Aloha Kakou!
I hope that each of you had a wonderful summer! Doesn't the time fly by quickly?! Our team here had a fantastic summer and so many great things happened for our environment and in the lives of the youth who worked with Kupu. We had 14 summer Gateway HYCC teams this year across the state along with 25 Frontier members. These programs would not be possible without our amazing team and our fabulous partners. Mahalo nui loa to all who helped to make this summer full of impact and meaning for so many youth. Lives have been changed because you cared and took action.
We are also grateful that Kupu will soon expand its ability to positively grow our state because of generous funding partners. Kupu is proud to announce that the US Forest Service and the Corporation for National Community Service have provided Kupu with 21st Century Conservation and Service Corps funding that will provide for 13 more positions for our year-round EIP program this fall. We are also proud to announce that the Gift Foundation has selected Kupu as one of three beneficiaries who they will support through their annual Halloween fundraiser. Mahalo also to the Kaiser Community Benefit for their generous gift to Kupu. The donations from the Gift Foundation and the Kaiser Community Benefit will greatly impact our CommunityU program which is changing the situation in a positive way for our youth and environment.
Lastly, I wanted to recognize some new additions and shifts to our staff. Welcome to Kristie Reilly, the new RISE Administrative Assistant, and Kupu HYCC/E2U alumni Matt Ching, one of the new HYCC Program Coordinators. HYCC/ CommunityU alumni Joyce Santiago will also be joining the Kupu staff as an HYCC Administrative Assistant. Paahana Kincaid, formerly an HYCC Program Coordinator, is transitioning into a new role as the E2U Program Manager. We are excited for the energy and talents these individuals are bringing to our ohana!
I hope you enjoy this month's newsletter and hope whether with Kupu, on your own, or with another organization, you are getting involved and making a difference!
Aloha,
John
 John Leong
Kupu Executive Director
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Support Kupu
Each dollar donated will support Kupu's mission to enable young adults to protect HawaiĘ»i’s unique environment and become sustainable, while equipping participants with skills needed for future careers and educational opportunities.
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Kupu's 2013 Annual Report Now Available!
Learn more about Kupu's annual benefits to the community and economy, and read through our alumni success stories, and financial summary, among other features. Special thanks to bCause for the graphic presentation.
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Kupu Spotlight: Hayden Atkins
Our August spotlight belongs to Hayden Atkins, a continuous intern of our HYCC Gateway and E2U Programs. Click "read more" below to hear how Hayden is helping to shape the budding conservation scene on Hawaii Island and the windward side of Oahu, and why he was one of Kupu's 2014 Alumni of the Year.
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April Lau Kupu Recap: 1700 lbs of Marine Trash!
Close to 100 smiling volunteers gathered at Kahuku Beach for Kupu's April Lau Kupu Community workday. Thanks to a collaboration with Surfrider and Sustainable Coastlines, volunteers helped remove nearly 1700 pounds of marine debris from the beach!
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Kupu's 5th Annual Environmental Fair and Luncheon
June 13th was host to another successful environmental fair and awards luncheon, as Kupu held its annual event at the Kewalo Basin Facility. Click "read more" below to learn about Kupu's remarkable 2014 award winners, as well as the local agencies who helped put together some fantastic and engaging environmental presentations.
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Pacific Links Foundation Sponsors Gateway Team
This summer the Pacific Links Foundation provided the opportunity for a handful of young men and women to participate in Kupu's summer Gateway Program. The team specifically targeted the Waianae coast for their conservation efforts, and PLF's Executive Director was able to spend a day at Mount Kaala with them.
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RISE Launches New Website
After months of hard work, Kupu's RISE Program has officially launched their new website! Special thanks to bCause for their vision and talent in bringing the web and design elements together. Click the link below, or visit www.risehi.org to see the new face of RISE!
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RISE Keiki Fun Run a Success
In May, RISE organized an educational 1K run for nearly 100 elementary aged students at the Kawailoa Wind Project in Haleiwa, where the keiki learned about various environmental and sustainability topics.
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RISE Welcomes 10 New Fellows
Kupu's RISE Program is happy to announce that ten new interns will be starting this month, thanks to a newly formed partnership with Energy Excelerator (EEx). These new interns will be helping EEx's portfolio of small energy start-ups with their marketing, business development, IT, and policy needs.
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Kupu Receives EIP Positions in New USFS/AmeriCorps Partnership
Starting in September, thirteen additional young adults will be completing a year of conservation service on the island of Hawaii, thanks to a newly formed partnership between the US Forest Service and AmeriCorps.
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RISE Program Combats Marine Debris with Launch of Sand Sifter Design Competition
Kupu's RISE Program, in collaboration with Sustainable Coastlines, has launched a Sand Sifter design competition, meant to address the growing marine debris problem found along Hawaii's coastlines. Interested individuals must submit an initial drawing and design description by September 26th. The winning team will receive a $2,500 cash prize! Click "read more" for details on the submission and judging process and background information on the competition.
UPCOMING Lau Kupu Day: August 23rd, 2014!
Everyone is welcome to join our upcoming Lau Kupu Community Work Day -- Saturday, August 23rd 2014 at Loko Ea Fishpond in Haleiwa. Click "read more" below for details or visit www.kupuhawaii.org/laukupu. See you there!!
Job/Internship/Volunteer Opportunities
Kupu Staff Employment Opportunities:
Visit www.kupuhawaii.org/work-at-kupu for a current list of employment opportunities
Kupu Internship Opportunities:
Other Environmental Opportunities:
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