Hale Puna perpetuates the rich history of Kauai's westside while promoting cultural and economic resilience within the community.
At Hale Puna, our mission is to catalyze positive change by intertwining heritage restoration, economic revitalization, and local food security. With a holistic approach, we envision a thriving future for West Kauaʻi.
1. Restoration of Historic Property:
We are committed to meticulously restoring and preserving the oldest house in Kauaʻi and the second oldest in all of Hawaiʻi, the Gulick-Rowell Mission House in Waimea, Kauaʻi. This living monument serves as the foundation of our mission, honoring our past while enriching our future.
We have successfully revitalized the historic Kōkeʻe Lodge in Kōkeʻe State Park, turning a once fading landmark back into a thriving, active community hub for people gathering in and enjoying Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe.
2. Food Security Programs: Recognizing the intrinsic link between food security and economic stability, we empower communities with access to locally grown produce. We run a micro-farm on site, host gardening events and youth development, and hold a weekly farmer’s market featuring local farmers and artisans. By fostering food sovereignty, we pave the way for self-sufficiency.
3. Creation of New Job Opportunities: Our dedication to fostering economic empowerment dovetails with historical restoration. By leveraging the unique attributes of the historic properties we rejuvenate, we create new job opportunities that tap into the growing tourism economy on Kauaʻi’s West side. We envision Gulick-Rowell House as more than just a relic of the past; it’s a catalyst for economic revitalization. As a vibrant tourist destination, it has the potential to draw visitors from all corners of the globe, contributing to the prosperity of local businesses and supporting sustainable growth.
4. Community Engagement and Education: Through education and engagement, we strengthen community bonds, instill cultural pride, and build resilience. This history encompasses place, culture, and people: the people who lived, worked, danced, played, and worshiped here. We celebrate the stories they told, the music they played, and the natural landscape they lived in and farmed. Our vision is to recreate a place that the local community can once again enjoy and re-discover just how rich their history is, through various forms of arts. This has been recognized as a vital part of identity development for youth and adults, particularly those of visible minorities living in economically depressed regions.