Kohala Welcome Center Grand Opening
If you have visited Hawi in the past few months, you may have noticed something new about the building just next to the stone “Welcome to Historic Kohala” landmark. Now the building sports a brightly painted sign: “Kohala Welcome Center.”
At last there is a much-needed spot where a visitor can make a pit stop to get information about what makes this area so historic (from the birthplace of Kamehameha I to its plantation heritage), buy books and souvenirs of the area, and use the facilities.
The Welcome Center is the latest offering from the North Kohala Community Resource Center, which celebrated its 10th Anniversary Saturday night with a traditional blessing, live music from our local musicians, and food donated by local restaurants. Several hundred community members turned out to read the storyboards, eat, drink, and congratulate the Center founders and staff, together with eight of the original sponsored projects, which are still serving the community 10 years later.
Crowd gathers for the blessing ceremony at the new Kohala Welcome Center.
North Kohala Community Resource Center Sponsors Community Projects
Among those original projects are the Kamehameha Day Celebration and statue restoration, the Kohala Coqui Coalition whose volunteers keep our district coqui-frog free, WasteStream Recycling, and the Kohala Coalition Against Drugs. As a “fiscal sponsor,” the NKCRC provides a non-profit umbrella for community projects, along with classes and coaching in fund-raising and project management.
Newcomers find volunteering for one of the dozens of active projects is a great way to meet people and uncover the deep connections that make this vibrant community so special to its residents. Of course, I’d welcome your help with my pet project, the Kohala Equine Education Center, which is building a community riding arena and fairgrounds.
Kohala still has an active ranching tradition; the Kohala Equine Education Center will build a community arena to support ranching families, therapeutic riding programs, and lessons for the rest of us horse-lovers
Living in North Kohala Guide Now Available
If you are considering a move to the Big Island and the Hawi or North Kohala area appeals to you, be sure to stop by the Welcome Center to buy a copy of the homespun “Living in North Kohala: A Pocket Guide to Kohala from a Resident’s Point of View.” For more information about buying real estate in the Kohala area, look for me on page 56 of the guide…or meeting a client at the Kohala Rumor, oh I mean Coffee Mill in Hawi…or here on the Hawaii Life website!
A hui hou,
Beth Thoma Robinson, R(B)
Catherine Klug, R(S)
February 22, 2012
Beth – I was looking at the North Kohala Community Resource center website and I was amazed by the number of ongoing projects sponsored by NKCRC. What a great support to the community of North Kohala! I know how active you are with the Kohala Equine Education Center… any hints on where it will be located?
Catherine Klug, R(S)
February 22, 2012
Beth – I was looking at the North Kohala Community Resource center website and I was amazed by the number of ongoing projects sponsored by NKCRC. What a great support to the community of North Kohala! I know how active you are with the Kohala Equine Education Center… any hints on where it will be located?
Dennis Matsuda
March 23, 2012
I think that this site has great information. But, I sense that there are too many realty adds in it. I am a long time resident of Kohala, and it seems that we are growing too fast and although it may be good for some economically, it really screws up the culture, and we need to see who the beneficiaries of our efforts are. We need to serve the OHANA, it is becoming a place where only the really well to do can buy land. We need to think of everyone. Let’s focus on really, Keeping Kohala KOHALA.
Beth Thoma Robinson R(B)
March 24, 2012
Aloha Dennis
I am always encouraged when I see local residents reading and especially taking the time to comment. Just to be clear, Hawaii Life is a real estate brokerage, so most of what I write about…and what other Hawaii Life agents write about..is what we think will be of interest to prospective buyers (or sellers). Since I also volunteer with the CDP–both in the Access Group and since the early days with the Affordable Housing Group..I try to educate about those issues as well.
Mahalo for your input, your ohana does so much for this community.
Beth
Dennis Matsuda
March 23, 2012
I think that this site has great information. But, I sense that there are too many realty adds in it. I am a long time resident of Kohala, and it seems that we are growing too fast and although it may be good for some economically, it really screws up the culture, and we need to see who the beneficiaries of our efforts are. We need to serve the OHANA, it is becoming a place where only the really well to do can buy land. We need to think of everyone. Let’s focus on really, Keeping Kohala KOHALA.
Beth Thoma Robinson R(B)
March 24, 2012
Aloha Dennis
I am always encouraged when I see local residents reading and especially taking the time to comment. Just to be clear, Hawaii Life is a real estate brokerage, so most of what I write about…and what other Hawaii Life agents write about..is what we think will be of interest to prospective buyers (or sellers). Since I also volunteer with the CDP–both in the Access Group and since the early days with the Affordable Housing Group..I try to educate about those issues as well.
Mahalo for your input, your ohana does so much for this community.
Beth