Talk Story with an Advertiser: Kohala Village HUB

Have you ever wondered about all the different things happening on the grounds of the Kohala Village HUB?

The HUB is a tri-business project, consisting of the Kohala Village Inn, the Kohala Village HUB PUB, and Feed Hawai‘i, a community based 501c(3) nonprofit organization.

Core services and programs of the HUB include a community-learning center, event and meeting facilities, and a food branch which helps support a local food hub by offering a community kitchen and food related services. The HUB PUB serves locally sourced food, with an organic focus, supporting our local farmers and value added producers. The Kohala Village Inn celebrates the Hawaiian plantation traditions of old Hawai‘i, where everyone is a part of their family.

Bennett and Delphina Dorrance, who purchased the HUB property in 2014, saw a need to provide opportunities for economic and social development in the Kohala area. This site has been a cornerstone of the community since it opened in 1951 as Luke’s, a former gathering place. It was unused for more than 5 years when the Dorrance’s committed to renovating it. They started at the back of the property and are completing renovations at the Inn this year. Their focus includes limiting their carbon footprint and developing a renewable energy infrastructure.

The Kohala Village HUB provides authentic Hawaiian accommodations, dining, and program experiences. The nonprofits executive director, Lehua Ah Sam points out, “our culture, our people, and our places are not marketing gimmicks; they are a practice and a lifestyle for us.”

Lehua continues, “Bennett and Delphina are generous local philanthropists who believe in the Kohala community and provide unselfishly. We also attribute our success to our community. We stay engaged in our community, getting feedback on their desires, wants, needs, and areas that they feel are important to spend energy and resources on. We honor Kohala’s mission to ‘Keep Kohala, Kohalaʻ and we recognize that this is defined and delivered through the actions of our community. We currently employ more than 30 Kohala community members, with a growing workforce provided by the project.”

Kohala HUB is a bustling and vibrant town center, a true village of youth to elders, of visitors and kama‘āina. Stop by for a meal, take a class, or stay for a week—you’ll be so happy you did. ❖

Kohala Village HUB
55-514 Hawi Road, Hawi, HI
808.889.0404
kohalavillagehub.com