The ʻŌpio Resilience Capacity Area is chaired by Hokulani Fortunato and Maliaonani Silva-Meeken of Lead for Hawai‘i and Misty Carter, County Recovery Program Coordinator. 

Vision for Resilience

Empower ʻŌpio to exercise their voice and take action as Puna community members

Get Involved

To get involved, complete this interest form.  

Progress

July 2023

The County of Hawai'i Disaster Recovery Division is proud to announce the graduation of our incredible Lead For Hawai'i fellows, Hōkūlani Fortunato and Māliaonani Silva-Meeken.

Hōkū and Mālia have been invaluable members of our County of Hawai'i Disaster Recovery Division team, serving as Community Resilience Facilitators and Coordinators. Their unwavering dedication and passion for their work have been nothing short of inspiring, and we couldn't be prouder to have been a part of their journey.

During their graduation ceremony, each fellow had the opportunity to share their remarkable experiences and the invaluable lessons they've learned through their fellowships. Hōkū and Mālia highlighted some of their favorite work with the community:

-Konekonea Art Showcase which focused on healing over time through art, cultural healing demonstrations, and their popular ‘Mess to Masterpiece’ activity that was featured at our last Revitalize Puna event.

-Ku’ikahi Na’auau a County Lunch-and-Learn program ran by Hōkū and Mālia that taught County of Hawai’i employees Hawaiian language, culture, and history. This program had more than two dozen sessions that helped County workers better connect with the people and land they serve.
-‘Ilau which featured partnerships with many events across the island, including BISAC’s Summer Jam, Revitalize Puna, and Men of Pa’a’s Youth Jam.

As we bid farewell to Hōkū and Mālia, we want to express our deepest gratitude for their outstanding contributions to the recovery efforts following the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. Their commitment to empowerment, community engagement, and fostering resilience among our youth has left an indelible mark on our division and the communities we serve.

We are thrilled to announce that every single one of the eight graduating fellows has been offered permanent positions within their host sites. This is a testament to their dedication and the incredible impact they have made. As they transition to new adventures, we wish them boundless success, happiness, and fulfillment in their future endeavors.

October-December 2021

• Assign action team roles to youth members
• Implement youth members into other RCAs
• Pōhāhā I Ka Lani volunteer māla days
• Puna Mo‘olelo Project

Community Involvement:

Our ʻŌpio and Natural Environment Resilience Capacity Areas were featured at the ʻŌhi’a Love Fest in Pāhoa. This event provided an opportunity for our RCAs to educate the community on the cultural and environmental significance of ʻŌhi’a Lehua.

Youth RCA Update--Jan. 11, 2022