Current Programs
Kaiāulu Hub
In the Prince Kūhiō Plaza, the Kaiāulu Hub is a living, breathing space where youth, ʻohana, kūpuna, small businesses, and community partners converge to learn, create, and uplift one another. Through a vibrant marketplace, collaboration zones, and skill-building workshops, we aim to cultivate a place where creativity, innovation, and culture can take root and flourish.
Kaiāulu Hub - Collective Marketplace
A community-based economic incubator at Kaiāulu Hub where youth, cultural makers, local food producers, and skill-based entrepreneurs can launch, test, and grow place-based microbusinesses. Got an idea, skill, or passion? Let's test it, grow it, and share it.
Rotating marketplace pop-up businesses include:
Art in a Pot
Codie's Cookies
Hilo Laser Tag
Just Small Kine Things
Kūpaʻa
Kuʻi Kalo
Mauamau
Preserved Paradise
No ʻAneʻi
OK Farms
PJ's
Puaʻala
Unity
Social Impact Projects
Youth-led, hands-on programs that tackle real community challenges through alternative learning, blending cultural values, and innovation to foster positive change.
Kiaʻi Manu
An after school program that connects ʻōpio to native Hawaiian birds through culture, conservation, and hands-on projects. By integrating STEM into alternative learning experiences, youth tackle community challenges as they design and build high-tech bird feeding stations. This approach blends innovation with cultural values and traditional stewardship to inspire the next generation of guardians for Hawaiʻi’s natural heritage.