Our Graduates

rootsgrads

What some of our 2014 Roots of Kaua`i graduates are doing now…

2014’s Business Plan Project Winner, Kaui Fu, 28, of Kilauea, was hired by Waipa Foundation after a very successful internship. She is currently working as a Project Assistant for an ANA grant, exploring how Waipa can create jobs for Native Hawaiians and support a Hawaiian culturally driven economy on Kaua’i’s north shore. She is also working on a UH Sea Grant project, performing interviews with elders and mapping changes in land usage and natural resources in the area of Anini.

Pedro Rubio, 30, of Kapa`a, is passionate about recycling and reducing waste on Kaua`i. He wowed us with his artistic Trash to Cash project of up-cycled, hand-painted hats, and with his creative Business Plan for electronics recycling. Pedro was hired from his internship at Kaua`i Community Recycling Service and has even received a raise since he joined their team!

Carey Tinsley, 25, of Kealia, is taking steps to make his Business Plan Project, Kaua`i Gardens, into a reality! He has gained use of land at Kealia and is growing a market and permaculture garden called ‘Blessed Be Organics’, in addition to his pono landscaping company ‘Kauai GardenScapes’, with the ambitious goal of expanding into a full nonprofit community venture focused on sustainable agriculture and healthy living.  Carey’s current crops are Kale and Swiss chard; upcoming crops will be collards, pak choi and tat soi, cherry tomatoes, carrots, beets, bananas and papayas. Find Carey at the Kealia Farm Market, open Mondays and Fridays from 3-6p on Kealia Rd. at the white pavilion.

Since graduating from Roots, Shawna Blackford, 20, of Puhi, (our other Business Plan Project Winner!) enrolled at KCC and completed her pre-requisites for an AS in Forestry, with a 4.0! She also landed a job working at Kauai Backcountry Adventures as a Rafting Guide, sharing her love and knowledge of Kaua`i’s natural environment with the public. She has now been accepted into the forestry program at Hilo Community College, starting in the fall, and will be seeking a position or internship in the conservation field after her big move.

2014’s Valedictorian, Nicolle Jones, 26, of Kilauea, has been networking extensively and gaining a variety of experiences in green businesses and organizations. She is interning with The Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA), Kauai Nature School, and Rainbow Tree School, as well as supporting the first phase of development for The Living Earth Community, and receiving sustainable landscaping skills at The Hale Uluwehi Foundation in Anahola. Nicolle says, “The importance of networking and building community is valuable because it strengthens systems of support and communication. In this day and age sustainable methods for human functioning is critically important as nations face global transitions in all areas of society. Thanks to Malama Kaua`i I have been able to become an actively progressive community member by thinking globally and acting locally.”

We’re so proud of all of our graduates for going after their dreams! Congrats everyone! 

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