

ECONOMY
our GOAL
Advance economic growth through resilient industries and workforce development.

OUR STRATEGy
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Engage community in the revision of the 2021-2025 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
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Cultivate relationships and leverage assets to build and implement creative and innovative policies, partnerships, and economic initiatives
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Develop resources for workforce training
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Create opportunities for youth in partnership with business and academia
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY & ACTION PLANS 2021-2024
In July 2020, the Economy Stream launched its work to craft an economic development strategy that aligns with the community's vision of a vibrant economy and the core values of Vibrant Hawai'i.
Through online platforms, we educated and built awareness of the CEDS, established priorities for industry development, and set forth on a course to create a version of the CEDS – a strategy that we can act on and hold ourselves accountable to.
The Economy x Education Streams converged to host seven Zoom panel discussions and do a deep dive into industry challenges and opportunities. An Economic Development Strategy & Action Plan was developed consistent with EDA standards and to have cohesion across sectors. Working groups formed to craft Action Plans, building off of panel discussions and further engagement with industry.
After nearly a year of development, we are sharing our body work and preparing for collective action.
download a copy of the
2021-2024 vibrant Hawaiʻi economic development strategy & action plans

Micro-investment cohort 1 awardees
The purpose of micro-investing is to provide Economy Stream Core Teams with financial capital to pilot ideas or scale up concepts identified in the Vibrant Hawaii Economic Development Strategy (EDS). The six sectors identified include: Creative & Performing Arts, Health, Education, Resilient & Sustainable Food Systems, Regenerative & Community-Driven Tourism, and Software, Technology & Creative Media.
Micro-investments are intended to support quick action to demonstrate feasibility of solutions and are available in amounts up to $2,500. In reciprocity for the investment, awardees have committed to supporting and sharing their learning journey with one another through Unrulr, an online collaboration tool, and helping co-create and inform the design of future micro-investment opportunities.
Applications were received from community groups and entrepreneurs island-wide and reviewed by a committee comprised of Vibrant Hawaiʻi volunteer board members.
Next round of applications open May 2022.
SECTOR | PROJECT NAME | TACTIC | GEOGRAPHIC AREAS SERVED |
---|---|---|---|
Creative & Performing Arts | Hawaii's Volcano Circus | Increase access to create & perform. | Hilo
Puna
Kaʻū |
Creative & Performing Arts | Oahi Entertainment Wedding and Events (O'E'WE) | Create a new show concept to provide young adults with employment opportunities and educate visitors through mo'olelo. | Hilo
Puna
Kaʻū
Kona
Waimea
North Kohala
Hāmākua
Not Hawaiʻi Island |
Creative & Performing Arts | PPAC Community Center floor repair | Elighten community around the high value of art. | Hilo
Hāmākua |
Education | `Āina University of Puna (`Āina UP) | Improve education and awareness of food system, support the integration of sustainable food systems education into the K-12 curriculum. increase support for youth-led efforts to promote awareness of the local food system. | Puna
Kaʻū |
Education | Kalamapi'i PLAY School | Increase opportunities for all HawaiʻiIsland residents to have access to inclusive, quality, education that fosters lifelong learning. | Hilo
Puna
Hāmākua |
Education | Kohala Okinawa Children's Day Camp | Will train junior leaders ages 14-17 to teach/assist/learn sessions, lead groups, communicate with participants 7-12. They will also learn to work with adult leaders and parents. | Waimea
North Kohala
Hāmākua |
Education | KUKULU KAIAULU | Promote locally sourced and owned small businesses that align to ʻĀina Aloha through social media and communication campaigns Build and fund a network of paid professionals, organizations, and community groups to provide services at hubs. Identify education and community partners willing to partner on this initiative Develop outline of co-created events to be hosted by this partnership. | Hilo
Puna
Kaʻū
Kona
Waimea
North Kohala
Hāmākua
Not Hawaiʻi Island |
Education | Māmaki Ola Curriculum Development and Implementation | Accessible healing practices, ʻĀina-based education, workplace (entrepreneurial) exposure, and value-added foods (māmaki tea blends for schools). | Hilo
Puna
Kaʻū
Kona
Waimea
North Kohala
Hāmākua |
Education | Project Hale Kohala | Four instructors will meet with the 10 families every other week to provide financial guidance. | North Kohala |
Education | Volcano Precious Plastic | Increasing small business education about 'aina aloha. We can also impact tourism, food systems, and other sectors. | Hilo
Puna
Kaʻū
Kona
Waimea
North Kohala
Hāmākua
Not Hawaiʻi Island |
Health and Wellbeing | North Kohala Archery | Public/private partnership utilizing current facilities to create organized structured activities for all ages and abilities with guided leadership to improve physical and emotional health. | North Kohala |
Health and Wellbeing | Root & Rise’s “Nature & Art as Therapy” | Nature & Art as Therapy works to “promote whole mind, body, spirit (holistic) wellbeing that forwards culture-based healing pathways, heals trauma and allows for individual and collective ʻauamo kuleana.” | Kaʻū
Kona |
Regenerative & Community Driven Tourism | Hawaii Forest Farms tours & education | Education for kids about history and culture, health & wellness and medicinal plants. | Hilo
Puna
Kaʻū |
Regenerative & Community Driven Tourism | Kohala Kupa'a Online Marketplace | Locals will have the opportunity to promote local made products from the ʻāina or local foods. | Hilo
Puna
Kaʻū
Kona
Waimea
North Kohala
Hāmākua
Not Hawaiʻi Island |
Regenerative & Community Driven Tourism | Wai'Uli: We Count | This project is in the Wai’Uli/Keaukaha area, and is actively collecting data on cruise ship visitors, seeking to reward Tour Operators for Pono practices, and working to make the beach park areas safer and more pleasant for visitors and residents alike. | Hilo
Puna
Kaʻū
Kona
Waimea
North Kohala
Hāmākua
Not Hawaiʻi Island |
Resilient & Sustainable Food Systems | Na`alehu Resilience Hub Food Insecurity and Workforce Development Initiative | Create and coordinate outlets for farmers to sell b-grade product or produce overflow. | Kaʻū |
Resilient & Sustainable Food Systems | Orchard Garden Project at Becca's Farm | Becca’s Farm will be a learning hub for students to discover ways that they can contribute positively to our island’s food system and environment. Through our initiative, we will help to achieve the following tactic: “Ensure our community has access to ʻāina based opportunities to develop purpose, impact, contribution, connection, and interdependence within the (eco) system of Hawaiʻi.” | Kaʻū |
Resilient & Sustainable Food Systems | Sugar Hill Farmstore | Since our farm currently functions as an aggregator both for meat and vegetables, building a farm shop with the assistance of this funding will be supporting food hub growth. | Hilo
Hāmākua |
Resilient & Sustainable Food Systems | The Honeybee Education Program | The community gardens provide opportunities for the selected communities to work with garden Instructors to build food resiliency. | Hilo
Puna
Kaʻū
Kona
Hāmākua |
Resilient & Sustainable Food Systems | Youngs Family Farm | We want to steer a community to be food sustainable and grow their own agriculture. We also see the value of farm-to-market agriculture and keeping that economic value in Hawaii. | Hilo
Puna
Kaʻū
Kona
Waimea
North Kohala
Hāmākua |
Software, Technology, & Creative Media | Startup Hawaiʻi | Establish communication capacity by standing “up a robust communication & marketing group, develop and deploy a PR campaign targeting web, social, print, and TV, establish a web and social media presence, and establish a cadence for communications – press releases, website updates, social engagement.” | Hilo
Puna
Kaʻū
Kona
Waimea
North Kohala
Hāmākua |
Software, Technology, & Creative Media | The Future of Remote Work in Higher Education on Hawai’i Island | The tactic that will be implemented is normalizing remote work - change the perception this is short-term; articulate this is the new normal. | Hilo
Puna
Kaʻū
Kona
Waimea
North Kohala
Hāmākua |
Software, Technology, & Creative Media | The Hawaiiverse Initiative | Expand economic opportunities available through e-commerce. | Hilo
Puna
Kaʻū
Kona
Waimea
North Kohala
Hāmākua |
Our Team

Ashley Kierkiewicz
Chair
Ashley Kierkiewicz is a policy maker who leverages her experience in communication, outreach, and grassroots organizing to make local government more accessible. She works to build economic resilience through bold vision, good policy, community empowerment, and coordinated, meaningful action.

Farrah-Marie Gomes
Co-Chair
Farrah-Marie Gomes is an education administrator with a passion for and experience in building community capacity through partnerships and collaborations.

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resource library
Grant Resources (Updated 5/20/22)
Hawai'i County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, 2016-2020
USDA/EDA Resource Guide
Employment Opportunities
CEDS Central
Opportunities to Learn, Grow, and Upskill
National Association of Development Organizations