From 2015 to 2021, Honolulu Community College successfully provided Hawaiian Culture-Based Professional Development to four cohorts of faculty, staff, and administrators. A total of 82 participants were trained in infusing Hawaiian culture, traditions, and values into their work. These trained individuals then mentored their colleagues, significantly increasing the college's use of culture- and place-based educational strategies to enhance student and community engagement. This foundational effort set the stage for the Kūkalahale project, which expanded upon the successes of Hoʻāla Hou.
Funded by a U.S. Department of Education Title III grant, the Kūkalahale project ran from 2019 to 2024, focusing on Indigenous education frameworks to strengthen Honolulu and Kapiʻolani Community Colleges’ capacities as Indigenous-serving institutions. The project aimed to cultivate culturally appropriate strategies that support Native Hawaiian students, faculty, and staff, aligning with the University of Hawaii’s mission to be a model Indigenous-serving institution.
Kūkalahale’s achievements included:
1. Kīpaipai Aloha Workshops & Field Trips: Standalone workshops and field trips provided entry-level exposure to Indigenous education concepts, Hawaiian language, values, and significant cultural sites, fostering a sense of place on both campuses.
2. Hoʻomōhalu: This introductory training symposium, held at the start of each semester, offered participants various Indigenous education methodologies to incorporate into their academic disciplines.
3. E Hoʻi Nā Wai Cohort: This yearlong, mentored training program enabled employees to develop and execute Indigenous education strategies within their roles. After completing the program, participants became mentors to further support campus-wide adoption of these approaches.
Through these initiatives, Kūkalahale effectively broadened access to Indigenous education frameworks, reinforcing both Honolulu and Kapiʻolani Community Colleges as leading Indigenous-serving institutions.
The Hoʻāla Hou Project at Honolulu Community College, completed between 2015 and 2021, was a transformative Title III grant initiative that successfully advanced the college's mission to serve Native Hawaiian students and the broader community through culturally resonant and inclusive educational practices. This initiative focused on supporting Native Hawaiian enrollment and retention by establishing culturally significant pathways and fostering a sense of place at the college.
The project had two primary goals:
1. Creating Pathways and a Sense of Place for Native Hawaiian Students: This involved New Student Registration sessions and a New Student Orientation, piloted in 2018-19, to ease the transition into college for Native Hawaiian students. The program also included the Mauli Ola First Year Experience, which provided skills development and opportunities for relationship building. These activities helped Native Hawaiian students feel supported, leading to an increase in both enrollment and retention.
2. Culture and Place-Based Professional Development for Faculty, Staff, and Administrators: Across four cohorts, 82 campus members received training on how to infuse Hawaiian culture, values, and traditions into their work. This training enabled them to use culture- and place-based strategies that enhanced their interactions with students and strengthened interdepartmental collaboration. Participants reported that the program not only improved their professional practice but also enriched their personal cultural identity, benefiting Native Hawaiian and non-Native Hawaiian students alike.
The program adapted effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic by utilizing digital storytelling and creative media to share successes and outcomes. With a dedicated Multimedia Specialist, the project expanded its reach through a YouTube channel, documenting program impacts and creating resources for broader dissemination. These efforts allowed the project to serve as a model, sparking interest from other University of Hawaii campuses seeking to implement similar initiatives.
In addition to campus-wide benefits, cohort graduates actively presented their experiences and strategies at conferences and public forums, such as the Hawaiʻi Student Success Institute, demonstrating the broader impact of the Hoʻāla Hou Project on fostering an inclusive, culturally grounded educational environment.