Hometown Heroes: The Kohala Center, OHA mālama ‘āina in leeward Kohala

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June 9, 2021 (West Hawaii Today)—The Kohala Center has received a $150,000 grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to reinforce and strengthen native Hawaiian family, culture, and land in Kawaihae.

The grant, which comes through the OHA Ohana and Community Based Program Grant for Hawaii Island, will help the Kohala Center address needs throughout the ahupuaa (traditional mountain-to-sea land division) of Kawaihae in leeward Kohala, which includes the Honokoa watershed. Through its “Hoolauna Kawaihae: Building pilina through respectful engagement” initiative, the Kohala Center will use the grant funds to research, learn, assess, and incorporate ancestral practices to engage respectfully in restoring dryland native forests in the ahupuaa and strengthening relationships between its people and the natural environment.

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Kohala Center Receives 150K For Native Hawaiian Support

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June 7, 2021 (BigIslandNow.com)—The Kohala Center announced Monday, June 7, that it has received a grant award totaling $150,000 through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ ‘Ohana and Community Based Program Grant for Hawaiʻi Island. The grant will help to reinforce and strengthen native Hawaiians’ ‘ohana (family), mo‘omeheu (culture), and ‘āina (land and water) in the ahupua‘a of Kawaihae during the year-long project period.

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Healing the bay: Public asked to stay out of Kahaluu Bay for final days of spawning

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June 3, 2021 (West Hawaii Today)—As Kahaluu Beach Park’s nine-day closure — allowing for a more successful coral spawning cycle — nears an end, officials are hoping for a swell of public cooperation to remain out of the bay during the closure’s final days.

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Kamehameha Schools’ scale-up competition aims to help grow ag-focused businesses

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May 28, 2021 (Pacific Business News)—Kamehameha Schools has awarded a total of $135,000 to six Hawaii businesses that are focused on strengthening local food systems through its annual Mahiai Scale-up competition held earlier this month.

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Hawaii Island conservation district to temporarily close for coral spawning

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May 25, 2021 (KHON2)—The Waialea Bay Marine Life Conservation District on the Big Island will be temporarily closed on Friday, May 28, and Saturday, May 29, for coral spawning. The half-day closures come on the heels of May’s closure at Hawaii County’s Kahalu‘u Bay.

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Rising up: Hawaiian Kine Trading Co. wins Mahi‘ai Scale-up competition

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May 24, 2021 (West Hawaii Today)—Hawaiian Kine Trading Co. is the winner of the 2021 Mahi‘ai Scale-up business plan competition, which helps established local farms and food system organizations grow their businesses.

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Big Isle beach to close 1 week for coral spawning starting May 28

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May 17, 2021 (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)—Kahaluu Beach Park will once again be closed to the public during the week of May 28 to June 5 to protect spawning cauliflower coral, according to Hawaii County officials. The state’s Division of Aquatic Resources and The Kohala Center, a nonprofit, are requesting the public’s cooperation in staying out of Kahaluʻu Bay during this critical time period.

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Community Voice: Hawaii Shouldn’t Wait To Ban Harmful Chemical Sunscreens

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March 31, 2021 (Honolulu Civil Beat)—There is another big sunscreen issue in Hawaii, and this one needs immediate action.

Although two harmful chemical sunscreens have already been banned in the state, there is strong scientific evidence that two more are harmful to both human health and coral reefs. In fact, mounting research suggests that these two chemicals, avobenzone and octocrylene, are life-threatening to Hawaii’s reefs and are bad for people, including our keiki.

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Native Hawaiian Named Reef Hero

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March 14, 2021 (BigIslandNow.com)—Dear Ocean, a newly formed non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire appreciation and raise awareness of the complex challenges facing the ocean has named Cindi Punihaole, a native Hawaiian on the Big Island, the first Reef Hero.

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No interest microloans for Hawaii food producers, small businesses

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March 12, 2021 (Hawaii News Now)–No-interest microloans are available for small businesses in need of financial help. Loans of us to $15,000 are available for qualified businesses and entrepreneurs across the state.

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