Green Fee funding for statewide Resilience Hub network

Statewide Resilience Hub Network: Scaling Community-Led Preparedness Across Hawaiʻi

Vibrant Hawaiʻi requests Green Fee funding to expand its role as coordinator of a statewide network of community-led Resilience Hubs. The established network of Resilience Hubs on Hawaiʻi Island and in Koʻolau proved its value in 2026. Following the Kona Low, Koʻolau Hubs led immediate response, coordinated Points of Distribution, stood up a community resource center, and led outreach to marginalized and hard-to-reach communities. On Hawaiʻi Island, the Vibrant Hawaiʻi network of Resilience Hubs led Hurricane Lala response and recovery, serving nearly 4,000 requests for assistance representing more than 12,000 individuals. Building on this experience and on last year's statewide Resilience Conference, which drew more than 300 participants from across the state, including HIEMA and emergency management leadership from every county, this proposal responds to growing requests from communities on Hawaiʻi Island, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, and Kauaʻi. Funding would sustain statewide convening and coordination, and provide startup grants to Hubs that complete a community emergency action plan. These grants would equip Hubs with emergency communication tools, sheltering supplies, and equipment and training focused on coordinated disaster mitigation, preparedness, and response. The result is a connected, locally led network, aligned with state and county emergency management, that strengthens community capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate-driven disasters across Hawaiʻi.