Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
The Department of the Interior announced a $20 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to enhance climate resilience in Hawaiʻi. The funding will be allocated to 17 Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) for restoring native ecosystems, enhancing food security, and incorporating Indigenous Knowledge and practices.
Island ecosystems like those in Hawaiʻi are highly biodiverse but vulnerable to climate-related impacts such as wildfires and ocean acidification. Under its Restoration and Resilience Framework, the Department aims to build stable island communities by enhancing climate resilience across critical habitats, ecosystems, and infrastructure while mitigating threats from pollution, invasive species, fire risks, and changing ocean conditions. This investment is part of over $2 billion aimed at strengthening the resilience of national lands and waters.
“The Hawaiian Islands face unique and intensifying climate-related challenges that pose an existential threat to lives and livelihoods. The Indigenous Knowledge within the Native Hawaiian Community will be invaluable as we face these challenges head-on,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “As the state faces some of climate change’s most damaging effects, this investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is a critical step toward planning for and implementing climate resilience measures, and safeguarding Hawaiʻi for generations to come.”
Funding for the program comes from the Inflation Reduction Act – the largest ever investment in climate. Nationwide, these investments are providing affordable high-speed internet, safer roads and bridges, modern wastewater systems, clean drinking water, reliable electricity, and good-paying jobs.
This announcement supports the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims for 40 percent of certain federal investments' benefits to flow to disadvantaged communities marginalized by underinvestment and burdened by pollution.
The funding will be managed through the Department's Office of Native Hawaiian Relations’ (ONHR) Kapapahuliau Climate Resilience Program. This program empowers the Native Hawaiian Community by integrating Indigenous Knowledge into programs addressing past and present climate impacts while developing adaptation strategies for future challenges. These efforts align with the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Climate Resilience Framework.
ONHR conducted virtual information sessions and in-person scoping meetings on several islands including Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Molokaʻi before awarding funds to ensure selected proposals reflect community needs. A full list of funded projects is available on the Department’s website.
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