In the News

The Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association, the state’s largest private sector tourism organization announced its endorsements of state and county candidates running in the Primary Election on August 11. HLTA President & CEO Mufi Hannemann said the “endorsement decisions were based largely on island-by-island grassroots input and feedback from those most familiar with the candidates and their records.” Among those endorsed for Hawai‘i County Council is District 4 candidate, Ashley Kierkiewicz.

Council District 4 incumbent faces a stiff challenge from Ashley Kierkiewicz, who has heavy union backing and a reputation from her work on lava relief.

Through the month of June 2018, Annie Valentin, executive director of Project Vision, and Puuhonua o Puna co-organizer Ashley Kierkiewicz, raised funds to bring showers to Puna. The goal is to purchase two mobile hygiene trailers, each with three stall combo shower-restrooms, to remain on Hawai‘i Island for disaster relief. Post-disaster, the trailers would provide hot showers to individuals experiencing homelessness on the island.

"Puna had incredible needs even before lava started flowing – more police officers, a medical center, higher education, jobs closer to home, kupuna care. Recent volcanic activity has forever changed our community.”

Although Pu‘uhonua o Puna (aka the Hub) is the product of many minds and hands, the spark plugs were probably Ikaika Marzo, who’s been doing live daily videos of the eruption, and a young working mom named Ashley Kierkiewicz. Shortly after the eruption began, a group including Marzo amd Kierkewicz met with Gilbert Aguinaldo, who owned an ungraded lot just outside Pāhoa, with the idea of establishing a community meeting place and distribution center to aid evacuees.

When Chef Tim Kilcoyne first arrived after the start of the eruption, he said he didn’t find too many open doors. He said the county told him the help wasn’t needed at the shelters so he got connected to Pu‘uhonua o Puna by Ashley Kierkiewicz, a County Council candidate whose campaign signs he had seen in the area.

“I think they don’t want somebody to come in and get some press or whatever and then leave,” Kilcoyne said, regarding his initial rejection. “It’s not about that. It’s all about giving back to the community, bringing community together.”

"We have three Matson containers coming in from Oahu,” said Ashley Kierkiewicz, one of the organizers behind Pu‘uhonua o Puna. “We’re locating where these people are to get them this generous kokua from the Big Island, outer islands and nationwide.”

Kierkiewicz said the Hub wants to be transparent about the handling of the collection items they take in.

Ashley Kierkiewicz helped start Pu’uhonua o Puna Info & Supply Hub, shortly after the first volcanic eruption.

“In times of distress and trauma, the community just really pulls in together to take care of each other,” said Kierkiewicz. “Everything the you see here is a result of people’s kindness and generosity. We’re 100% community driven and funded.”

“This Hub is the community at its finest,” said Ashley Kierkiewicz, one of the organizers behind Pu‘uhonua o Puna. “We’re going to have information and resources as long as the lava is flowing. This is a marathon, not a sprint. We’re in it for the long haul.”

"What is remarkable about ZI is that its programs are geared with elements to not only change attitudes, skills levels, and opportunities among women and girls we are helping, but also to change attitudes and legislation in local organizations, broader communities, and government…We strive to empower women to change their situations,” says Ashley Kierkiewicz, current president of island's only Zonta International Club.