Grant supports vaccine access in Native Hawaiian communities

HONOLULU — Kaiser Permanente of Hawaii has announced a $25,000 grant to Kula No Na Po‘e Hawai‘i (KULA), a Native Hawaiian beneficiary serving organization that exists to promote cultural, educational, environmental, and health equity for all. With this funding, KULA will implement Ke Ko‘oko‘o: Strengthening Community Health Workforce to Support Native Hawaiians. The initiative of Papa Ola Lōkahi aims to make health care and vaccines more accessible in the Papakōlea, Kapolei, and Waianae Valley Native Hawaiian homestead communities. 

KULA will partner with homestead leaders to train and deploy community health workers in homestead communities, enhance on-the-job training for current community health workers, provide outreach for COVID-19 prevention and education, and dedicate resources for vaccinations and contact tracing. 

“We are pleased to support KULA as it works to ensure that Native Hawaiians have equitable access to health care and vaccines,” said Greg Christian, Hawaii Market President, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals. “The Ke Ko‘oko‘o initiative of Papa Ola Lōkahi will lay the groundwork to keep members of the Hawaiian homestead communities healthy today and in the future.”

This grant is the latest in a series of contributions from Kaiser Permanente of Hawaii to help residents throughout the state receive vital support services in response to the socioeconomic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the health care organization has gifted over $3.3 million in current or planned grants to organizations serving communities across the state to support COVID-19 vaccination, address homelessness, and improve food security and economic opportunity for Hawaii’s people.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve approximately 12.5 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health.