Good afternoon, Arts and Culture Community,
As you may have seen in the national news, federal policy on grants to states is shifting. The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) has been in close communication with the Comptroller, Budget and Finance Leadership, legislators, and national partners to assess the impact of M-25-13, which proposes to temporarily pause all federal financial assistance obligations and disbursements.
Hawai'i receives billions in federal funding annually, including $912,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to the SFCA. Under this executive order, SFCA programs supported by these funds may be paused.
The state is now evaluating how to cover potential funding losses in priority areas like health, housing, transportation, and education using general funds. Historically, during budget pressures, arts funding has been among the first to be cut since SFCA falls under "Culture & Recreation," the lowest government priority.
During the COVID financial crisis, SFCA survived thanks to the Works of Art Special Fund, a dedicated funding source that remains critical for sustaining arts funding in Hawai‘i.
Hawai'i Legislature Update and Impact
HB1299 proposes amending the percent-for-art law by removing construction and renovation funds. While the bill includes language to replace lost funding with general funds, there is no guarantee these funds will be available—especially given the current pressure to reallocate state resources to offset federal funding losses.
What You Can Do Now
We need the arts community to take action. Contact members of the House Committee on Culture & Arts and House Leadership to request that HB1299 not be heard. Maintaining the dedicated 1% funding source for the arts is essential.
Key Legislators to Contact
Rep. Kyle Yamashita
repyamashita@capitol.hawaii.gov
Rep. Sam Kong
repkong@capitol.hawaii.gov
Rep. Andrew Garrett
repgarrett@capitol.hawaii.gov
Rep. Mike Lee
replee@capitol.hawaii.gov
Rep. Jackson Sayama
repsayama@capitol.hawaii.gov
Rep. Julie Reyes Oda
repreyesoda@capitol.hawaii.gov
Rep. Jenae Kapela
repkapela@capitol.hawaii.gov
Rep. Nadine Nakamura
repnakamura@capitol.hawaii.gov
Rep. Sean Quinlan
repquinlan@capitol.hawaii.gov
Rep. Linda Ichiyama
repichiyama@capitol.hawaii.gov
HB1299 and SB1236 propose eliminating key sections of the percent-for-art law, replacing dedicated funding with general funds—again, without assurance that these funds will be available.
Now is the time to advocate for protecting arts funding in Hawai‘i. Please reach out to legislators and make your voice heard!
Gaye Humphrey
Executive Director
Hawai'i Arts Alliance
