The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation in Kailua, Hawaiʻi, has announced its first new strategy in more than 20 years.

While the foundation has focused its environmental grantmaking on nearshore ocean resiliency over the past 15 years, the looming specter of climate change spurred the funder to examine its environmental strategy within a broader climate context. Recognizing the role of climate change in the recent wildfires in Lahaina and Kula, Maui, the foundation’s Climate Resilience Strategy will leverage both funding and non-financial resources to deliver shared goals and objectives. It also strives to embed climate resilience as a cross-cutting value throughout the foundation’s work and the work of existing grantees. 

“This fight is ours to win or lose in the precious few years ahead: as the inevitable impacts of climate change continue to occur, our communities will face more moments of extreme stress,” said vice president of resiliency Eric Co. “After our shared priority of supporting our Maui community, our top priority will be to help Hawaiʻi be more resilient—prepared and adaptive—to an increasingly changing climate and uncertain future. We must do the work now to ensure we are prepared, and to build the social cohesion necessary so that we turn towards one another—not against each other—during cycles of stresses and shocks.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Chinaface)