Beginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program (through September 2018)
(Honoka‘a, North Kohala, South Kona, Ka‘ū, Hawai‘i Island)

North Hawai‘i Education & Research Center 45-539 Plumeria St, Honoka‘a, HI, United States

January 13, 2018—The Kohala Center’s Beginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program is a nine-month course that includes 188 hours of classroom training, online coursework, on-farm demonstrations and workshops, and field trips, as well as a student-selected assignment. The course begins on Saturday, January 13, 2018 and runs through September. Classes are held every other Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the North Hawai‘i Education and Research Center (mornings) and TKC’s Demonstration farm in Honokaʿa (afternoons), with some sessions taking place in North Kohala, South Kona, and Ka‘ū.

$250

Make a Difference Day
(Waimea, Hawai‘i Island)

Waimea Middle School 67-1229 Mamalahoa Hwy, Waimea, HI, United States

January 15, 2018—Students, families and community members are invited to participate in a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of service from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on January 15 at Waimea Middle School (WMS).

Free

Hawai‘i Island Air Quality Network – Information Sessions
(Kealakehe, Hilo, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island)

January 22–24, 2018—Are you looking for ways to teach NGSS practices in your math and science classes, or just want to learn more about Hawai‘i’s air quality? Researchers and scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are partnering with The Kohala Center to create an air-sensor network on Hawai‘i Island. The network will be comprised of 30 to 40 sensor nodes to measure vog and weather. Data will be publicly accessible.

Free

Measuring Volcanic Air Pollution with a Low-cost Sensor Network
(Waimea, Hawai‘i Island)

W. M. Keck Observatory Jerry Nelson Conference Room 65-1120 Māmalahoa Hwy, Waimea, HI, United States

January 24, 2018—Bring your lunch and join us for a presentation by MIT Researchers Ben Crawford and Jesse Kroll in partnership with The Kohala Center. Poor air quality is the single largest environmental risk factor for premature death globally, but the lack of widespread observations has traditionally limited our understanding of air pollutant sources and impacts.

Free

Ke Kumu ‘Āina Alaka‘i ‘Ōpio Program – Spring Break 2018
(Waimea, Hawai‘i Island)

The Kohala Center 65-1291A Kawaihae Rd, Kamuela, HI, United States

March 19–23, 2018—Attention high school students! The Kohala Center is offering an exciting opportunity for interested students to gain leadership and career experience through fieldwork in the Kohala Watershed. Students will be eligible to receive up to $250 for successfully participating in field days and completing additional program requirements.

Free

Sustainable Agriculture Program for High School Students
(Honoka‘a, Hawai‘i Island)

The Kohala Center's Demonstration Farm 45-434 Lehua St, Honokaa, HI, United States

March 19–23, 2018—Hey high school students and recent grads! Want to learn how to grow your own food, take field trips to Hawai‘i Island farms and ranches, experience traditional Hawaiian land management systems—and earn a scholarship for it? Apply for our one- and two-week Sustainable Agriculture programs, in which the ‘āina is your classroom!

Free

Hoa ‘Āina Day: Outplanting Native Plants
(Waimea, Hawai‘i Island)

The Kohala Center 65-1291A Kawaihae Rd, Kamuela, HI, United States

March 24, 2018—Deepen your connection with the ‘āina! Join The Kohala Center’s Kohala Watershed Partnership and Ke Kumu ‘Āina team for a morning of outplanting native species such as wiliwili, koai‘a, ‘a‘ali‘i, and ‘iliahi to re-establish Kohala Mountain’s native forests. Other service activities may include outplanting monitoring and maintenance, invasive species control, and native species seed collection.

Free

Prepare Your School Garden for Summer
(Waimea, Hawai‘i Island)

Māla‘ai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School 67-1229 Māmalahoa Hwy, Waimea, HI, United States

March 31, 2018—Join instructors Wendy Baker (Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science) and Amanda Rieux (Mālaʻai) as they guide you in making a summer plan for your school garden. Learn implementation strategies to leave your school garden in good health with minimal care over the summer break.

$30

Introduction to QuickBooks
(Hilo, Hawai‘i Island)

Hawai‘i Innovation Center 117 Keawe St, Hilo, HI, United States

April 5, 2018—QuickBooks is an accounting and bookkeeping computer program that helps businesses track income and expenses, create invoices and statements, and produce financial statements. The workshops will cover accounting basics and how to read P&L and balance sheets, as well as provide an introduction to QuickBooks to help attendees decide if the software is right for them.

$15

Kahalu‘u Bay Beach Cleanup and Sunscreen Swap
(Kahalu‘u, Hawai‘i Island)

Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center 78-6710 Ali‘i Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI, United States

April 14, 2018—Kick off Earth Week and National Volunteer Week by helping us keep Kahalu‘u Bay clean! 

Beach Cleanup (8–9 a.m.)
Bring the ‘ohana and help us keep litter and microplastics from entering the ocean. 

Sunscreen Swap (8–11 a.m.)
Bring your sunscreen containing oxybenzone (or any other hard-to-pronounce active ingredients) and get a free sample* of reef-friendly sunscreen from All Good, Stream 2 Sea, Bare Republic, Goddess Garden, or Avosol!

No RSVP required: just show up!

Free