend.

Hawaii Wildlife Fund

HAWAI’I WILDLIFE FUND (HWF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of Hawaii’s native wildlife through research, education and advocacy. HWF Team is made up of educators, conservationists, researchers, naturalists, communities, volunteers and donors devoted to the protection of Hawaii’s fragile marine ecosystem and inhabitants. We bring a variety of experiences together to serve a common goal.

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Ke Kai Ola: Saving the Hawaiian Monk Seal

Ke Kai Ola (“The Healing Sea”) is a state-of-the-art hospital dedicated to rehabilitating injured, ill, and orphaned Hawaiian monk seals and returning them healthy to their ocean home. The hospital, which opened in Kailua-Kona in 2014, is a “pu’uhonua,” a place of safety and peace for the seals. And a place where children and youth will learn to take care for this beautiful marine mammal. Working together to promote monk seal conservation will ensure the future of the Hawaiian monk seal.  Ke Kai Ola is a program of The Marine Mammal Center, a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to expand knowledge about marine mammals-their health and that of their ocean environment-and inspire their global conservation. Visit http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/hawaii to learn more.

Family Support Hawaii

Family Support Hawai’i was founded in 1979 by members of the community who were concerned about the life-long consequences of child abuse and neglect. They began providing prevention and early intervention services through Kapi’olani Women’s and Children’s Center until 1985, when FSH incorporated and became an independent, community based, not for profit organization.

Being community based is a fundamental principle for Family Support Hawaii. To us that means many things: that our staff work in the communities in which they live; that we have a council of advisors who live in each district who help staff set program priorities for their area and their home community.

Family Support Hawaii now provides supportive services to more than 3,500 Hawai’i Island individuals and families each year. http://familysupporthawaii.org/about-us/#sthash.HG4dUQ3M.dpuf

Ke Kula ‘o ‘Ehunuikamalino

Mele Murals is a youth development, arts education, cultural preservation, and community-building project.  Over a five-year period, starting in late 2013, local artists, youth, and other members of communities spanning the eight major islands of Hawai`i will create a series of large-scale outdoor murals focusing on Hawaiian lyrics (mele) that explore mo`olelo `aina (stories of place) and cultural and historical heritage.

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Society for Kona’s Education and Art (SKEA)

The Society for Kona’s Education & Art (SKEA) has been serving the South Kona area for over 30 years with events and programs that contribute to a vibrant community. The organization occupies two historic buildings in Honaunau that was once the Japanese Language School. This site provides plenty of space for events such as Music on the Lawn, the Mauka Talent Show, the Annual Membership Meeting, Quilt Show, lectures, and small musical events. A primary focus of the organization are two children’s programs: the Art of Learning, an innovative arts education program in the public schools; and Art Camps, week-long day camps during the school breaks that immerse students in a variety of art mediums. SKEA is proud of its long partnership with the Kona Brewers’ Festival and we are honored to be a grantee again this year. Funds will be used for the Art of Learning in the South Kona schools and for the 2014 Spring and Summer Art Camps.

www.skea.org

Na Wai Iwi Ola Foundation

Nā Wai Iwi Ola (NWIO) Foundation is a multigenerational, community-based educational foundation, currently collaborating with organizations that focus on modeling and living the Hawaiian culture, traditions and values. Through hands-on activities, NWIO applies the knowledge shared by our kūpuna through the art of hula & chants. NWIO foundation focuses on giving students the opportunity to see the world through their own eyes. “Why did King David Kalākaua travel the world?” It is important that our students understand the PONO of existing within this world using the shoes of our kūpuna.“E Ola Mau ke Ola Pono” Let the righteousness of life live forever!

www.nawaiiwiola.org

Innovations Public Charter School

Our vision is to educate the whole child — body, mind and spirit — through a team approach to child centered learning. As a learning ohana, we value an environment of aloha which nurtures trust, respect, self-expression without fear, open minds and hearts and continuous improvement. We believe that through quality education, students receive the assistance needed to achieve high standards. Our ohana embraces caring for the aina through school-wide garden and sustainability programs. An appreciation of the arts is fostered through school-wide arts and drama programs.http://www.ipcs.info/

Honaunau Elementary School

Honaunau Elementary School

Honaunau Elementary School is a public school that serves 165 students, pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.  The campus is surrounded by the rural farming community of Honaunau and is a Title One School.  Approximately 25% of our students are English as a Second Language Learners.  Ninety-six percent qualify for free and reduced lunch.  Dedicated funds will be used to support the school’s garden program. The purpose of Honaunau School’s Garden Program is to cultivate appreciation, interest, and wonder in our natural world while educating and creating community through the children of Honaunau. http://honaunauelementaryschool.weebly.com/

Explorations Foundation

West Hawaii Explorations Academy (WHEA) was founded in 1994 in partnership with the Hawaii DOE and the Natural Energy Lab of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) in Kona. WHEA’s mission is to provide learning opportunities through integrative, hands-on, self-selected projects related to authentic, real-world problems. WHEA’s motto is “No Child Left Indoors” and the curriculum focus is science and technology. www.whea.net

Ahuena Heiau

Funds received from Kona Brewers Festival are dedicated to the cultural restoration of the Ahuena Heiau. The heiau was restored in 1812 for King Kamehameha the Great. “House from which to watch the farm lands.” The King used this heiau as his retreat to oversee the land and the ocean. The buildings were thatched with sugar cane leaves. The heiau sits at the waters edge overlooking Kailua Bay.

 

ACF Chefs de Cuisine Kona Kohala Chapter

The ACF Kona-Kohala Chefs de Cuisine are industry leaders committed to culinary development and education within it’s membership and throughout the community. A cash donation is made from The Bill Healy Foundation for each participating food booth. These funds provide high school students the best possible equipment and learning opportunities in culinary arts programs on Hawai`i Island. www.konakohalachefs.org

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