The University of Hawaii Maui College is launching the 2026 Maui Strong Fellowship Program, which will award participants up to $10,000 to work on projects focused on post-fire recovery, sustainability initiatives and environmental restoration.

Funded by the Maui Strong Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation, the initiative is designed to support UHMC students and Maui residents who want to contribute to Maui’s long-term recovery and resilience following the 2023 Lahaina wildfire.

Fellows will work through one of three UHMC programs — Puʻuhonua Kauluwehi, the Hulihia Center for Sustainable Systems or the Water Quality Laboratory.

“We are proud to support Maui’s continued recovery by empowering residents to share their talents and voices,” said Jordan Hocker, sustainability specialist at the Hulihia Center for Sustainable Systems. “Through this fellowship program, we hope to inspire the next generation of leaders working toward a resilient future for Lahaina.”

Examples of projects could include soil and water research to benefit Lahaina’s recovery, collaborative initiatives to build resilience and culturally rooted initiatives that support community well-being.

Hulihia and the UHMC Water Quality Lab are currently accepting open applications for their fellowship spots. Potential participants are being encouraged to contact each entity directly.

Applications are open to UHMC students and Maui residents through March 23. Selected fellows will complete their projects by Nov. 30.

The Hulihia application is available at tinyurl.com/2wtxytkf. For more information, email hulihia@hawaii.edu. For more about the Water Quality Laboratory, email spedron@hawaii.edu.