Moku Kahawai of Hawai’i Jiu-Jitsu Academy is 1 of 27 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to win a small business grant from UPS and National ACE in the 2022 Proudly Unstoppable Fund.
Kahawai is a 5x BJJ World Champion and founder of Hawai’i Jiu-Jitsu Academy, along with his wife, Keala. Their academy is located in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i. Their mission statement reads,
“Our mission is to create a safe place to fail, cultivate co-elevation and synergy amongst students, and build leaders in our community. Whether you want to learn jiu-jitsu for self-defense, competition, or fitness, we are here to help you achieve your goal.”
The 2022 Proudly Unstoppable Fund gave out a total of $135,000 in grants to 27 different AAPI-owned businesses throughout the United States. As Hawai’i Jiu-Jitsu Academy has earned their place among the recipients, the sport of jiu-jitsu continues to grow and gain recognition for benefiting communities.
With examples such as Moku Kahawai continuing to highlight the activity in positive ways, more and more funding opportunities should become available in the future.
Congrats to the Kahawais and Hawai’i Jiu-Jitsu Academy!
