Graduate Student Research Symposium 2025

Introduction to Kinesiology is a university course (elective for high school students) that explores human movement through Native Hawaiian pedagogies. Offered online, in-person, or hybrid, it emphasizes accessibility, cultural relevance, and career exploration. This study examines how integrating Native Hawaiian pedagogies in KRS 203 influences student engagement and perceptions of kinesiology.
Methods: A qualitative approach included open-ended surveys and student work collected during the course. Inductive coding and document analysis were used to assess themes in student responses.
Results: Students reported that Native Hawaiian traditions, like Makahiki Games and Anatomia, made learning more relatable and meaningful. One student shared, “I never realized how much my own culture could relate to science and movement—this class changed my perspective.”
Conclusions: Culturally integrated pedagogy was linked to an increase in motivation, participation, and comprehension. Overall responses highlighted the positive impact of indigenous knowledge in kinesiology education.