KOHALA — The North Kohala Community Resource Center (NKCRC) has received a $5,000 grant from State of Hawaii, Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), to support the town’s annual June 11 holiday in 2017.
The celebration is held every year in North Kohala, the birthplace of Kamehameha I. The event features a lei draping and presentation of hookupu at the original statue of the king in Kapaau; a pau parade from Hawi to Kapaau; and a hoolaulea at Kamehameha Park.
Christine Richardson, NKCRC executive director said, “We are grateful to OHA for supporting this important cultural observance in the birthplace of King Kamehameha. This event is a treasured celebration for our community as well as for island visitors.”
NKCRC’s mission is to increase the number of community improvement projects in North Kohala by providing support, training and access to funding. They value projects that tend to bring the community more closely together, stimulate volunteerism and provide bridges to funding for more than 90 community improvement projects.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) is an independent state agency established through the Hawaii State Constitution to advocate the betterment of conditions of all Native Hawaiians, with a board of trustees elected by the voters of Hawaii.