Hoʻākea Source is a regranting program that furthers the mission of Puʻuhonua Society by creating new opportunities to support and honor visual artists living and working in Hawaiʻi and by affirming Native Hawaiian value-systems.
Hoʻākea Source embodies the teachings of the well known ʻōlelo noʻeau, Hawaiian proverb, "ʻike aku, ʻike mai, kōkua aku, kōkua mai; pela iho la ka nohona ʻohana." Indeed, those who recognize others are recognized, those who help others are helped—such is expansive family life. It is only through our mutual dependence on one another that we thrive.
Hoʻākea Source is a Regional Regranting Program Partner of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. The Regional Regranting Program partners with local arts organizations around the country to make grants to artists and collectives for projects that chart new creative territory in their communities.
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Regional Regranting Program aims to support vibrant, under-the-radar artistic activity by partnering with leading cultural institutions in communities across the country. The program allows the Foundation to reach the sizable population of informal, non-incorporated artist collectives and to support their alternative gathering spaces, publications, websites, events and other projects. The Foundation plans to expand this program with partner organizations in areas where the level of on-the-ground, self-organized artistic activity is highest.
Information for Grant Seekers
Distribution of Funds:
Hoʻākea Source will award grants ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, to selected projects. In our inaugural two-year grant period, we will prioritize visual artists, collaboratives, and collectives living and working across the island of Oʻahu. In the case of collaboratives and collectives, some contributors may live off island, but the lead applicant must live and work on Oʻahu. Applications from members of historically marginalized communities that serve all of Hawai‘i’s people are especially encouraged. Total award monies distributed will be $60,000 per year.
Review Criteria:
All proposals will be considered based on the following criteria. Proposed Research and Projects should speak directly to one or more of the following three strategic priorities:
- ʻĀina (That which feeds): Proposals that are rooted in place; proposals that center love and/or stewardship of land, sky, and sea.
- Pilina (Relationality): Proposals that build meaningful relationships; proposals that weave past, present and future together through emerging and/or sustained commitment to groups, collaborations, and/or collectives.
- Huli (Change): Proposals that affirm a (k)new way of being; proposals that advance more just futures and/or contribute to systemic transformation.
A successful application will:
- Speak directly to what the proposal is, who it involves, and which of the three strategic priorities it most closely aligns with and why
- Situate an artistic practice within a larger visual arts genealogy of Hawaiʻi
- Demonstrate a capacity to realize the project on time and within budget
- Explain how the public would engage with the project with an emphasis on non-conventional exhibition spaces
- Describe the potential impact on a local community and the larger arts and culture landscape of Hawaiʻi
Selection Panel:
A selection committee of 3 members; with the majority being Hawai‘i based artists and curators well respected across local communities, as well as an invited curator or artist from outside of Hawaiʻi, will review eligible applications over two days with oversight and assistance by the Program Director and Puʻuhonua Society Executive Director.
2025 Grant Cycle
- October 2024: Program Announcement
- November 2024: Outreach and Information Sessions
- November 28, 2024: Application period opens
- December 2024: Public information sessions
- January 2025: One-on-one consultations
- January 31, 2025: Application period closes
- February 2025: Applications shared with selection panel and ranked to create a finalist pool.
- March 2025: Second round artist-grantees are notified of selection panel’s decision.
- March 2025: Second round of grant monies distributed.
Our 2025 grant cycle opened November 28, 2024, coinciding with Lā Kūʻokoʻa, the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi’s National Independence Day.
Inaugural 2024 Grant Awardees
Hoʻākea Source announces the inaugural group of 10 awardees receiving funds from $5,000 to $10,000. Grantees will have one year to bring to life a range of projects centered around ʻāina (that which feeds), pilina (relationality), and huli (change).
A trio of external review panelists convened to discuss applications and select this year's awardees from 38 total applicants.
Projects celebrate the diverse practices of artists of Hawaiʻi and take many forms including a zine, exhibitions, dance party, non-narrative short film, feature length experimental documentary, multimedia live performances, mapping and data visualization, community and student-centered workshops, ceremonies, and events.
These grantees will have the opportunity to bring their artistic endeavors and visions to life over the next year, presenting their finished projects in venues and communities of their choice. Hoʻākea Source looks forward to seeing their projects come to fruition and making a positive impact on the local arts ecosystem in Hawaiʻi and beyond.
2024 Panelists
A trio of external review panelists convened to discuss applications and select this year's awardees from 38 total applicants:
Jaimey Hamilton Faris teaches critical theory and the history of contemporary art at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She is an affiliate faculty in Pacific Islands Studies, International Cultural Studies, and the Institute for sustainability and Resilience.
"Congratulations to the inaugural awardees of Hoʻākea Source. Your excellence and commitment to Hawaiʻi runs deep!"
Puni Jackson is an accomplished artist and Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner who has led endeavors in Hawaiian cultural and ‘āina-based educational programming for over 20 years. As an artist, Puni is known primarily for her large-scale painting and installation work and has exhibited nationally and internationally.
"Hawaiʻi's art legacy is growing through the work of the 2024 Hoʻākea Source awardees. Mahalo for the long vision of Puʻuhonua Society, investing in pilina, ʻāina, and kaiāulu. E ola ko Hawaiʻi paeʻāina!!"
Patrick Flores, a Professor of Art Studies at the Department of Art Studies at the University of the Philippines and concurrently Deputy Director at National Gallery Singapore. He is the Director of the Philippine Contemporary Art Network.
"I only have heartfelt cheers to the first grantees of this inspiring initiative. I am confident that they will all fulfill the promise of their artistic vision and their commitment to the flourishing of their communities and the possibilities of change."
FAQs
Does my project have to be collaborative?
No.
How long do I have to complete my project?
Award recipients will have one calendar year from the date of award notification to complete their projects and public event and submission of a final report.
In a collaborative, who should be listed as the lead organizer?
The lead organizer(s) should identify as an artist working in the visual arts. It is not a requirement that all members of the project self-identify as artists, or work in the visual/performing arts.
Can I apply for a grant to cover equipment?
Yes, but equipment purchases should reflect no more than 20% of the amount awarded.
Can I apply for a project that has already started?
Yes, existing projects that seek to expand their reach or are considered “ongoing” can be considered.
Do I need to have a confirmed venue to apply?
No. We do not require you to have confirmed venues, or written commitment from any service, affiliate, presenter, or space you choose to engage.
What is the maximum amount of funding I can apply for?
The maximum amount of funding that can be applied for is $10,000. If the cost of your project is more than $10,000, please specify what the amount requested from Hoʻākea Source will be supporting.
Can I be granted less money than I ask for?
Yes. The jurors may decide to award you less than you ask.
How and when will the awards be selected?
Hoʻākea Source will invite three jurors (comprised of regionally and internationally recognized curators and arts professionals), who will review all eligible submissions and select the grantees.
What is the tax obligation if I receive a grant?
All monies received through Hoʻākea Source are considered taxable income. We advise you to consult an accountant or tax professional regarding obligations for taxable income.
For a more detailed background on the program and to be walked step-by-step through the application please see the 30 minute information video found here
Further questions can be directed to info@hoakeasource.org
Pu‘uhonua Society creates opportunities for Native Hawaiian and Hawai‘i-based artists and cultural practitioners to express themselves and engage with and impact audiences. We support artists and makers who serve as translators/mediators/amplifiers of social justice issues in the community.
For more than 15 years, the community center presented art exhibitions and offered classes in woodworking, ceramics, drawing, cooking, and painting, as well as performances. During that time, the center hosted the first Windward performance by the Honolulu Symphony; gallery shows by artists Jean Charlot, Claude Horan, and Juliette May Frazier; and the premier of Terrance Knapp’s Father Damien monologue.
In 1996, Emma’s third daughter, Maile Meyer, became Executive Director, and in 2004, Young of Heart Workshop changed its name to Pu‘uhonua Society* to better reflect its renewed mission as a safe haven for artists and cultural practitioners. For 25 years Maile envisioned and worked to create thriving creative spaces including CONTACT, an annual curated-juried exhibition of innovative, comprehensive and disruptive contemporary art that ran for six years; The Gathering Project, reactivating ʻIolani Palace as a gathering place for community exchange and connection; and Aupuni Space, a contemporary art gallery, artist studios and community space in Kakaʻako that continues today, alongside countless other community driven programs and projects.
Today, Puʻuhonua Society is led by a third generation of Meyer wahine, with Emma Broderick, eldest daughter of Maile, serving as Executive Director. Puʻuhonua Societyʻs programs also include Keanahala, a community weaving program that perpetuates the Native Hawaiian practice of ulana lauhala; Hoʻomau Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina, working to preserve and make publicly accessible Nā Maka o ka ʻĀinaʻs entire 8,000 moving image archive; KĪPUKA, a makersʻ space and series of classes and workshops that are focused around the perpetuation of material cultural practices, and NiUNOW!, a cultural agroforestry movement affirming the importance of niu and uluniu, coconut and coconut groves to the health of Hawaiʻi and its people.
In accordance with Andy Warhol’s will, the mission of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts is the advancement of the visual arts.
The Foundation manages an innovative and dynamic grants program while also preserving Warhol’s legacy through creative and responsible licensing policies and extensive scholarly research for ongoing catalogue raisonne projects. To date, the Foundation has given $280 million in cash grants to over 1,000 arts organizations in 49 states and abroad and has donated 52,786 works of art to 322 institutions worldwide.
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Regional Regranting Program aims to support vibrant, under-the-radar artistic activity by partnering with leading cultural institutions in communities across the country. The program allows the Foundation to reach the sizable population of informal, non-incorporated artist collectives and to support their alternative gathering spaces, publications, websites, events and other projects. The Foundation plans to expand this program with partner organizations in areas where the level of on-the-ground, self-organized artistic activity is highest.