Are you interested in joining like-minded educators to learn about and protect your local ahupuaʻa and marine ecosystem and inspire the next generation of stewards?
Apply now to become a Hawai‘i Blue School! This call is open to any K–12 institution in Hawai‘i.
WHAT IS THE HAWAI‘I BLUE SCHOOLS HUI?
The Hawaiʻi Blue Schools Hui is part of the USA Blue Schools network. We intend to:
- Build ocean literacy through place-based action projects that celebrate Hawai‘iʻs unique marine biodiversity and rich cultural legacy.
- Prepare the next generation for ocean stewardship and leadership.
- Inspire, support, and cultivate a committed network of teachers, students, and community educators.
- Leverage the Blue Schools network to advance understanding, protection, and conservation of ocean ecosystems locally, nationally, and internationally.
BENEFITS
- Up to $7,500/school in mini-grants to implement school-wide and community projects over two years (academic years 2025–26 and 2026-27)
- $1,000 stipend per lead teacher, per year, over two school years
- Support from a network of like-minded educators
- Connections with scientists, community organizations, and stewardship sites
- Registration and travel to the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) conference in Summer 2027 in Honolulu
TO APPLY
- Designate two lead teachers at your school.
- Complete the application.
- Applications are due March 31, 2025.
- Schools must partner with a nonprofit organization doing ʻāina-based education.
- Contact us with your ideas and we’ll help you find an organization that might be a good match!
- We need signatures of support from both your school principal and your school fiscal officer (see here for our how-to guide about how to do this).
CURIOUS? QUESTIONS?
- Come to our Q&A at 4:30 pm on Monday, March 10 (zoom link).
- A PDF of the application is here so you can view it prior to filling it out.
- Contacts: Anuschka Faucci (anuschka@hawaii.edu) or Joanna Philippoff (philippo@hawaii.edu)
Thank you to the Prada Group for the funding to bring this opportunity to Hawai‘i!
