Kohala Resilience Hub connects community
by Kristen Okinaka | Aug 2, 2021
Located on the far northwest tip of Hawaii Island, North Kohala includes the towns of Hawi, Halaula and Kapaau. The birthplace of King Kamehameha I is known for its magnificent valleys and rolling green pastures. You’ll find boutiques, galleries and eateries, as well as shops that have been part of the community for generations.
Kohala means “cherished land,” and those who live in this small, tight-knit community have a deep appreciation for the land and those who live on it. Neighbors don’t hesitate to lend a hand, especially when times are tough.
Most North Kohala residents work in the service industry along the South Kohala coast and in Kona. During the pandemic, many families experienced layoffs, furloughs or reduced hours. As businesses and schools reopened, parents and caregivers struggled to balance returning to work with securing childcare.
To meet the need, the Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF) created a Resilience Hub under its Pili a Paa program to provide a safe, supportive environment for children of working families who were distance or hybrid learning. Hawaiian Electric recognized the community’s efforts and supported PIDF with a $10,000 grant for the Hub.
A Resilience Hub is an enhanced community space designed and managed by local residents with support from local government and partners from the private and nonprofit sectors. The Kohala Hub was launched in partnership with Vibrant Hawaii’s islandwide resilience hub initiative that is funded by CARES Act monies.
Community partners Overflow Church, The Big Island Giving Tree, 1HeartHub, St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, and North Kohala Community Resource Center provided facility space, meals, snacks and food boxes as well as life skills activities, tutoring and mentoring.
The Hub opened in late September and served 20 students from kindergarten to fifth grade due to social distancing requirements. During the 2020–2021 school year, students attended online classes each morning and then fun extracurricular activities like archery, gardening, cooking and 3D printing each afternoon. They also learned about safety from a community police officer.
“The extracurricular activities provided a way for the children to learn how they could problem solve, follow instructions, and learn ways they could give back to their families,” said Ross Pagat, Pili a Paa Community School Manager. “Each of these activities also helped the children to be able to socialize and help them with their emotional, physical and mental health.”
The Hub also became a place for adults to connect with critical services like alcohol and drug recovery programs. The long-term goal is for the Hub to become a gathering place for community members to get help with services and life skills such as job applications, parenting classes and CPR training so they can be resilient and successful.
The Resilience Hub is a reflection of the values and culture of North Kohala and those who call it “home.”
Kristen Okinaka is the senior communications consultant for Hawaiian Electric’s operations on Hawaii Island.
