Hoʻākea 'Ewa

Hoʻākea Mauka to Makai: Navigating Our Future

Hoʻākea Mauka to Makai is a place based learning initiative that honors the rich traditions of Hawaiian voyaging while preparing students to navigate the future with purpose, skill, and kuleana. Grounded in ʻike kupuna and lived community practice, Hoʻākea connects learning from mauka to makai, land to ocean, and past to future.

Spearheaded by Superintendent Hayashi and supported by the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education, Hoʻākea brings together waʻa organizations, mālama ʻāina partners, and community leaders across the islands to provide hands on, interdisciplinary learning experiences rooted in wayfinding. Through protocol, moʻolelo, navigation, and stewardship, students engage deeply with place while developing the mindset and skills needed to lead in a complex world.

At the heart of Hoʻākea is the Navigator Mindset. Students are encouraged to demonstrate curiosity, resilience, reflection, and responsibility as they learn to read their environment, work collaboratively, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Learning is experiential, culturally grounded, and connected to real world contexts that matter to students and their ʻohana.

Learning Goals and Student Outcomes

Through participation in Hoʻākea, students strengthen their cultural identity and connection to ʻāina by building pilina with place, ancestors, and community practitioners. They apply academic and technical knowledge in authentic contexts, practice leadership and stewardship through kuleana based action, and reflect on their growth through creative expression, performance, and storytelling.

Student learning is measured not only through content knowledge, but through demonstrated growth in mindset, sense of belonging, and ability to articulate their relationship to place from mauka to makai.

Hoʻākea in Action

Hoʻākea events bring together students, educators, and community partners for immersive learning experiences that include waʻa engagement, mālama ʻāina activities, navigation and astronomy, and community dialogue.

Recent and upcoming gatherings include Hoʻākea Waiʻanae and Hoʻākea ʻEwa, serving thousands of students and engaging dozens of community organizations. These events culminate in shared learning experiences that strengthen intergenerational relationships, community pride, and sustained partnerships between schools and local organizations.

ʻĀina as Kahua

Hoʻākea Mauka to Makai positions ʻāina as the foundation for learning, leadership, and innovation. By grounding education in place, culture, and community, Hoʻākea supports the development of globally competitive, locally committed learners who are prepared to navigate challenges with confidence, integrity, and aloha ʻāina.