Vibrant Hawaiʻi Resilience Academy Reaches Nearly 100 Students Midway Through Summer Programming

Ninety-five middle and high school students have completed the Vibrant Hawaiʻi Resilience Academy so far this summer, with three of eight scheduled academies finished across Hawaiʻi Island.

Over three days, students build skills intended for immediate, practical use — household emergency preparedness, Hands-Only CPR, situational awareness, communication under pressure, and emergency response fundamentals. Organizers say the academy is designed to do more than transfer technical knowledge: it aims to help students understand the role they can play in supporting others before, during, and after an emergency.

Throughout each academy, students hear directly from professionals who respond to emergencies as part of their daily work, including guest speakers from the Hawaiʻi Police Department, the Hawaiʻi Fire Department, and Hawaiian Electric. Organizers describe these sessions as giving students a firsthand view of how different sectors coordinate during a crisis.