This fall, when a federal government shutdown and temporary pause of SNAP benefits created sudden strain for households across Hawaiʻi Island, communities responded with speed, coordination, and care. Through Aloha In Action , Vibrant Hawaiʻi worked alongside partners to coordinate an islandwide network of food distributions focused on residents most affected by the disruption. Beginning in late October, 12 community distribution sites launched across Kona, North Hawaiʻi, the

In 2025, Vibrant Hawaiʻi launched KōCreate: Designing Homegrown Futures , a new initiative advancing community-led leadership and decision-making across Hawaiʻi Island. Supported by the Trust for Civic Life , KōCreate is grounded in the belief that residents already carry the insight, relationships, and lived experience needed to shape solutions for their own places. As CEO Janice Ikeda  shared, “When community members are supported to organize and take action together, the s

This fall, residents across Hawaiʻi Island brought to life the first-ever Vibrant Hawaiʻi Day , a community-driven initiative designed to strengthen local relationships and encourage neighbor-to-neighbor care. Inspired by National Good Neighbor Day, the effort provided small, flexible mini-grants that allowed individuals, families, and groups to design projects responsive to the needs and culture of their own places. Interest exceeded expectations. More than 150 resident-led

In September, Vibrant Hawaiʻi launched the second cohort of Hui Hānai Ka Moku, continuing a community-led effort to strengthen food security, support food rescue, and build long-term emergency readiness across Hawaiʻi Island. The initiative is carried out in partnership with Nā Kālai Waʻa and The Healy Foundation, grounding food systems work in both cultural practice and practical application. This year’s cohort brought together ten community-based groups from across the isla

Each summer, Kaukau 4 Keiki  ensures that Hawaiʻi Island’s keiki continue to have reliable access to nutritious food when school meal programs are unable to operate. While nearly 13,000 children  receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year, many schools cannot extend these services into the summer due to staffing limitations and logistical constraints. Kaukau 4 Keiki addresses this gap by providing weekly meal kits to children across the island, including in ru

In June, Hawaiʻi broadened its readiness for disaster response by expanding access to Psychological First Aid (PFA)—a practical, evidence-informed approach that helps people offer calm, steady support in the immediate aftermath of a disruptive event. Vibrant Hawaiʻi facilitated Psychological First Aid (MVI-PFA) Instructor training for first responders, mental health professionals, and community members, building a stronger local network equipped to support neighbors, coworker

Now in its fourth year, the Resilience Hub Summit has become a cornerstone convening for communities working to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s readiness before, during, and after disasters. This year’s summit brought together community leaders, emergency managers, government partners, and sector experts from across the state to deepen relationships and expand the operational capacity of the Resilience Hub Network—a growing movement rooted in local leadership and shared responsibility.

Launched at the beginning of 2025, Vibrant Hawaiʻi’s ʻIliahikū  program set out to strengthen pathways between education, workforce, and community, supporting youth and young adults as they build skills, confidence, and clarity about their futures. Over the course of the year, ʻIliahikū developed into a connected framework that links hands-on learning, mentorship, and exposure to opportunity across Hawaiʻi Island. Named after Ka ʻIliahi Kū Hoʻoilina o Keawe —the lasting fragr

This year, Vibrant Hawaiʻi supported the completion of 358 First Aid, CPR, and AED certifications , delivered by a network of 30 locally based instructors  across Hawaiʻi Island. By bringing training directly into neighborhoods, workplaces, and gathering spaces, these efforts expanded access to essential life-saving skills and ensured help is closer when it matters most. The urgency of this work is grounded in proximity and timing. As Niki Vergara of Hilo Medical Center , who

Across Hawaiʻi Island and Koʻolau, residents strengthened local disaster readiness through the development of seven community-based chainsaw teams . Certification courses held throughout the year built a coordinated network of 56 chainsaw felling and safety trained members , prepared to respond when storms, high winds, or fallen trees block access to homes, roads, and essential services. Led by Justin Barrios of Backyard Monkey , participants gained practical instruction in c

Throughout 2025, the Koʻolau Resilience Hub Network  continued to expand its capacity, deepen relationships, and advance place-based resilience efforts across the region. Building on the momentum of the Koʻolau Resilience Hub Network Symposium held in December 2024, residents, partners, and local leaders aligned around shared priorities and a coordinated approach to preparedness and response. Over the course of the year, the network delivered a series of workshops and hands-o

In 2025, Vibrant Hawaiʻi continued to strengthen a network of 20 Resilience Hub partners spanning every district of Hawaiʻi Island. These community-led hubs advance local preparedness through Community Emergency Action Plans (CEAPs) rooted in No ʻAneʻi —“We Belong Here”—and guided by place, stewardship, and shared responsibility. Each CEAP translates island-wide emergency systems into clear, locally actionable plans shaped by the realities of each community. In North Kohala,

In a year marked by growing demand for healthcare access and public benefits support, Vibrant Hawaiʻi’s Social Service Navigator program demonstrated that community-based service delivery is not only effective, but essential. By supporting community-based Navigators and aligning them with healthcare and human services systems, Vibrant Hawaiʻi reduced access barriers, increased successful enrollments, and strengthened coordination across the island. The program’s outcomes show

Since September, Vibrant Hawaiʻi’s KōCreate cohort has been gathering each month to strengthen the relationships, skills, and shared practices that help communities move from concern to coordinated action. KōCreate’s goal is simple and ambitious: support local leaders to design projects that are rooted in place, shaped by community priorities, and capable of building lasting civic participation across Hawaiʻi Island.   To date, our 28 KōCreators, 3 VH Ambassadors, and facilit

Over 120 community members came together to celebrate the growth of the Koʻolau Resilience Hub Network and collectively design the action plan for 2026. The energy in the room reflected a simple truth: relationships are the foundation of resilience.   This year’s gathering highlighted the accomplishments of the network: teams completed First Aid/CPR training, Chainsaw Safety Training, Psychological First Aid Training, and are developing Community Emergency Action plans. Throu

When the federal shutdown brought sudden uncertainty to families across Hawaiʻi Island—communities didn’t wait - they mobilized, stepped in for one another, and got to work.   Over a three-week period, more than 70 Hawaiʻi Island donors contributed over $700,000 to support Aloha In Action. Nearly 500 volunteers gave over 2,000 hours across 14 community-led Points of Distribution, providing 6,000 families with food, gas cards, grocery cards, and essential resources.   “Words c

On Thursday, November 13, 2025, students from across Hawaiʻi Island gathered at Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium for Na Leo O Nā ʻŌpio: Fall 2025 High School Career Opportunities Expo, one of the largest youth career events of the year. The expo welcomed 428 students, 45 chaperones, and 13 schools, creating a rare space for high schoolers to explore career pathways and connect directly with professionals from across multiple industries. Students engaged with careers in healthcare, pu

Our Social Service Navigators recently attended the 2025 Hawaiʻi Island Healthcare Conference, a gathering that brought together leaders, changemakers, and community members from across the island. The goal was clear: explore innovative solutions, strengthen partnerships, and work toward a healthier, more connected future for everyone on Hawaiʻi Island.   “As a Social Service Navigator, attending the Hawaiʻi Island Healthcare Conference was important to understand how our wor

The second KōCreate gathering marked a shift—from connection to coordination, from reflection to movement. Over two days, KōCreators from across Hawaiʻi Island came together to translate vision into action, guided by the belief that lasting change begins with community-led design.   “Being part of KōCreate matters deeply to me because it represents hope — a space where visionary leaders from across Hawaiʻi can come together to reimagine what thriving looks like for our island

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

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

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

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

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