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INFORMATION ABOUT IMPACTS ON SNAP BENEFITS AMID THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
The Hawai‘i Department of Human Services (DHS) continues to closely monitor the federal government shutdown and its potential impact on programs that provide essential food assistance to Hawai‘i families.


Hawai'i News Now: "Hawaii set to offer aid for SNAP families as federal shutdown threatens to disrupt food stamp program"
That would leave about 85,000 households in Hawaii scrambling to put food on the table.


How Does Hikaloi Inform Community-Driven Change?
At the Hawaiʻi Pacific Evaluation Association Conference , Vibrant Hawaiʻi Youth Ambassadors shared a story not just about data, but about transformation — introducing participants to Hikaloi, a Hawaiian practice of self-evaluation that guides both personal and community growth. For Vibrant Hawaiʻi, Hikaloi is more than a survey or checklist. It’s a way to see where we are — as individuals and as a collective — on a journey toward thriving communities, where people "Get Cha


KōCreate: A New Way of Leading Together
Rooted in the belief that communities already hold the wisdom, relationships, and creativity to chart their own course, KōCreate redefines what leadership and community engagement look like. It shifts the focus from extraction to cultivation—from collecting input to nurturing agency. KōCreate positions community members not as advisors to someone else’s agenda, but as architects of their own solutions. On September 26, 27 community leaders from across Hawaiʻi Island came to


150 Community-Led Projects Reach Over 7,000 People with Acts of Aloha
What happens when neighbors open their doors, share what they have, and care for the places they love? On Sunday, September 28, the first-ever #VibeHI Day answered that question in powerful ways. Across Hawaiʻi Island, 150 resident-led projects brought people together, touching the lives of more than 7,000 individuals with simple yet meaningful acts of aloha. On Kohala’s Water Works Road, neighbors turned a simple idea into a shared expression of abundance — a community frui


Are You Ready? Strengthening Preparedness Across Hawaiʻi Island
This past weekend, our Vibrant Hawaiʻi ʻOhana participated in the Hawaiʻi County Disaster Preparedness Fair in Kailua-Kona, sharing resources, skills, and strengthening connections with the community. We are especially grateful to our Social Service Navigators and Resilience Hub members, whose dedication ensures that families across Hawaiʻi Island have access to the tools and knowledge needed to stay safe. Preparedness is essential for protecting yourself, your ʻohana, and


From Classrooms to Community: Adulting 101 in Action
Our Youth Ambassadors are continuing to travel across Hawaiʻi Island, leading Adulting 101 Workshops designed to equip keiki and ʻōpio with practical, life-ready skills. These sessions have ranged from Designing a Professional Profile to essential trainings such as Hands-Only CPR and AED use. "In school, it helps them see that learning is not only about books, but also about real-world skills that make a difference. Outside the classroom, we hope they carry this knowledge i


Pāhoa Resilience Hub Builds Capacity with Certified Chainsaw Training Team
Another Hawaiʻi Island community has boosted its disaster preparedness with the launch of a certified chainsaw training team—growing the network to five teams islandwide, a powerful step toward building resilience across our communities. Led by instructor Justin Barrios of Backyard Monkey , the Pāhoa Resilience Hub now has eight members certified in chainsaw safety, felling, and maintenance. “Lower Puna is a large area with numerous albizia and other invasive trees. Knowing


We Belong Here: How Communities Shape Hawaiʻi’s Resilience
Vibrant Hawaiʻi was thrilled to feature our Resilience Hub partners at the 2025 Hawaiʻi State Association of Counties (HSAC) Conference . These community leaders shared their expertise in designing community-led emergency action plans and advancing household disaster readiness. Resilience Hubs strengthen Hawaiʻi’s disaster management system by equipping neighborhoods with the resources, knowledge, and skills to care for themselves and one another. These hubs support continu


Adaptation and Innovation: Shaping the Future of Emergency Management in Region 9
Vibrant Hawaiʻi's Koʻolau Resilience Hub Network Coordinators completed 2-days of training at the inaugural IAEM (International Association of Emergency Managers) conference held earlier this month. Over 133 attendees from across FEMA Region 9 came together alongside County and State emergency management leadership to support the largest symposium of the Region. Our coordinators gained insight into best practices to support adaptive leadership, executing complex plans, Teen


Expanding Local CapacityHands Only CPR Training in Koʻolau
The Koʻolau Resilience Hub Network recently held a Project Kōkō Hands-Only CPR Train-the-Trainer Workshop, led by Hawaiʻi Island...


Strengthening Community Resilience Through Food Systems Innovation
Vibrant Hawaiʻi, in partnership with Nā Kālai Waʻa and The Healy Foundation , has launched the second cohort of Hui Hānai Ka Moku—a...


Partnering with Youth to Change Systems
Our Vibrant Hawai'i Ambassadors recently had the opportunity to engage in a transformative workshop designed to equip them with...


2025 Kaukau 4 Keiki Program
This year, 31 distribution sites across Hawaiʻi Island served 6,000 keiki each week from June 16 to July 25. “The underlying purpose of...


Building Youth Capacity Through Islandwide Resilience Academies
This summer, Vibrant Hawaiʻi Ambassadors hosted six Youth Resilience Academies across Hawaiʻi Island, engaging more than 60 youth between...


Youth Resilience Academies Kick Off Strong!
Our first Youth Resilience Academies—hosted at Nā Kahua Hale O Ulu Wini, Keaʻau Armory, and Tūtū’s House—launched with tremendous impact....


Hawaiʻi Island’s KōCreate Initiative Launches in August with a Bold Vision for Community-Led Futures
A transformative movement is taking root on Hawaiʻi Island—one that reimagines how communities come together to plan, lead, and shape...


Expanding Local Capacity for Psychological First Aid on Hawaiʻi Island
Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a critical component of effective disaster response. In the aftermath of emergencies, timely and...


ʻOAKA Art Fellowship Celebrates Cohort 1
Since January, 12 emerging artists from across our communities engaged deeply with local art experts and cultural leaders. Each fellow...


2025 Resilience Hub Summit
Now in its fourth year, the Resilience Hub Summit has evolved into more than a gathering—it has become a space for reflection,...


Rooted in Creativity, Growing in Community
As the ʻOAKA Art Fellowship comes to a close, our fellows came together for one final gathering filled with learning, reflection, and...


Neighbors in Action: Chainsaw Safety Training
Fern Acres Hub, Puna Mākaukau now has five trained and certified chainsaw safety experts, marking a significant step in disaster...


No Nā Pua: A Hawaiian Culture-Based Approach to Rebuilding First Responder Wellbeing
Healing has always lived in our communities—in the hands of our kūpuna, in our connection to the ʻāina, and in everyday practices rooted...


Family-Centered Coaching Certification for Social Service Navigators
Our Social Service Navigators are now officially certified in Family-Centered Coaching that equips them with the mindset, tools, and...
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