The Kuleana Connect Grant Program, administered by the Hawaiʻi State Rural Health Association in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine under the HOME RUN rural healthcare workforce initiative, is accepting applications on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline.
Funding
The program offers three funding tiers:
- Hoʻomaka Grants: $1,000 to $7,500 for simple, easy to implement ideas.
- Hoʻoulu Grants: $7,500 to $15,000 for projects involving multiple partners or recurring activities.
- Kūkulu Grants: $15,000 to $30,000 for larger collaborative efforts with broader community impact.
The maximum published award is $30,000. The number of awards depends on available funding, applications received, requested amounts, and review committee recommendations.
Who May Apply
HSRHA encourages applications from clinics, healthcare practices, community groups, collaborative partnerships, and individuals with innovative ideas. Individuals may partner with a fiscal sponsor if selected. Funded projects must take place in and primarily benefit qualifying rural communities in Hawaiʻi.
For this program, qualifying rural areas include Hawaiʻi County, Maui County, Kauaʻi County, and designated rural areas of Oʻahu. Eligible Oʻahu ZIP codes are 96792, 96786, 96795, 96717, 96762, 96731, 96712, and 96791.
Program Focus
Kuleana Connect supports community driven ideas that strengthen connections between healthcare providers, community, and well being. Projects may address provider wellness, recruitment, retention, belonging, collaboration, shared kuleana, and related rural healthcare workforce goals. Applications are reviewed for alignment with program goals, feasibility, potential impact, readiness to implement, and benefit to rural Hawaiʻi.
Key Requirements and Restrictions
Award recipients enter into a grant agreement with HSRHA and participate in the program’s standardized evaluation framework, including a baseline assessment and follow up evaluation. Projects generally must be completed within the approved award period, which ordinarily will not exceed 12 months unless HSRHA approves otherwise. A brief final report is required.
Published restrictions prohibit grant funds from being used for food, beverages, catering, gift cards, prizes, cash incentives, lobbying or political activities, fundraising activities, or expenses incurred before an award is approved. The public program page does not state a mandatory match or cost share requirement, but final eligibility, award decisions, allowable costs, and requirements are governed by official HOME RUN policies, participation agreements, and applicable federal and state requirements.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through the Kuleana Connect Grant Application linked from the official HSRHA program page. Because applications are rolling, HSRHA encourages applicants to submit ideas as early as possible.
Official source: Hawaiʻi State Rural Health Association — Kuleana Connect Grant Program.