Give Big Hawai‘i: Your Support Matters!
(Sponsored) Every donation is important. Here’s how some of them were used to better Hawai‘i.
If you think your donation doesn’t matter, just ask the 93 nonprofits that participated in the 2023 Give Big Hawai‘i campaign. Last year, more than 1,800 generous individuals jumped online to givebighawaii.com, donating more than $200,000 to local causes close to their hearts. It’s proof that the spirit of giving is alive and well here in the Islands.
Whether you give $1 or $1,000, your gift makes a difference. Here’s a look at how five nonprofits used their Give Big donations to build a better community.
Photo: Courtesy of EPIC ‘Ohana
EPIC ‘Ohana
A strong community begins with a strong ‘ohana. EPIC ‘Ohana’s work is centered around offering services that nurture Hawai‘i’s foster kids, giving them encouragement, guidance and relationships they need as they navigate the path to adulthood. Last year, EPIC, which stands for Effective Planning and Innovative Communication, used its Give Big donations to uplift the voices of those who have received foster care or have experience with the foster care system. EPIC’s HI HOPES, or Hawai‘i Helping Our People Envision Success, Initiative includes youth advocacy boards statewide and financial literacy education for foster youth. Both of those programs, and more, benefited from EPIC’s generous donors. epicohana.org
Photo: Courtesy of Fur-Angel Foundation
Fur-Angel Foundation
Established in 2014, the Fur-Angel Foundation is a beacon of hope for O‘ahu’s less fortunate four-legged friends still in search of their forever homes. The nonprofit aids in finding people to temporarily house, socialize, train and care for abandoned dogs. Dogs are then connected with people and families looking to adopt. Last year’s donations went directly to medical care for the 153 dogs that were taken into the Fur-Angel Foundation, including sterilization, vaccines, medications, microchips, tests and more. furangelfoundation.org
Photo: Courtesy of Hawaiian Humane Society
Hawaiian Humane Society
Imagine a society where every pet feels safe, loved and cared for. Since 1883, the Hawaiian Humane Society has been a leader in advocating for animal welfare and building a community with compassion for all creatures. Donations from the 2023 campaign supported its lifesaving programs and services to ensure O‘ahu’s most vulnerable animals receive the veterinary attention, shelter and care they need before being reunited with their families or finding new homes through adoption. hawaiianhumane.org
Photo: Courtesy of Homeaid Hawai‘i
HomeAid Hawai‘i
With Hawai‘i having one of the highest costs of living in the nation, it’s not surprising that many people are just one disaster away from homelessness. When the tragic wildfires shook Maui last year, leaving thousands of Lahaina residents without a home, HomeAid Hawai‘i, a nonprofit dedicated to those who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, stepped up to offer its kōkua. Ka La‘i Ola, an interim housing site built using donations from Give Big Hawai‘i, opened its doors on Aug. 9, 2024, to 38 residents displaced by the wildfires. Once fully occupied in March 2025, the new project will house up to 1,500 Maui residents for up to five years. homeaidhawaii.org
Photo: Courtesy of Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project
Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project
UH Mānoa, in association with the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife, launched the Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project in 2003 to pull Hawai‘i’s treasured endemic birds from the brink of extinction. The project focuses on four species: the threatened ‘i‘iwi, and the critically endangered puaiohi, ‘akikiki and ‘akeke‘e. Last year’s Give Big donations went toward supporting field crews that spend up to 10 days at a time in the remote areas of the Alaka‘i Wilderness Preserve conducting valuable research, as well as Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele: Year of the Forest Birds, a statewide outreach campaign that celebrates the jewels of our Hawaiian forests. kauaiforestbirds.org
