‘Iole is an opportunity to bring together place, people, belief, commitment, and action in a way that changes how people behave in the world, ensuring future generations the chance for prosperity.

‘Iole, a nonprofit place-based research center and living scientific laboratory in Kohala on Hawai‘i Island, is bringing 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 Hawai‘i (UH) and Arizona State University (ASU), ‘Iole is prioritizing its initial programming around three focus areas:

• energy security
• food security
• place-based learning

The vision for ‘Iole 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 ahupua‘a. This nonprofit will restore and cultivate the ‘Iole ahupua‘a, 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.

‘Iole is an opportunity to bring together place, people, belief, commitment, and action in a way that changes how people behave in the world, ensuring future generations the chance for prosperity.

‘Iole is the result of approximately 2,400 acres of land and assets given to HCF by the New Moon Foundation and the Kohala Institute. HCF, UH and ASU have committed to jointly raising $6.75 million for the operations of ‘Iole for the first three years of the project. The funding allows ‘Iole to focus on properly implementing programming and creating impact without being burdened by financial stress or constraint.

HCF has engaged additional local organizations, including Kamehameha Schools and Hawaiian Electric, which are directly interested and impacted by ‘Iole’s focus areas. Their interest and involvement will further direct and enhance the global value of the solutions developed at ‘Iole.

To support ‘Iole:

• DONATE TO ‘IOLE
• If you prefer to make a gift by check, please make it to “Hawai‘i Community Foundation” and write “‘Iole Fund” in the memo and mail it to:
  
  Hawai‘i Community Foundation, 827 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu, HI 96813

For questions or additional information, please contact Todd Apo, Interim CEO, at [email protected].

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