OUR HISTORY

He contacted George Niitani, head of State Parks at the time, to ask if something could be done. He and Kauai District Superintendent, Shirley Akita, encouraged our legislators to take up the cause. In the 1991/92 legislative session bills were approved to designate a site for the facility and to obtain funds for construction. The position of an environmental resource teacher for the island was also approved.

In addition to State funding, benefactors Edwin and Helga Hollenback came forward with matching funds. Herman Aizawa, Wally Kawane, Wayne Souza, Bertha Kawakami, and many volunteers contributed their time, gifts, and talents to make the Center a reality.

After David’s death in 2007, the Koke`e Discovery Center Association was established to honor his efforts by granting educational scholarships to students and teachers who want to pursue careers in environmental studies.

The goal is that recipients will then become stewards of Hawai`i’s precious native species and this island on which we live.

Thousands of school children throughout Hawai`i nei have taken advantage of this special place. Students typically spend 2 days and 3 nights in the facility with their teachers and chaperones. In the words of Ms. Akita, “it’s a hands-on experience where children get to feel the soil for themselves and take back to the classroom what they have learned”