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Council Funds Local Events and First-Responder Support Programs
Summary
The council approved several small grants and appropriations for community events and support programs, including $5,000 for the Friends of First Responders conference, $5,000 for the Ka'u Wellness Festival, and smaller grants for powwows and holiday events.
During the Aug. 7 meeting the council adopted multiple funding measures to support community events and nonprofit programs. Among the items approved were Resolution 571-24 (a $5,000 grant to Friends of First Responders for the Robust Conference 2024), Resolution 572-24 (a $5,000 grant to Ala Nui O Ka'u for the inaugural Ka'u Wellness Festival), and additional small awards to community events including powwows and holiday parades.
Chaplain Renee Godoy, president and founder of Friends of First Responders, explained the conference's family-focused training and peer-support aim for first responders and their families. "We heard Sergeant Pilar this morning...and the first person he thanked who makes sacrifices is his spouse," Godoy said, describing how the program supports families and mental health. Former first responder John Rekomene and Officer Joshua Gouvea underscored the conference's value for emotional support and family resilience.
Council members spoke in support, with several noting that matching or complementary funding from council contingency accounts helped bring these events to fruition. The measures were adopted with unanimous or near-unanimous support as part of a cluster of small appropriations.
