Entering Kalhi Valley on Kamehameha IV Road, it’s easy to miss KVIBE, which is housed in a non-discrete tan warehouse building on the makai bound side of the road.  You’ll know you have found the right spot, when you see the bright pink bicycle rack and the colorful graffitied warehouse doors in the parking lot.

Kamehameha IV Road just past N School Street in Kalihi Valley.

KVIBE (short for Kalihi Valley Instructional Bike Exchange) is a nonprofit bicycle education program/shop that promotes bicycle-related activities for the youth of Kalihi Valley.  The program began in Feburary of 2005 and is part of the larger Kokua Kalihi Valley Organization (KKV) providing comprehensive family health  services to the neighborhood.  It is currently funded by its parent organization and the Healthy Hawaii Initiative.

The main purpose of KVIBE is to promote positive healthy lifestyles through bicycle education for the children of Kalihi. The workshop provides a safe environment for kids to explore and learn about bicycles.  Kids learn about the mechanics of a bicycle and work at the shop under the guidance of KVIBE program manager Sau Hsu.  The work centers around fixing and refurbishing used and donated bicycle parts.  A current project involves building bicycles for KKV staff members to transport in between sites. 
A KKV Transport Bicycle build in progress.

Through hard work and dedication at the shop, kids learn discipline and work ethic and are rewarded with bicycle components to build their own custom rides.

Hsu says, “A lot of the kids in Kalihi have been handed a bad deck of cards in the sense that they’re living in housing[projects] and they’re drifting to the wrong crowds.  KVIBE gives them a place that’s safe; they can come here and pursue something positive.”

Sau Hsu wears black rectangular eyeglasses, has a quick smile and an extra-firm handshake.  Though originally from Taiwan, his accent is unnoticeable as he moved to the U.S. at a young age.   He moved to the islands from New Mexico in 2009 and worked as a bicycle messenger prior to joining KVIBE.  Hsu  joined KVIBE as its third program manager and began his tenure in August.  He hopes to build KVIBE into a sustainable program.

“My business is to put myself out of business…all previous directors were hired outside of Kalihi Valley, including myself.  My hope is that these kids learn, and build, and eventually become the face of KVIBE.  They’ll be the ones that run the program in the future.”

KVIBE Program Manager Sau Hsu & Kalihi youth at the workshop.

Donations of bicycle parts are accepted during regular hours.  The shop is staffed by Sau Hsu and several adult volunteers.  :: KVIBE ::

KVIBE Locations and Contact:

1638 Kamehameha IV Road Honolulu Hawaii 96819
Click here for a map
Tel 808.791.9480
kvibe96819 [at] gmail.com
shsu [at] kkv.net

Shop hours are: