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"Building up and out."

Grant Budget: $2,663,216
Grant Period: 2021-2026

Increase Native Hawaiian Enrollment in Area High Schools

We are working to embed Early College and Running Start courses that support students’ educational and career development beginning in grade 9. These pathways will extend to ������ý‘i CC, and culminate with transfer to a four-year university. Students may participate in courses as part of an Early College Program at Waimea High School (Natural Resource Pathway) and KCC’s Na Pua No‘eau Program (NPN). We’re continuing to offer KCC Botany courses at Waimea High School, in which students can earn the Hawaiian Botany: Certificate of Competence by the time they graduate high school!

DOE High School Academies

������ýʻi High School:

Waimea High School:

Kapaʻa High School:

Webpages not available for the following academies:

• Academy of Creative Media
• Academy of Industrial Engineering Technology
• Academy of Natural Resources
• Academy of Public and Professional Services

Please refer to the for more information.

This Summer 2025, NPN held its annual Summer Institute in collaboration with Limahuli Gardens and Hui Makaainana o Makana (HMOM). Students earned free college credit provided by Kūkulu A‘e while taking KCC’s Sustainable Science Management 101 course in conjunction with Limahuli Gardens and HMOM’s Papala Lele Internship Program. Students spent 4 weeks learning about Ha‘ena ‘Aina Pathways from mauka to makai.

Also this summer, Kumu Pua Rossi offered HWST 299V where students earned free college credit while learning about the different ahupua‘a across ������ý‘i.

This course aligns with the newly updated Malama ‘Aina Certificate in which students can take various courses that reflect the science and humanities knowledge needed to succeed in a malama ‘aina focused career.

• Hawaiian Botany/Malama ‘Aina Certificate Pathways

• Na Pua No‘eau Pathways

Archive, Preserve, and Digitize the Pila Kikuchi Collection

The State of Hawai‘i recognized Dr. William Kenji "Pila" Kikuchi as a Living Treasure for his work on early Hawaiian pre-history, and his work remains a baseline archeological research data source on many subjects including the Native Hawaiian fishponds and the Makauwahi Cave Reserve located on ������ý‘i. The Kikuchi Collection is located in the ������ý‘i CC Learning Resource Center (LRC). Students will be involved with archiving a multimedia collection of materials including primary source field note journals, documents, maps, photographs, and artifacts. Visit website: 

Kīpuka Center

What is a kīpuka? A kīpuka is an area of land that is surrounded by lava flows, creating an "island" within a sea of lava. The forests within the kīpuka serve as a refuge for native plants and animals. Our Title III grant aims to create a student-focused kīpuka that mimics the rich resources of a natural kīpuka. The Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center's vision is to ensure a Hawaiian place of learning at ������ý’i CC. Kīpuka promotes Native Hawaiian student success through the provision of culturally appropriate and responsive student support services and activities; supporting the academic development and success of Native Hawaiians by promoting learning environments that are culturally responsive and appropriate; and implementing community and cultural programs to increase educational opportunities for Native Hawaiians within Hawaiian and Pacific communities.

Please check out the Kīpuka Center’s homepage for more information!

Please reach out to our grant staff with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you! 

​Kūkulu A‘e yearly report  (To request copy of this report please contact Margaret Sanchez)