KS + UH: Promoting Hawaiian Learning

Thanks to a dynamic and innovative partnership between Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawai‘i, students in communities throughout Hawai‘i are receiving the culturally-relevant academic and personal supports they need to access and succeed at college.

To date, Kamehameha Schools has invested almost $6.5M in UH programs including the Hawai‘i P-20 Partnerships for Education, UH Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, the Wai'ale'ale project at Kaua‘i CC to name just a few.

“As the largest higher education system in the state serving a significant number of Native Hawaiians, KS views the University of Hawai‘i as a very important partner in our goal to see our Native Hawaiian students enroll, persist through and complete post-secondary education,” said Livingston “Jack” Wong, interim chief executive officer for Kamehameha Schools. He continued, “We also know that it will take innovative ways to create the kinds of supports that mitigate barriers and leverage the motivation of our students toward their aspirations.”

Livingston concluded, “With over 60% of the jobs in Hawai‘i requiring a post-secondary degree, amidst many of the daunting and worsening challenges that we face, it behooves us all who live here to care about and invest in the educated citizenry and leadership potential of our state.”

Recently KS awarded two grants to fund new programs

L-R:  Keolani Noa, outreach and Native Hawaiian coordinator of the STEM Program at KCC; Stacy Clayton, director of Extension Education Services at Kamehameha Schools, and Andrew Chang, 2nd year KCC STEM student and peer mentor for the program.

Study of Hawaiian medicinal plants sparks students’ interest in STEM careers
Project Olonā at Kapi‘olani CC is engaging 12 Native Hawaiian students in the comparison of plant growth rates using traditional soil and hydroponic systems. First-year students apply hands-on research to identify the active ingredients of Hawaiian medicinal plants and compare the difference in the chemical potency of these plants when grown using different methods. Students are also learning to validate potential healing properties of traditional medicinal plants through their knowledge of chemistry.

Keolani Noa, outreach and Native Hawaiian coordinator of the STEM Program said, “Project Olonā will help students enhance their knowledge about Hawaiian culture and science and help them link traditional Hawaiian practices to contemporary science. This program is poised to increase interest and preparedness of Native Hawaiians for STEM related professions.”

“Experiences like these are critical to linking students learning in the classroom to relevant and real world applications,” said Stacy Clayton, director of Extension Education Services at Kamehameha Schools. “What makes Project Olonā special is the Hawaiian world view in which these undergraduate students will conduct their scientific work and inquiry. Their findings will greatly contribute to the scientific Hawaiian body of knowledge.” Clayton continued, “Kamehameha Schools is excited to partner with Kapi‘olani Community College, a leader in STEM education to address persistence concerns by fueling students’ passions for the sciences with culturally rich learning opportunities. I have no doubt that as a result of Project Olonā students will inspire new ideas and innovations, develop essential workforce readiness skills, and maybe create future industries and jobs that may not even exist yet.”

New Six-Week Kupa-‘Āina Residential Program Brings Kea‘au High School Students to UH Hilo
Thanks to a partnership between Kamehameha Schools Extension Educational Services Division, UH Hilo, and the DOE Complex covering Kea‘au, Ka‘u, and Pahoa, 25 Hawai‘i Island Kea‘au High School students experienced first-hand what studying and living on the UH Hilo campus is like.

Āina-based applied learning activities were incorporated for students to apply their academic learning outside of the classroom at Kamehameha learning sites around Hawai‘i Island. The students learned about the historical, cultural, and geographical significances of the sites and interacted with cultural practitioners with cultural connections to the sites.

Stacy Clayton shared, “The Kupa-'Aina summer bridge program is more than a college readiness program, it is a cultural transformation experience of the head, heart and hands of our haumana (students). The bridge program is rooted in the 'ike (knowledge) and practices of our kupuna (ancestors), and it will be through their kahiko (ancient) wisdom we will cultivate our future generation of leaders.”

L-R: Dean Cevallos, Principal Kea‘au High School; Carrie Larger, Career & Post-High School Counseling & Guidance, Kamehameha Schools; Brandon Ledward, ‘Āina-Based Education Department Extension Educational Services, Kamehameha Schools; Matt Platz, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UH Hilo; Althea Magno, Kea`au High School teacher; Don Straney, Chancellor, UH Hilo.