Best Grants for Teachers Continuing Education in Hawaii

The Haseko Scholarship Fund, established in 2004 by the Hawai'i Community Foundation, supports residents of Ewa Beach pursuing vocational education. Eligible applicants must be Hawaii residents, demonstrate financial need, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.7, and enroll full-time in an AS or AAS career program within the University of Hawaii Community College system. This fund aims to enhance career opportunities for students in technical fields.

The Hew-Shinn Scholarship Fund honors A.K. Hew's parents and emphasizes education's importance. This scholarship is available to Maui County residents enrolled in accredited vocational programs, with a minimum GPA of 2.0 required. Preference is given to previous recipients who continue to meet eligibility criteria. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and submit a letter of recommendation. The application deadline aligns with the pre-proposal deadline, ensuring timely consideration for interested students.

The RMEF Grant Program lies at the core of advancing our mission.

RMEF established the program in 1986 to provide financial and logistical support to projects that align with our priorities and goals. Grant funds raised by RMEF members, volunteers and generous donors from across the country translate into significantly more conservation accomplishment when matched with partner funds. The RMEF Grant Program also aims to build recognition for RMEF’s work, grow engagement, and boost local fundraising efforts.

Governed by clear guidelines and criteria, the RMEF Grant Program seeks to foster meaningful collaborations and long-term impacts in the conservation of natural resources and outdoor traditions. Grant project partners include federal, state, local, and tribal wildlife and land management agencies, private landowners and local stakeholders, sportsmen and women, and conservation organizations, universities, foundations and the outdoor industry. Eligible projects primarily focus on habitat stewardship, land conservation and access, wildlife management, and hunting heritage.

We support organizations recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(c)3 entity, federal, state, local, or tribal government entities, sportsmen’s organizations, or educational institutions. All applicants must have a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the IRS. RMEF does not offer grants to individuals.

Wildlife Management and Research

RMEF funds wildlife management and research to keep big game healthy and thriving, including disease surveillance, big game-friendly fencing, road management, and scientific studies that expand our understanding of big game habitat, movement, interactions, and overall herd health.

RMEF’s 2026 priorities include:

• Research on migration + connectivity, critical habitat + nutrition, big game population trajectories, challenges to big game populations, and big game management solutions
• Big Game-Friendly Fencing

The Sam and Mary Cooke Preservation Fund for Hawai’i, established in partnership with the National Trust and the Historic Hawai’i Foundation, aims to support preservation projects across Hawai’i. With an annual grant budget of $15,000, eligible activities include consulting services, preservation workshops, and innovative educational programs. Organizations such as nonprofits and public agencies can apply, ensuring they adhere to non-discrimination policies and match funding requirements. This initiative fosters the conservation of historic sites for future generations.

The Hideko & Zenzo Matsuyama Scholarship Fund, established in 2006, supports students of Japanese ancestry residing in Hawaii. Eligible candidates must demonstrate financial need, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, and be graduates of a Hawaii high school or equivalent. Preference is given to prior recipients who remain eligible and are in good academic standing. This scholarship aims to empower students pursuing higher education and maintain their cultural heritage.

The HI AmeriCorps State and National Competitive Grants aim to enhance community service through AmeriCorps members by supporting organizations that address pressing social issues. Priorities include serving marginalized communities, improving youth mental health and substance use recovery services, enhancing veterans' quality of life, promoting environmental stewardship, and fostering civic engagement. By funding these initiatives, AmeriCorps seeks to strengthen communities and encourage active participation in national service.

The Hokuli`a Foundation Scholarship Fund, in collaboration with the Hawai'i Community Foundation, aims to provide scholarships to residents of the Kona community. Eligible applicants must demonstrate financial need, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, and plan to study in fields such as Healthcare, Education, or Social Work while emphasizing the advancement of Native Hawaiian culture.

The Hon Chew Hee Scholarship Fund, established in 2009 by The Hon Chew Hee Estate Foundation, supports Hawaii residents pursuing degrees in Fine Arts. This scholarship prioritizes students specializing in painting, drawing, sculpting, ceramics, printmaking, or textiles, with a minimum GPA of 2.7 and demonstrated financial need. Preference is given to previous recipients who maintain eligibility. Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation, including one from an art teacher.

The Ho'omaka Hou - A New Beginning Fund, established by the Hawai'i Community Foundation, offers scholarships to individuals in Hawaii who have faced significant life challenges, such as substance abuse or domestic violence. This fund supports those who recognize the importance of education in transforming their lives. Eligible candidates must demonstrate financial need and maintain good academic standing, with preferences given to prior recipients who continue to meet eligibility criteria.

The Illinois American Water Environmental Grant Program, established in 2005, supports innovative community-based environmental projects aimed at improving local watersheds and water supplies. Open to organizations within American Water service areas, it funds activities like watershed cleanup and biodiversity projects. Selection criteria emphasize project clarity, design innovation, community collaboration, sustainability, and engagement. This program reflects Illinois American Water's commitment to environmental stewardship and community support, ensuring clean and reliable water resources for all.

The Hawaii Women's Legal Foundation (HWLF) has been supporting the rights and welfare of women and children in Hawaii for over 30 years. They provide grants to local nonprofits that enhance access to legal systems, health services, and educational opportunities. With priority given to projects benefiting women and children, HWLF awards micro-grants ranging from $500 to $5,000. The foundation considers grant applications twice a year, focusing on initiatives that promote safety and independence in the community.

The Hawaii Dental Service Foundation Grants aim to enhance oral health in Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan by funding local non-profit organizations. Established in 1986, the foundation supports initiatives focused on oral health education, disease prevention, and access to dental care for underserved populations. Eligible organizations must have 501(c)(3) status, while grants do not cover multi-year pledges, individuals, or religious programs. This funding opportunity is vital for improving community health and ensuring equitable dental care.

The Hawaii Dental Service Foundation's Smile Fund provides grants up to $5,000 to support innovative outreach programs aimed at improving oral health in Hawaii. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations or governmental programs. Projects must be completed within 12 months, and grantees can apply once per year. The fund focuses on oral health initiatives like Dentist by One and Kupuna Smiles, while excluding individuals, endowments, and political organizations from funding.

The Ho'oulu Hawaiian Language Scholarship Fund aims to support students dedicated to preserving and advancing the Hawaiian language. Eligible applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, be undergraduate students, and enroll in a college or university in Hawaii, majoring in Hawaiian Language. This scholarship is especially geared towards students of Hawaiian ethnicity and is renewable for up to four years, provided the GPA requirement is met.

The Battlefield Preservation Fund Grant aims to support initiatives that preserve battlefields and related historic sites. This funding encourages planning and educational efforts, particularly those that engage new audiences in preservation activities. Eligible applicants include public agencies and nonprofits in specified states. Grants can be used for staff support, consultant fees, and educational materials. Applicants must provide a one-to-one match for funding, ensuring strong community involvement in preservation efforts.

What is Sea Grant?

Founded in 1968, the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) is part of a national network of 34 programs that engage in the better understanding, conservation, and use of coastal ecosystems. Hawaiʻi Sea Grant works in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi’s prestigious School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to identify Hawaiʻi’s key environmental management issues and guide cutting-edge scientific research to address these challenges.

Pacific Islands Coastal Health Fellowship Program (PICH)

The Pacific Islands Coastal Health Fellowship is a place-based program for recent graduates from the Pacific Islands who want to return home and gain meaningful, hands-on experience in environmental and community work. Fellows will be placed with organizations in Hawaiʻi, American Samoa, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and/or Guam. Placement is dependent on fit between applicant and host organization.

Coordinated by the Hawai‘i Sea Grant Center for Pacific Ocean and Island Health and the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing Systems (PacIOOS), the fellowship places early-career professionals full-time within local government agencies or community organizations working on projects related to fisheries and coastal health. Fellows will work in partnership with participating government agencies or community-serving institutions to work on priorities identified by those agencies and their communities. Focus areas include fisheries, ciguatera, water quality, marine debris, and human health, reflecting the everyday land–sea issues island communities face.

Fellows can expect to gain skills in research, management, outreach, and education. They will receive professional training and support throughout their fellowship period. This fellowship should equip recent graduates to transition into graduate school or into a meaningful career at the conclusion of the year. We hope they will build lasting relationships with host organizations and mentors that will support long-term collaborations and project support.

Hawai‘i Community Foundation

Hawai‘i Community Foundation invests charitable funds in communities across the State primarily through nonprofit organizations. Our core programs are designed to support a stronger nonprofit sector as we believe that these organizations are one cornerstone of a vibrant civic society.

We administer a number of grantmaking programs with targeted purposes or an island-based focus. Hawai‘i Community Foundation also assists several private foundations in delivering their grantmaking programs according to their specific strategies.

Artists in Residence – Laila Twigg-Smith Art Fund

Artists in Residence

HCF is currently accepting applications for the Artists in Residence 2026 grant program. Hawaiʻi nonprofit organizations/programs can apply to host artists in residence for a defined period. During the residency, the artists in residence focus on developing their own artistic practice while engaging with Hawaiʻi-based artists and the broader community through dynamic, meaningful interactions that have the potential for long term impact. Artist(s) in residence should be widely recognized, outstanding artists, including visual artists, writers, musicians, dancers, and other performing artists. Artists may be based in the continental United States, foreign countries, or Hawaiʻi. For Hawai’i-based artists, the residency must support new relationships with a host organization/program and new forms of community engagement; ongoing or existing collaborations are not eligible.

Laila Twigg-Smith Art Fund

The Laila Twigg-Smith Art Fund (LAF) was created to carry her ambition forward, for the benefit of the arts and artists of Hawaiʻi and beyond. It aims to nurture and promote Hawaiʻi as a global center for the exchange of contemporary arts and artists. LAF is intended to support projects and initiatives that afford artists opportunities to immerse themselves in new environments, to absorb different influences, and to realize fresh visions.

LAF has an advisory committee of volunteer community members with expertise in the arts who provide recommendations on the fund’s strategy and recommend grant funding.

The Ichiro & Masako Hirata Scholarship, established in 2005 by Masako Hirata, supports Hawaii residents majoring in Education. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate financial need, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, and be full-time students in their junior, senior, or graduate years. Preference is given to previous recipients who continue to meet eligibility requirements. This scholarship aims to foster academic achievement and good moral character among its beneficiaries.

The Ida M. Pope Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by the Ida M. Pope Trust, supports female students of Hawaiian ancestry pursuing degrees in STEM fields, including Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Applicants must be residents of Hawai'i, demonstrate financial need, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5, and provide ancestry verification. This scholarship aims to empower women in STEM disciplines and enhance educational opportunities for the Hawaiian community.

The FY2026 Implementation of the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Action Plan (QZAP) seeks to address the rapid spread of these invasive species in the Western United States. This funding opportunity aims to support proposals that align with the priorities established in QZAP 2.0, focusing on critical areas for prevention and control. Applications will only be accepted through grantsolutions.gov, and the initiative is limited to U.S. states within the Western Regional Panel.

Hawaii 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving youth with education, health, mentoring, or athletic programs can access funding through the National Football League (NFL) Foundation’s Pro Bowl Community Grant. Grants support youth literacy, college and career preparation, wellness, abuse prevention, and related services, which may benefit organizations involved in teacher-led enrichment or continuing education initiatives.

The Teresa F. Hughes Trust Grant provides financial assistance to qualified elderly adults and children in Hawaii. The grant aims to support those in financial need, particularly seniors over 70 and children under 18 who have experienced abuse or neglect. Eligible organizations can apply for funding to assist with essential needs such as healthcare, educational expenses, and basic living requirements, enhancing the quality of life for these vulnerable populations.

501(c)(3) charitable organizations serving Big Island teens ages 11–18 can seek US $1,000 - US $5,000 for programs in areas like education, arts, health, and community. With a mission to assist local youth with higher needs and limited access, John M. Ross Foundation may also interest Hawaii educators working with teen-focused initiatives.

The Gee Hing Chinese Company Charitable Trust provides annual grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations in Hawaii focused on promoting Chinese culture and preserving the history of Chinese communities, particularly in North and South Kona. Grants support projects that enhance the Tong Wo Tong Chinese Cemetery and related cultural initiatives. Eligible organizations must submit a final report before requesting additional funding. The Trust does not fund individuals, endowments, or deficit financing, ensuring the support is directed toward meaningful cultural preservation.

The G. N. Wilcox Trust Grant supports programs aimed at enhancing the lives of individuals and families in Hawaii. Founded by George Norton Wilcox, the grant prioritizes initiatives in arts, education, environment, health, human services, religion, and community development. Notably, the grant is limited to one application per year from qualified 501(c)(3) organizations, ensuring focused support for impactful projects. This philanthropic effort continues Wilcox's legacy of improving living conditions and fostering community well-being.

The Frederic Duclos Barstow Foundation for American Samoans Grant aims to enhance education for the youth of American Samoa. It supports diverse initiatives, including assistance to schools, cultural education centers, and programs promoting health and arts. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt organizations in American Samoa and educational institutions in Hawaii. The foundation specifically focuses on projects benefiting youth, fostering their growth and opportunities within their community.

The Elsie H. Wilcox Foundation Grant supports programs aimed at enhancing the lives of individuals and families in Hawaii, with a focus on Kauai Island. This private foundation prioritizes tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations that demonstrate broad community impact. Eligible projects span various fields, including arts, education, health, and human services. The foundation emphasizes significant board participation and accepts fiscal sponsors, ensuring a strong commitment to the community's needs.