Council Member Kierkiewicz played a pivotal role in spearheading concept development of Revitalize Puna, a collective action initiative aimed at fostering trust and collaboration between residents and local government in the implementation of the Kīlauea Recovery & Resilience Plan. This groundbreaking endeavor is made possible through funding secured from the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge, a program of the USDA.

At the heart of Revitalize Puna are its community activations, which serve as open-house style gatherings bringing together local, state, and federal partners, along with nonprofit organizations and community groups. These activations serve as invaluable platforms for providing resources, support, and information to Puna residents in Puna. To date, ten activations have been successfully hosted, with the most recent occurring in March 2024.

Revitalize Puna encompasses Resilience Capacity Areas, which consist of action groups led by County and community co-chairs. Groups focus on six key areas: social, cultural, economic, built environment, natural environment, and youth. Each group designs and implements projects aimed at enhancing resilience and fostering agency within their respective areas. Through these initiatives, we showcase our commitment to empowering our community with information and creating opportunities for all residents to actively contribute to the betterment of our beloved Puna community.