On February 18th, the North Kohala Community Resource Center celebrated its tenth year and the opening of its Welcome Center. Kahu Kealoha Sugiyama brought those attending together with his words of ho'okipa (the hospitality of giving). He began with an empty ti leaf vase set before him. As he spoke leaders in the Center's activities each in turn  filled the vase with an anthurium until the vase had become a beautiful flower arrangement. The anthurium flower symbolizes warmth and hospitality. Statements of appreciation were then shared by those responsible for making the Resource Center- its past present and future -  happen, including Founder Robert Martin, Executive Director Christine Richarson, and President Chris Helmuth.  North Kohala restaurants each contributed bountiful plates of extraordinary food for the feast -- and there was plenty of food for the large attending crowd of community members. For more information about the North Kohala Resource Center and its accomplishments click HERE to be connected to its website. We are grateful to its ohana for sharing the love of North Kohala -- its mountains, its forests, its open pastures, its coastal waters, and its people.