Pacific Islands Indigenous Science Competition Grant

The 2025 Pacific Islands Indigenous Science Competition, hosted by Hawai‘i Sea Grant, invites proposals that center Indigenous methodologies for co-managing coastal and marine resources. With funding available between $25,000 and $50,000 for 3 to 6 selected projects, the initiative aims to enhance resource stewardship, community governance, and cultural practices. This opportunity encourages research that integrates Indigenous knowledge and ecological concerns, fostering collaborations that promote resilient communities across the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands.

Proposals are requested for the 2025 University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program (Hawai‘i Sea Grant) Pacific Islands Indigenous Science Track. This funding was developed through the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Ulana ʻIke Center of Excellence (Ulana ‘Ike). Ulana ʻIke works to ensure that customary practitioners from multiple knowledge systems have decision-making power and direct co-management of coastal and marine resources.
Many funding opportunities exist to support research initiatives that integrate Indigenous knowledge and Western science. A majority of these efforts are led by academic institutions that engage Indigenous communities in varying degrees of participation ranging from consultation to equitable co-production (David-Chavez 2018, Bohensky and Maru 2011). Knowledge production in these contexts attempts to integrate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into existing Western research frameworks (Daniel 2019, Nadasdy 1999). While recognizing the value of partnership across Western and Indigenous sciences, this funding opportunity seeks to shift the focus and center Indigenous methodologies, protocols, and values in research.
With this intention in mind, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will support between 3 and 6 projects in the Indigenous Science track, each in the $25,000 to $50,000 range for a funding term of two years.
Goals and Focus Areas
To promote Indigenous science in Hawaiʻi and across the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI), this funding opportunity seeks projects that support three primary goals: (1) Resource Stewardship, (2) Community Governance, and (3) Strengthening Cultural Practices. Projects should incorporate Indigenous methodologies and the intersectionality of both cultural and ecological concerns.
Projects should also address one or more of the following Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Focus Areas. Each of the focus areas include example questions of interest. These examples are not intended to be prescriptive but suggestive of elements appropriate to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant’s mission.
Healthy Coastal EcosystemsResilient Communities and EconomiesEnvironmental Literacy and Workforce DevelopmentSustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture