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

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

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

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

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

Vibrant Hawaiʻi, in partnership with Nā Kālai Waʻa and The Healy Foundation , has launched the second cohort of Hui Hānai Ka Moku—a...

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

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

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

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

A transformative movement is taking root on Hawaiʻi Island—one that reimagines how communities come together to plan, lead, and shape...

Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a critical component of effective disaster response. In the aftermath of emergencies, timely and...

Since January, 12 emerging artists from across our communities engaged deeply with local art experts and cultural leaders. Each fellow...

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