In the heart of hawaiis canoe racing community, the oahu hawaiian canoe racing association (ohcra) stands as a beacon of tradition and stewardship, weaving together the rich tapestry ofnative hawaiian…

This Project Grant award from the Department of the Interior's Interior Business Center provides $500,000.00 to the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (OHCRA) under the Native Hawaiian Climate Resilience Program (CFDA 15.098). The funding will support three separate project components over a 5-year period from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2029.

The first two projects focus on mitigation strategies and basin restoration at the Hale O Lono site on Molokai, addressing climate change impacts such as sea level rise and erosion that threaten the cultural heritage and infrastructure of OHCRA's canoe racing activities. The third project on Oahu will implement sea level rise mitigation efforts across 15 oceanfront canoe club sites to safeguard the physical and cultural assets of the Hawaiian canoe racing community. This grant aims to preserve vital race sites, fortify community resilience, and perpetuate the traditional cultural practices of Hawaiian canoe paddling in the face of climate change challenges.

In the heart of hawaiis canoe racing community, the oahu hawaiian canoe racing association (ohcra) stands as a beacon of tradition and stewardship, weaving together the rich tapestry ofnative hawaiian culture and oceanic practices. With over 70 years of dedicated leadership in organizing and perpetuating canoe paddling, ohcra takes pride in its role as a guardian of coastalsites and cultural heritage. Today, ohcra s steadfast commitment to organizing and perpetuating our time-honored sport faces unprecedented challenges. The growing impacts of climate change-inducedthreats, particularly sea level rise and erosion, poses an existential risk to the cherished sites where thousands gather to practice and race. These challenges not only jeopardize the physicalinfrastructure but also undermine the cultural significance and resilience embedded in the sport. This grant proposal seeks to address these pressing issues, recognizing the urgency of safeguardingohcra s cultural heritage, preserving vital race sites, and fortifying the resilience of the oceanic community against the tumultuous forces of a changing climate. The grant represents a widespreadcollaborative effort to navigate the waters of preservation, ensuring the perpetuation of hawaiian canoe paddling for generations yet to come. This proposal comprises three separate components two on molokai and one on oahu.molokai projects hale o lono: project 1: hale o lono - road repair mitigation strategies project 2: hale o lono basin restorationoahu project - 15 canoe sites - oceanfront clubs project 3: canoe sites - sea level rise mitigation