Reflections on 2024 and looking ahead

Written By Fern Holland

Aloha kākou,

Here at I Ola Wailuanui, we’re celebrating the close of 2024 and looking forward to what’s in store for 2025.

Looking back, this year had several significant milestones for our organization, including;

  • Receiving funding from Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples

  • Being accepted into the 2024 Hawaiʻi People’s Fund Grantee Cohort

  • Receving $150,000 in unrestricted funding from Ceres Trust 

  • Engaging in state and local partnerships in the restoration efforts at Malaehaʻakoa Heiau


By far, our most memorable and significant milestone was the October 13 kaiāulu event that was held at the Wailua Marina.  We mahalo everyone that came out and attended the event, the speakers who shared manaʻo, the food vendors who kept us nourished, as well as those who volunteered their time and energy.

The October kaiāulu event was made possible from funding that I Ola Wailuanui received after being awarded an NDN Collective Community Action Fund grant. 

NDN Collective is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to building Indigenous power. Through organizing, activism, philanthropy, grantmaking, capacity-building and narrative change, we are creating sustainable solutions on Indigenous terms.  We look forward to continue utilizing the NDN funding to offer more community events in 2025, stay tuned for updates!!

To all of those that made a donation or purchased a shirt, we cannot express how grateful we are for your support!  Donations can be made on our website, or can be mailed to PO Box 143 Kapaa, HI 96746.  Shirt orders can be placed here.

We also want to congratulate former I Ola Wailuanui Board Member, Fern Ānuenue Holland on her election to serve on Kauaʻi’s County Council!!  Fern has been involved in the efforts to preserve Wailua from the early days and while we will miss her dearly, we wish her the best of luck in this new chapter!

We look forward to the many milestones that 2025 will undoubtedly bring.  Mahalo for standing with us in this fight for community stewardship of Wailuanuiahoʻāno - we’re grateful to have your kōkua as we start this new year!

Mahalo nui,

I Ola Wailuanui Board of Directors

Fern Holland
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