The Ali'i Pauahi Hawaiian Civic Club received $150,000 from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to develop a farm in Wailea on the Big Island to cultivate Hawaiian hardwood trees and plants.

The American Resort Development Association of Hawaii donated $10,000 to the Steve Hirano Memorial Scholarship Fund for travel industry scholarships at Hawaii Pacific University. The 2009 scholarship recipient is Jaclyn Saramosing.

Kelly Cua, instructor of Kamehameha Schools Distance Learning, and instructional designer Christy Sato won the Blackboard Exemplary Course Award, which recognizes excellence in online teaching and development. Cua and Sato earned the award for the Hawaiian language course, Ku'u Wahi Noho, in the A'o Makua program for parents, caregivers and adults.