Puna Strong has a community-based disaster management approach that values the knowledge and capacities of residents; builds on local resources, including social capital; and aims to increase community resilience. Community resilience is the ability for the community to efficiently use available resources to respond to, withstand, and recover from adverse situations such as the Kīlauea eruption of 2018.

In January 2021, The County of Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i Community Foundation launched Puna Strong to assist with disaster readiness and community resilience, both strategies identified in the Kīlauea Recovery and Resilience Plan (KRRP), following the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. It is supported by the County’s recovery funds and HCF’s Hawai‘i Island Strong Fund. A third round of grants was awarded in 2023 to further support organizations working to strengthen long-term resilience of the Puna community and deepen networks and partnerships aligned with the goals of the KRRP.

In addition to providing grants, the County and HCF will work with intermediaries in the community to assist with technical support, peer learning and network building among recipients.

The application for Puna Strong is currently closed. Please contact Robbie Ann Kane of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation at [email protected] with any questions.