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Leadership Kaua'i in Partnership with Kaua'i Community College Presented
Envisioning Kaua`i's Sustainable future(Previous event) April 27, 2022 | 3:30pm-5:30pm | KCC Fine Arts Auditorium
was a talk story with ʻāina-based organizations creating economic diversity through social impact work. |
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We facilitated an afternoon discussion on cultivating Kaua`i's future in pursuit of island innovation and sustainability through our food systems. This conversation was the beginning of a greater one on how KCC can create curriculum to support ʻāina-based organizations creating economic diversity through social impact work on Kaua'i. This was a Zero-Waste event. Mahalo to Jesse from Zero Waste Kaua'i for bringing compost bins. All food, plates, cutlery, cups and napkins were composted.
Pupus menu: Locally grown fruit platter and salad. KCC purchased a pig from ‘Āina Ho‘okupu o Kīlauea for our kalua sliders. The pig was roasted by Kahu Vidinha. Buns were supplied from local bakery's: Passion Bakery and Mark's Place. Kulolo and poi were from Aloha ‘Āina Poi Company. Lettuce for the salad came from Iwikua. Sauce provided from Aunty Lilikoi's.
Featured Event Speakers:
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Our Event Speakers, LK Group, and KCC Faculty and Staff. Mahalo to our speakers for sharing your mana'o and KCC for facilitating the conversation!
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Closing the Gap:
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Video courtesy of: Steven Kinslow
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Courses at KCC that can support these organizations:
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What can I do?
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Define your personal values to be an example of how to move towards a diverse economy.
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Enlist others to support a sustainable economy on Kaua'i for our future generations.
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Challenge our established systems through innovative and new ways of thinking.
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Foster collaboration and support organizations creating economic diversity.
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Celebrate small wins towards Economic Diversity. We are all in this together!
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Get involved!
- The Bridge: Kaua'i to College is a local non-profit organization focused on providing Kaua’i high school students with the skills, resources, and opportunities not only to go to college, but to succeed there, and hopefully return to Kaua’i more experienced and educated, ready to enrich our community.
- Keiki to Career is a network of partners in both private and public sectors, including representatives from education, health, human service, youth programs, businesses, families and community leaders working together to ensure Kaua'i's young people are "ready to learn and ready for life". Their vision is an island community where Kaua'i's keiki through young adults (birth to age 24) are healthy, competent, and caring. They collect data and measure results to ensure efforts remain aligned and participants hold each other accountable, learning together from successes or failures. This is reported in a bi-annual Kaua'i Youth Report on the K2C Online Data and Resources Page. Kaua'i Planning Action & Alliance serves as the coordinating agency for Keiki to Career. Recruitment is now open!
- Volunteer with Local Organizations such as Mālama Hule‘ia. Visit their volunteer page to stay up to date on community work days!
- As a credit union and not a bank, Kaua‘i FCU reinvests profits back into the community, as opposed to shareholders, to create a resilient, thriving local economy. It’s an evolution of Kaua‘i’s hukilau tradition. Everyone contributes; everyone benefits. No one is left behind. By committing to bank local, we support the 'āina that sustains us. True economic health starts with embracing the unique contribution of every member of our community.
- Leadership Kaua'i's adult program provided us this opportunity to work together on this community project. We were able to collaborate and network with various people and organizations on the island. The 10-month Adult Program is now recruiting leader's to be apart of an extraordinary mobil leadership learning opportunity. For the "busy leader" the TLC 10-Week Program is offered bi-annually in an online zoom setting for an in-depth breakdown of the 5 Leadership Practices.
- Āina Hoʻokupu O Kīlauea’s (AHK’s) goal is to facilitate solutions to economic, social, and agricultural/food security challenges that the greater Kīlaueaand all areas of our Kaua'i community. Consider shopping local! Learn more about how you can purchase local fresh CSA Produce Boxes or join their Meat Club.
- Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawaii has worked for over 25 years to promote sustainable tourism through innovative initiatives and programs aimed at protecting our natural and cultural resources. Sustainable Tour Operators are committed to providing authentic experiences and take steps to minimize their environmental footprint, support the local community, & provide staff development.
- Encourage your friends and visitors to research sustainable tour operators. Holo Holo Charters created their Holo Holo Pono Pledge as an oath to ensure you have the most incredible time on Kaua'i. With your kokua (help) you will aid in preserving our natural beauty, unique history and rich resources; while keeping you and your precious loved ones safe, so you can have the most enjoyable and memorable experiences while on Kaua'i.
- Kaua'i Destination Management Plan (DMAP) a way for residents to get involved in the future planning of tourism on Kaua'i HTA Kauai Action Plan.
About this initiative:
Aloha! As part of LK 2022, our group felt a passion towards creating Economic Diversity on Kaua'i. Hawai'i has typically been dominated by one industry (hospitality/tourism) and in order to create a more sustainable economy, we need to change that narrative. Throughout the Pandemic, unemployment rates on Kaua'i reached an all-time high as the visitor industry shut down for almost a year. This ripple effect was felt across industries, and we continue to feel the effects of the constrained supply chain and how reliant we are on outside resources. Despite these hardships, Kaua’i persevered and there was a strong sense of community resilience. Thanks to the CARES Act Federal Funding, Rise-to-Work, and other various grant funding, many non-profits were able to hire locally and increase their impacts on the island. Many social-impact nonprofits are creating economic diversity on Kaua’i by: preserving cultural tradition, producing goods and services, growing and educating farmers, and uplifting disadvantaged individuals. In efforts to continue envisioning Kaua'i's sustainable future, we created this page to highlight our efforts and the amazing organizations who inspired us along the way. Mahalo to Leadership Kaua'i for providing this amazing opportunity.
Why is economic diversity important on Kaua’i?
Chandra Bertsch, Co-Owner & General Manager of Holo Holo Charters
WHS Grad & B.S. in Small Business Management/Entrepreneurship, Minor in Managing for Sustainability "Economic diversity is critical to the future success of Kaua’i and it’s residents; I know full-well how fragile it is to operate a business that is primarily dependent upon the visitor industry and it’s my dream to see Kaua’i blaze a new trail where technological innovation and environmental sustainability can contribute to economic stability." |
Alanna Bauman, Online Program Coordinator at Leadership Kaua'i
Kapa'a HS Grad & M.S. Quantitative Economics/ B.A. Economics, Minor in Business Administration "Achieving economic diversity on Kaua'i is critical in ensuring positive economic growth and development for our future generations. Encouraging our young people to go out into the world to learn new skills, innovative tools, and advanced technologies could solve common problems such as job retention and turn-over; by ensuring a qualified and skilled individual with local and family ties. Expanding our industries would allow for our talented young people to move home for a high-paying and fulfilling career on Kaua'i; leading to more opportunities for socio-economic prosperity." |
Ian Souza, Mission Engineer at Pacific Missile Range Facility
Kapa'a HS Grad & B.S. Mechanical Engineering "As an engineer born and raised on Kaua’i, I would like to see more STEM majors return and contribute to the community they know and love. I believe this initiative will encourage young professionals to pursue careers on the island, where their knowledge and experience can model the way to a more sustainable Kaua’i." |
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Margaret Sanchez, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at Kaua'i Community College
B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, M.A. in Education, Curriculum and Design "Education is key to economic diversity on Kaua'i. Students should be offered the full opportunity to explore their passions, learn and grow, and apply their knowledge and experience to attain fulfilling and fruitful careers that also serve our island community. Local, community-based organizations are key to assisting in this pursuit." |
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Tyler Saito, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Kaua'i
Parker School. B.A. Strategic Communications and minor in Public Affairs, Seattle University . Juris Doctor, William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawai'i at Manoa. Licensed to appear before the courts of the State of Hawai'i and the United States District Court for the District of Hawai'i. "Economic diversity means a more self-sustainable Kaua'i that is driven by community innovation, rooted in our island’s unique culture. For me and our LK group, this starts at a fundamental place: growing food to feed ourselves. Supporting and growing agriculture on Kaua'i is a step towards a more prosperous Kaua'i." |
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Mahalo LK 2022!
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