Paipai o Ko‘olau helps to break barriers and build futures

A decade ago, Duane “Nalu” Dias was pacing a jail cell at O‘ahu Community Correctional Center. Today, he walks the halls of Congress in Washington, D.C., advocating for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder. After committing to sobriety, he learned about Windward Community College’s Paipai o Ko‘olau program while in rehab. Skeptical at first, Dias eventually earned his bachelor’s and then a master’s degree in social work from UH Mānoa.

“I wasn’t sure if school was even for me,” conceded Dias, now the outreach coordinator for the Oxford House, a substance abuse rehab facility where he once lived. “Now, I’m a big proponent of education and I encourage everyone to go to school.”

Adjusting to campus life, though, wasn’t easy. For Dias, institutional promises rang hollow, and personal trust was a currency he no longer dealt in. Until he met Sarah Akina, advisor and director for Paipai O Koʻolau.

“She was my beacon,” Dias said. “She told me about scholarships, she connected me with tutors and she taught me math. She helped me in every possible way she could.”

When Akina began her work with the Paipai o Koʻolau in 2013, she wasn’t thinking about numbers – she was thinking about people, like Dias and the more than 700 other students who have since successfully graduated from the program. 

Since its inception, the program has yielded remarkable outcomes, with participants earning a total of 348 degrees and certificates – many earning more than one. Among these are 68 bachelor’s degrees and 16 master’s degrees, demonstrating both academic excellence, and a strong dedication to personal and professional development. 

Each has a story. Many are the first in their families to attend college. Some have come from foster care, others are single parents or formerly incarcerated. Through the program, they’ve found something powerful: a network that sees them, supports them and helps them succeed.

“We treat them like whole people,” said Akina. “Not just students in a classroom, but human beings navigating real-life challenges. We know they can do it – we just have to help them believe that too.”

Backed by the generous support of the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, Paipai o Koʻolau was created to serve students facing the greatest obstacles – whether financial hardship, academic setbacks, family responsibilities or life experiences that made college feel out of reach.

“We believe that true equity begins with ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed – no matter their starting point,” said Alex Harris, Harold K.L. Castle Foundation President. “Paipai O Koʻolau reflects our shared kuleana to lift up those furthest from opportunity, and we are proud to support a program so deeply rooted in community, resilience and the promise of education.”

In addition to offering free classes and tutoring, Akina and her team built a foundation of trust. Students were brought into a safe community – starting with free summer school and continuing with cohorted classes where they would take introductory courses together. There were tutors on hand, free meals on test days, and monthly meetings where students practiced writing personal statements, applying for scholarships and checking in on each other’s well-being.

“Yes, we’re helping students get degrees,” Akina said. “We’re also breaking cycles while doing so. We’re changing lives. And we’re showing students that they matter – and they belong.”

Despite the program’s success, Akina admits that sustaining it isn’t easy. Much of it still relies on grants and the generosity of partners like the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation’s. Her dream is for the program to be fully institutionalized – so no student is left behind because of funding.

Yet, even in the face of uncertainty, the mission remains clear.

“We’re building a future where every student, no matter their circumstance, has the wrap-around support to succeed,” Akina said.