The Kohala Institute’s GRACE Center soon will see renovations thanks to a $2.679 million Community Facility Direct Loan.
The Kohala Institute’s GRACE Center soon will see renovations thanks to a $2.679 million Community Facility Direct Loan.
GRACE — an acronym for “Gratitude, Respect, Accountability, Courage and Engagement” — is the mission of the center designed for people to explore and connect to nature and their surroundings.
“The GRACE Center will bring a number of opportunities right to our rural North Hawaii residents,” said Chris Kanazawa, USDA Rural Development State Director for Hawaii and the Western Pacific. “A core function of the center in this area will be serving as a distance learning facility. This will allow the nearly 2,000 residents to participate in classes with educational institutions such as the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Arizona State University without a commute or having to leave their homes in pursuit of more educational opportunities.”
The multifaceted center also will support workforce development training, allowing instructors from throughout the Big Island, state and nation to provide educational and vocational training to local residents. Additionally, local farmers will be able to process their products in a certified kitchen.
The project also is projected to create 20 jobs.