‘Iole
In early 2022, we were proud to announce ‘Iole, a nonprofit place-based research center and living scientific laboratory in Kohala on Hawai‘i Island, that will bring together academic experts, Native Hawaiian practitioners, community members, students and government leaders to develop sustainability solutions rooted in ancestral knowledge and indigenous practices.
Leveraging expertise and resources from partners at the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) and Arizona State University (ASU), ʻIole will work to become a global resilience hub, prioritizing its initial programming around three focus areas: energy security, food security and place-based learning.
‘Iole is the result of approximately 2,400 acres of land and assets in the process of being generously gifted to HCF from the New Moon Foundation and the Kohala Institute.
The vision for ʻIole is based on the Native Hawaiian sense of shared responsibility to care for, learn from, and thrive off of defined, self-sustaining sections of land known as ahupuaʻa. The nonprofit will restore and cultivate the ʻIole ahupuaʻa, while developing solutions-based models that can be scaled and replicated in other parts of the world. Solutions emerging from ‘Iole will be deeply connected and rooted to the richness and resilience of the historic community of Kohala.
ʻIole has engaged additional local organizations, including Kamehameha Schools and Hawaiian Electric Industries, which are directly aligned with ʻIole’s focus areas. Their interest and involvement will further direct and enhance the global value of the solutions developed at ʻIole. To learn more, visit hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/strengthening/iole.
The Renovation of the C. Brewer & Co. Building
In 2021, HCF embarked on an ambitious renovation of our headquarters in the historic C. Brewer & Co. Building at 827 Fort Street Mall. Our goal was to preserve the building’s recognizable style and unique historic features, while creating a vibrant gathering place where our community members, nonprofits, donors, and many others can meet and share ideas in an environment that fosters collaboration.
Transforming our two-story building into a space that serves as a community resource in the core business district will help align the work we’re doing with partners across the state today—and into the future. Now that we've finished and reopened our doors, we're excited to welcome you into our new space and share all the improvements. Click here to learn more and watch videos of the renovated space, including a virtual tour of the building, and interviews with some of the artists who created installations for the entranceway and atrium.