- 14.5%
- of Hilo residents live in poverty
- 32%
- of Hawaiʻi households face food insecurity
- 4
- programs serving Hawaiʻi Island
- 100%
- volunteer-powered right now
Our Mission
COTA Foundation strengthens Hawaiʻi's families by meeting urgent needs with dignity, opening doors to education, and building a real pathway off the streets and into healing.
We provide hot meals, clothing, hygiene supplies, household essentials, and scholarship funding for individuals and families experiencing financial hardship. We cultivate faith, mentorship, and unity among Hawaiʻi's youth. And we are building a pathway off the streets and into healing and stable housing for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Looking for a food pantry in Hilo? Our Community Essentials Program serves free meals, groceries, and household essentials across Hawaiʻi Island.
What we do
Four programs, one pathway
Each program is a step: essentials stabilize a household, scholarships open a door, mentorship builds character, and housing gives roots.
Community Essentials Program
Hot meals, clothing, hygiene kits, and household essentials delivered through weekly meal distribution, monthly essentials days, and mobile outreach.
Learn more
Scholarship & Family Support Fund
Scholarships, school supplies, and tuition assistance for students, graduates, and adults pursuing education or workforce training.
Learn more
Youth Fellowship & Service Camp
An annual week-long faith-based camping trip — Bible study, fire-building, fishing, diving, swimming, and fellowship — earned through a year of community service.
Learn more
Ohana Healing Village
A planned tiny-home community on Hawaiʻi's kauhale model, where individuals and families heal from trauma and addiction while growing food and building stability.
Learn moreStand with Hilo
Every family deserves a full plate and a way forward.
We are 100% volunteer-powered. Your gift, your time, and your donated goods go straight to Hawaiʻi Island families — no overhead layers in between.