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Closing the Year with Gratitude From Our KōCreate ʻOhana
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


Koʻolau Charts a Stronger, Connected Future
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


Aloha In Action: Communities Across Hawaiʻi Island Mobilize to Support 6,000 Families During Federal Shutdown
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


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


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...


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...


Meet Our New Ambassadors
We are thrilled to introduce our newest Ambassadors, Nyka-Rae Laeda and Hemi Martinez, to the Vibrant Hawaiʻi ʻohana. The Vibrant Hawaiʻi...
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