College of Education > CDS

Project Hoʻokuʻi VI: E Hoʻomau

Project Dates

2023 – August 2027

Funding Source

US Department of Education, Native Hawaiian Education Program (Award #S362A23007)

About

Project Hoʻokuʻi began in 2009 and continues through today (2024), and beyond. Project Hoʻokuʻi VI: E Hoʻomau expands Project Hoʻokuʻi V: Kūlia i ka Nuʻu, which piloted a competitive scholarship program for participants beginning in their first year at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The project has always been inclusive and designed for each student to reach their career goals and full potential academically. We serve a broad population of students including at-risk, gifted and talented, and students with disabilities. NEW in Project Hoʻokuʻi VI are competitive post-high school first year scholarships for the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) degrees at various UH system community colleges. The first-year scholarship for the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa also continues.

Beginning in high school, we help students, who are freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, to meet the academic qualifications to participate and succeed in the Running Start, Jump Start, Early Admission, and Manoa Academy programs. All programs are statewide partnerships between the Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE) and the University of Hawaiʻi System that provide an opportunity for academically qualified high school students to begin their post-secondary education while still in high school. The project provides a variety of services including: mentoring, tutoring, financial assistance, and competitive internship programs to ensure participants have the tools necessary to be successful on their chosen career journey.

We live by the philosophy of “we take the student where they are at,” and prepare high school students, who may not be quite ready for a college class. Other high school students may be ready but not have the financial means to pay for the tuition, fees, and book. Ho’oku’i removes these financial barriers.

We continue to persist at creating college-bound communities, while simultaneously honoring the culture and traditions of this ʻaina (land). Students perform service to the community through place-based and culture-based learning, involving the ʻohana (family), high school faculty, community-based non-profits, and project staff. We incorporate the wisdom of the kupuna (leaders) and the ʻohana (family). The project is closely aligned with Na Hopena Aʻo – HĀ (breath), to malama (take care of) the entire student.