The Hawaii Women's Legal Foundation is accepting applications until March 9 for grants from organizations that improve the legal status and welfare of women and children.

Grants average between $500 and $5,000.

The foundation's primary criteria include improving women and children's access to the legal system; reducing child abuse, domestic violence and sexual abuse; increasing financial independence; and improving the health, education and welfare of women and children.

Visit www.hwlf.org, or e-mail Lane Hornfeck at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or Zale Okazaki at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). For further information, call Okazaki at 537-6119 or Hornfeck at 537-6100.