Hawai‘i Community College students who are studying global positioning systems (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS) recently used their technology skills to help preserve part of an ancient Native Hawaiian trail.

The trail — which features petroglyphs, caves, and ancient lama trees — is next to the new Hawai‘i Community College – Pālamanui campus in Kona. Until recently the trail was overgrown with invasive fountain grass and forgotten.

Thanks to an anonymous donor, West Hawai‘i Island students pursuing marine sciences at the new Hawai'i Community College – Pālamanui campus now have more scholarship support. A $50,000 gift established the West Hawai‘i Marine Science Endowed Scholarship.

HAWAI‘I ISLAND – The American Culinary Federation Kona Kohala Chefs Association of Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i has donated $245,000 to establish the ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association & Jean Hull, CCE, AAC Culinary Endowment. This fund will support the growing culinary program at the soon-to-open Hawai‘i Community College - Pālamanui campus.

This is the largest endowment of its kind to support either campus of Hawai‘i Community College in its 50+-year history.