On September 18, 2015 Kamehameha Schools’ Community Education, Strategy & Innovation and Commercial Real Estate Division staff members along with kumu, staff and haumana from Kapi‘olani Community College Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program, Windward Community College CNA-LPN-RN & Health Pathway Program, the John A. Burns School of Medicine and XLR8UH joined together at Mauna ʻAla to launch an exciting three year STEM Innovation and Entrepreneurship collaboration.
The brief yet powerful and moving ceremony began with a blessing of the partnership and haumana followed by a hoʻokupu presentation from KS staff and each of the UH groups to mahalo Ke Aliʻi Pauahi for her generosity and foresight in providing educational opportunities into perpetuity for our Native Hawaiian haumana.
The KS and UH STEM innovation and entrepreneurship collaboration includes Project ‘Olonā which comprises six Hawaiian culture-based STEM project teams and the Hālau Pā, an innovation hub facility located in the heart of Mōʻiliʻili. This education collective aims to engage Native Hawaiian community college students in Project ʻOlonā through a series of applied and basic scientific research projects that are founded on Native Hawaiian ‘ike and ways of knowing and doing while leveraging 21st scientific technology and tools to better investigate and understand what our kūpuna knew and practiced through centuries of lived experiences. Research projects are selected based on their social impact for the Native Hawaiian community, and the greatest potential for commercial viability and contribution to research in the fields of STEM and Hawaiian Studies.
The Hālau Pā will be the central point for the convergence of our NH student research and innovation. It will provide a space for highly creative culturally grounded interdisciplinary collaboration for students from the various colleges and programs such as nursing/health, construction, and business to pursue research, product development, and prototyping. Through the Hālau Pā, students will have access to design space and equipment, as well as university researchers, mentors, and industry experts. Coordinated student research and product prototyping developed at the Hālau Pā will be supported by KCC, WCC and JABSOM Faculty and entrepreneurship experts from XLR8UH are expected to result in commercially viable products or services that will contribute to Native Hawaiian well-being and realize revenue generation in support of KS and the UH Community College’s continued funding of education and new career opportunities and/or industry pathways.
