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Mālama Ka Poʻe Fund

Mālama Ka Poʻe Fund

The JABSOM Mālama Ka Poʻe Fund was established to support John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) medical students who are committed to serving Hawaiʻi’s communities beyond the required medical school curriculum.

Rooted in the Hawaiian value of mālama ka poʻe—to care for the people—the Fund empowers students to engage in meaningful, volunteer-driven outreach that addresses real community needs while fostering compassion, cultural humility, and service-oriented leadership.
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Purpose of the Fund

The purpose of the JABSOM Mālama Ka Poʻe Fund is to provide financial support and resources for medical student–led volunteer community projects that take place outside of the required JABSOM curriculum. These projects strengthen connections between JABSOM, community partners, and the people of Hawaiʻi while expanding opportunities for students to learn through service.

Funds may be used to support, but are not limited to:
  • Medical student–involved community outreach projects, with or without the involvement of high school students
  • Hawaiʻi Houseless Outreach and Medical Education (H.O.M.E.) Project community outreach efforts and special events
  • Hawaiʻi Youth Program for Excellence (H.Y.P.E.) outreach activities and events
  • Volunteer opportunities with third-party organizations such as the Institute for Human Services (IHS), hospice care programs, and other community-based partners

Why Community Service Matters

Volunteer community service plays a vital role in the development of future physicians while strengthening relationships between JABSOM and the communities it serves.

For Medical Students
  • Provides hands-on experience working with diverse and underserved populations
  • Strengthens clinical, communication, and cultural humility skills in real-world settings
  • Reinforces values of compassion, service, and professionalism central to the practice of medicine
  • Encourages leadership, teamwork, and lifelong commitment to community engagement
For the Community
  • Expands access to health education, outreach, and supportive services
  • Builds trust and sustained relationships between communities and future healthcare providers
  • Supports local organizations addressing critical health and social needs
For JABSOM
  • Advances the school’s mission to serve Hawaiʻi and improve population health
  • Strengthens partnerships with community organizations and educational programs
  • Cultivates physicians who are socially accountable, community-minded, and prepared to lead

Funding Opportunities for Students

JABSOM medical students who are interested in receiving funding or resources to support their community outreach projects are encouraged to Apply

Mālama Ka Poʻe Identity


malama-ka-poe-identity
The Mālama Ka Poʻe logo is thoughtfully constructed from the letters M, K, and P, the first letters of Mālama Ka Poʻe, intentionally designed to interlock. This visual connection represents community, unity, and mutual support. When repeated and tiled, the shapes form a Hawaiian-inspired tapestry pattern, echoing traditional motifs that reflect togetherness, care, and cultural grounding.
Together, the logo and pattern reinforce the Fund’s core message: many individuals, woven together, create something stronger, more beautiful, and rooted in shared purpose.