KEAHOLE-KONA, HAWAI‘I ISLAND—The nonprofit that provides guided, public tours at NELHA’s Hawai‘i Ocean and Science Technology Park is rebranding with a new name and vision. 

The Friends of NELHA, also known as FON, has rebranded as the Keahole Center for Sustainability (KCS). 

Founded as the Friends of NELHA in 2001, the organization will continue to offer themed, weekday tours of HOST’s research and cutting-edge industries for both visitors and Hawai‘i students. Tours are being revamped due to COVID-19 and will resume in mid-July. 

This spring, KCS developed a suite of new educational programing offering a robust portfolio of virtual, E learning content. Available for educators, the programs include interactive workshops with live Q & As, hands-on art projects and engaging video interviews at HOST sites. Also, a new, weekly Community Connection series is available at kcshi.org and KCS’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.   

“Educating and inspiring people of all ages toward the responsible use of renewable resources for energy, aquaculture, research, STEM career opportunities and conservation is our new vision,” states Candee Ellsworth, KCS executive director. “To this end, we will share information about HOST tenants and others practicing the culturally sensitive and environmentally sound use of sunlight and seawater for a sustainable future for Hawai‘i.” 

KCS operates out of HOST’S iconic Gateway Energy Center, Hawai‘i’s first certified LEED Platinum resource-efficient building. Easily visible from Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway, the center offers displays about HOST tenants while all tours begin with an introduction on how the center is cooled by cold deep-sea water pumped ashore by the Natural Energy Lab of Hawai‘i Authority (NELHA).

Keahole Center for Sustainability is a non-profit, conservation education organization offering public tours and school/classroom programs with a focus on renewable energy, sustainability, sustainable aquaculture and the uniqueness of the Hawai‘i Ocean Science and Technology Park at Keahole Point. Presentations begin 10 a.m. weekdays at the Gateway Visitor Center, a mesmerizing location where visitors are inspired by the technologies being developed on the Big Island. School programs can be customized upon request. Public tours are offered Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) and can be conveniently booked online: kcshi.org.