Honokaa gets new hub for 38 government and nonprofit service agencies
The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations opened a rural outreach center on the Hamakua Coast to cut travel times for residents seeking benefits, training, and health resources.
By Alyssa Parker ·
Residents of the Hamakua Coast in Hawai‘i can now access a consolidated hub for government and community services without driving to Hilo or Kona. The new Rural Outreach Services site opened Monday at the North Hawai‘i Education & Research Center, or NHERC, in Honokaa. This launch marks the first location for the state's new initiative to serve remote communities directly.
Thirty-eight agencies will rotate through the center, offering services in job training, health care, housing, and agriculture. The list of participants includes the County of Hawai‘i, the Department of Defense, the Department of Education, and various non-profit organizations such as the Arc of Hilo and the Hawai‘i Home Ownership Center. The partnership is coordinated by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, specifically its Workforce Development Division.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie stated that the goal is to make it easier for people in remote areas to receive expected services. He noted that the initiative brings together government agencies, community groups, nonprofits, and businesses to serve all people of Hawai‘i. Rep. Mark Nakashima, who serves on the initiative's coordinating committee and the NHERC advisory board, said the program will turn lives around because many residents previously faced long distances to get job, housing, or health care services.
DLIR Director Dwight Takamine described the effort as a model for other rural areas across the state. He called it a community-driven project aimed at addressing barriers to services. Takamine also sits on the coordinating committee for the Rural Outreach Services initiative. The center operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and residents do not need appointments to see an agency representative.
During July, one agency will be present at the NHERC on Wednesdays and Thursdays. More agencies will be available starting in August. The first scheduled workshop focuses on entrepreneurial opportunities and will take place on July 27, 2011. This event is provided by the County of Hawai‘i's Department of Research & Development and the Small Business Development Center West Hawai‘i. The workshop includes one-on-one consultations on-site.
The North Hawai‘i Education and Research Center can be reached at 775-8890 for schedules of upcoming services, workshops, and conferences. A calendar of events is also posted online. The site is a public-private partnership supported by the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Hamakua Partners in Eldercare, and the Kapulena Lands project.
The list of 38 participating agencies includes the Department of Human Services, the Hawai‘i First Federal Credit Union, and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The center is located in the Hamakua district of the Big Island, an area known for its agricultural economy and distance from major urban centers.
