RES 322 Draft 01 2024-2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Project Information * 41. Project Title EXH031T A The Hawai'i Island Beekeeper Legacy Project: Ranching Roots and Agricultural Futures 42. Project Start Date 09/01/2025 43. Project End Date 06/01/2026 * 44. Please select all areas of Hawal'i Island where the project will be administered, delivered, and implemented. South Kohala * 45. Please select the district of the Council Member from which you would like to apply for Contingency Relief Funds. Council District 9 * 46. In 2,000 characters or less, describe the project. This project is a traveling museum exhibit and original documentary celebrating Hawaii's beekeeping history and its vital connection to agriculture. After a successful four -month run at Kona Historical Society reaching over 3,500 visitors including 2,000 students, the exhibit will reopen in Spring 2026 at Anna Ranch Heritage Center in Waimea. This next phase deepens our research into the historic tie between ranching and beekeeping —a relationship dating to 1852 when the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society requested the introduction of honeybees to support crop pollination for cattle feed. We will replicate our proven field trip program, engaging keiki through compelling storytelling, interactive exhibits, hands-on education, and original curriculum. Waimea is the ideal location given its concentration of schools and beekeeping's little-known but significant role in local ranching history. When Waimea's agricultural heritage is celebrated and understood, and when our community embraces pollinator -supporting practices, we all thrive together. The project timeline includes planning, partnership development, fundraising, and research from September -December 2025, followed by staffing and installation preparations in early 2026. The exhibit opens February 1, 2026 for a three-month run. This initiative directly addresses environmental challenges by increasing public awareness of pollinators' critical role in food security, biodiversity, & biosecurity, while honoring practices of kokua between ranchers, farmers, and beekeepers. Waimea can strengthen its agricultural identity by reconnecting with its beekeeping heritage. Our collaborative approach relies on established and emerging partnerships with Anna Ranch, Parker Ranch, local beekeepers, and businesses to ensure authentic storytelling and long-term community impact. Help me fulfill my kuleana to the island that raised me by supporting phase two of this loved community project *47.501(c)(3) Mission Statement The Kona Historical Society will preserve the history of Kona to enrich, inspire, and inform our community and visitors. We will do this through collecting, preserving, researching, interpreting, and disseminating the history of Kona. * 48. In 1,000 characters or less, explain how the 501(c)(3) is connected to the project. Kona Historical Society (KHS) was our founding partner, providing fiscal sponsorship, research support, and hosting our four - month exhibit. Located in Kealakekua—another ranching hub on island—KHS proved the ideal launching point for exploring beekeeping's agricultural connections. The partnership was mutually beneficial. Our exhibit increased KHS visibility, while perfectly aligning with their mission to educate communities about local agricultural heritage. When curator Leandra Rouse approached KHS about fiscal sponsorship for the Waimea phase II, they enthusiastically agreed. Their ongoing support provides crucial infrastructure, letting us focus on content development and community engagement. And their historical archive and historians provide essential research support. KHS's agricultural roots and established relationships with historians, ranchers, and cultural practitioners make them invaluable collaborators, lending authenticity and credibility to our storytelling. * 49. Please upload a completed CRF Grant Budget Form. Contingency Relief Funds Budget Form.xlsx Public Purpose of Requested Funds Per §2-138 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended), the County may grant an award only if the proposed program or service provides direct public benefits and fulfills a public purpose within the County.