Summer 2025 Impact Report

Root & Rise Hawaiʻi is a nonprofit delivering free, culturally grounded mental health support across Hawaiʻi Island—especially to adults with Serious Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI). Through their flagship Nature & Art as Therapyprogram, they’ve served over 1,190 people since 2021, with 97% reporting improved mental health after just one workshop.

Workshops include everything from equine therapy and botanical art to trail restoration, henna ceremonies, and campfire reflection, all rooted in trauma-informed care and deep connection to ʻāina (land). Root & Rise also facilitates cross-sector collaboration and builds bridges between social services and underserved communities.

In 2025, they’re scaling up thanks to a $50K grant, focusing on transportation access and nourishing meals. Their next major push? Supportive transitional housing with wraparound services for adults with SPMI—aiming to raise $1.7M to make it happen.