Vibrant Hawaiʻi Formalizes Network of Resilience Hubs Across Hawaiʻi Island

Vibrant Hawaiʻi is partnering with community groups across Hawaiʻi Island to formalize a network of Resilience Hubs. Resilience Hubs are place based, community-led, and committed to increasing the Vibrant Hawaiʻi indicators in their community: “Living Aloha, Belonging, Get Chance, Get Choice, Resilience, Strong ʻOhana, and Thriving Community.”

Resilience Hubs are physical spaces that adapt to the changing needs of the community and activate in times of disaster to support emergency response and recovery efforts.

With financial and training support from Vibrant Hawaiʻi over the next two years, the network of Resilience Hubs will design a Community Resilience Plan using the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment process. Resilience Hubs will also conduct Asset Mapping across FEMA Lifelines and Emergency Support Functions, actively build social cohesion within and across communities, and invest in training to meet their capability targets.

Vibrant Hawaiʻi stated in a news release that locally driven solutions are key to transformative change. To elevate our Hawai’i Island communities, Vibrant Hawai’i Resilience Hubs include two levels of engagement: Kahua Hubs are volunteer-driven and active to provide for basic needs, increase equity, and strengthen individual and community resilience. Kahua hubs serve a specific geographic area and are called upon to distribute food supplies, health products and services, and donations to support community resilience, and promote and/or host programs and services to support community resilience.

KaiāULU Hubs incorporate all the activities and agreements of Kahua Hubs and commit to actively build capacity to facilitate community disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, and/or economic resilience. KaiāULU Hubs have access to a physical space to operate resilience hub activities and focus their energies on designing their Community Resilience Plan and mapping assets and threats in their community. With training and support, KaiāULU Hubs will build a Response Team to mobilize during times of crisis and disaster to create a coordinated Request for Assistance and assist with donation management, recruit, activate and manage volunteers, engage with media channels during an active disaster, and provide Mental Health First Aid training and Social Service Navigators.

Kahua Hubs: Laupāhaoehoe Congregational Church, Island of Hawaiʻi YMCA, Keaukaha Panaʻewa Farmers Association, HIVE Hawaiʻi, Kapoho Crater Resilience Hub, Kua O Ka Lā NCPCS, Leilani Estates Neighborhood Watch, Makuʻu Farmers Hawaiian Homestead Association, Cooper Center Community Pantry, Hilo Coffee Mill, Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Pāhala Resilience Food Hub, Holoholo Ministries, Konawaena Elementary ʻOhana, Humanity Hale, Kamaʻāina Hale Apartments, New Hope Legacy Church, Waikoloa Community Leadership Council, Hāmākua-Kohala Health, Hui Mālama i ke Ala ʻŪlili

KaiāULU Hubs: Kekelaokalani, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Arts & Sciences Center, Hawaiʻi’s Volcano Circus, Hawaiian Acres Community Association, Kalani Honua, Nānāwale Community Association, Inc., Team Pa’a, Nāʻālehu Resilience Hub, Oceanview Marshallese, Miloliʻi Kalanihale, Nā Kahua Hale O Uluwini, Kailapa Community Association, North Kohala Resilience Hub, Waimea Resilience Hub, Hāmākua Youth Foundation, Inc

The Vibrant Hawaiʻi Resilience Hub Network is made possible by a grant from the Oak Foundation Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, and builds on the community successes, experiences, and insights shared from previous Resilience Hub projects that emerged during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vibrant Hawaiʻi serves the role of a convener to dismantle silos and increase collaborative partnerships.

To learn more, visit www.vibranthawaii.org.