The Kohala Center Newsletter

Health Impact Assessment: A New View of Agricultural Issues

The recently published Health Impact Assessment investigates the impact of the County’s agricultural plan on the socio-economic health of Hawaiʻi Island and the physical health of its residents.

Born out of our community’s interest in a holistic approach to community well-being, The Kohala Center was founded with the understanding that Hawai‘i Island’s challenges have value because the ability to address those challenges represents an intellectual asset. The recently published Health Impact Assessment (HIA) speaks directly to that foundation.
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The Laulima Center: Improving Farmers’ Access to Resources

Farmers, ranchers, and cooperatives statewide looking to expand or modernize their operations can access grant and loan preparation assistance from the Laulima Center, the rural economic development branch of The Kohala Center.

The Laulima Center, the rural cooperative business and agricultural development branch of The Kohala Center, has hired agricultural business development specialist Nicole Milne to assist Hawai‘i’s small-scale farmers in applying for federal grant and loan funds. With Milne on board, Hawai‘i’s agricultural cooperatives and individual farmers and ranchers now have an extra hand to obtain the resources they need to meet the community’s growing demand for locally-grown food.
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School Gardens: Where Communities Convene

By incorporating hands-on gardening with classroom lessons, school gardens engage students of all ages in the many aspects of agricultural work.

In the heart of Waimea, nestled within its rolling hills, a garden flourishes from the love and labor of thousands of hands. Mala‘ai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School, like the other 63 school gardens that dot Hawai‘i Island, serves—and is served by—a community as diverse as its bounty. Here, neighbors like Nubaui Khentamentiu, who draws on his theater background to connect with students, and Matilda Tompson, who draws on her lifetime of gardening and work with nonprofits, come together to care for Mala‘ai.
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Seed Initiative: Hawai‘i Seed Savers Come Together

People as diverse as the seeds they collect learn the basics of seed saving at the Seed Basics workshops and the Hawai‘i State Public Seed Initiative Web site.

First-time gardeners to seasoned seed collectors are connecting through the Hawai‘i State Public Seed Initiative (HSPSI) to create, nurture, and sustain the foundation of our state’s food supply. Coordinated by The Kohala Center’s Nancy Redfeather and Seed Basics Workshop Coordinator Lyn Howe, the HSPSI seeks to increase the collective capacity of the community on the art and science of growing crops for seed, seed saving and storage, and on the selection and development of varieties adapted to local growing conditions.
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KBEC: Where Culture, Science, & Community Meet

Cornell University students come to Hawai‘i Island for a semester to learn from the land and its people. During their last 3 weeks, the students give back to the community, some by collecting data and promoting good reef etiquette at the bay. Pictured are (from left to right) Nick Lucia, KBEC Manager Jeanie BevanMarquez, Natalie Rivlin, Sara Coffey, and annual visitor volunteer Larry Labair.

Visitors entering Kahalu‘u Beach Park enter a world where culture, science, and community intersect. Teams of volunteers, each trained in different aspects of ecosystem stewardship, deliver information and aloha to ensure a positive experience for people and the reef.
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KBEC Logo featuring Lefty, Kahalu‘u Bay's resident green sea turtle who has only a left front flipper.
The Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center’s Web site has a fresh look! Check out our new logo, featuring Lefty, Kahalu‘u's resident green sea turtle who continues to thrive despite having the use of only one front flipper. The updated Web site includes information on educational and volunteer opportunities at the bay, reef etiquette training, a link to our portal, and much more! Become a KBEC ambassador by “liking” us on Facebook and by sharing our Twitter feeds. Our posts and images will keep you and your followers informed about happenings at the bay. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.