How Kamehameha Schools is empowering students beyond K-12

Kamehameha Schools Kapālama’s college transition specialist Monica Lum (third from left, second row) and Carlene Flores KSK'87 (back row, right) volunteered with alumni at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa cultural piko, Ka Papa Loʻi o Kānewai.

July 22, 2024

When Zoe Leonard KSH’15 first set foot at Dartmouth College, it marked not only her first day as a freshman but also her first time on the East Coast.

“Luckily, it worked out for me, but I know that is not the case for all students,” Leonard said.

That experience fuels her passion in her current role as a college transition specialist at her alma mater. The unique position, created in 2022, is a part of Kamehameha Schools’ larger initiative to support haumāna in the immediate years after graduating. With ten specialists across three campuses and growing, these staffers assist current and former haumāna in their post-graduate pursuits – educational, professional and, sometimes, cultural.

“A big reason I was excited about this position is because I want to help students not just explore their options, but to really make it through,” Leonard said.

From coordinating college tours and alumni meetups to navigating applications and financial aid forms, these specialists offer mentorship and guidance unseen in typical educational institutions because of their sustained support for students past K-12.

“When everyone is winding down, we are winding up. Summer break, winter break – we’re always busy, connecting with students,” said Kari Nunokawa, one of two college transition specialists at KS Maui.

With a background in educational leadership and nonprofit work, Nunokawa brings her enthusiasm for student engagement to her role. Whether it’s coffee with alumni or networking dinners, she's committed to validating and bolstering former pupils on their distinctive paths.

KS Hawaiʻi college transition specialist Zoe Leonard KSH'15 (far right) accompanies haumāna on a college tour at Concordia University Irvine.

“Our focus is making sure that we’re supporting alums in the best possible way and providing the holistic wraparound services that they need, in whatever capacity they need,” Nunokawa said.

After last year’s Lahaina fires, impacted KS Maui graduates took time away from college to focus on supporting their ‘ohana, some still living in temporary homes.

“It’s been a very trying year. On top of issues with FAFSA, it’s caused a lot of anxiety and question marks about whether college is affordable and if campuses have good supports to help them,” Nunokawa said.

The support these specialists provide transcends tedious paperwork in what can be a stressful, nerve-wracking time in a young person’s life.

“We preach to our students that what you’re feeling is totally normal and everyone else around you is going through similar thoughts and emotions,” Monica Lum said. She’s one of six college transition specialists at the Kapālama campus.

Lum, who has worked in higher education for years, finds great fulfillment in supporting students. When planning for college, finances usually pose the biggest challenge and for Hawaiian students going to the continent, they face the culture shock of being away from home.

Lum said that alumni often share that they are the only Kānaka Maoli at their school and are constantly asked about their ethnicity and where they are from.

“KS is very intentional in building their Native Hawaiian identity and rooting them in Native Hawaiian values. On our end, we want to walk alongside of our alumni and support their continued growth, where they’re able to apply what they gained at KS in these new environments," Lum said. "We encourage them to advocate for themselves and to embrace these experiences as opportunities to strengthen who they are and who they want to be.”

In one impactful instance, Leonard advised Ethan D’Ambrosio KSH’24 to apply for Dartmouth’s Indigenous Fly-In program. The newest pua a Pauahi wasn’t even considering the Ivy when he was applying for colleges but now he will start in Fall 2024 as a mechanical engineering major.

“Zoe was a really big help to me through this adjustment,” D’Ambrosio said. “She was giving us all these tips on everything from what to wear and what to avoid in the dining hall – everything, big and small.”

Across campuses, the specialists know that defining “success” post-graduation is very individualized and requires significant support to inform and empower haumāna to make these pivotal decisions. Helping them chart that course is what they say is the most gratifying part of the job.

“The well-being of students in those years is the most important,” Leonard said. “I want students to feel safe and that they’re getting a good education but not at the cost of their happiness or health.”

The dedicated efforts of the college transition specialists underscore KS’ commitment to nurturing Native Hawaiian learners. Their efforts ensure that students not only achieve academic success but also maintain their cultural identity and personal well-being.

Kari Nunokawa (far left), a college transition specialist at Kamehameha Schools Maui, coordinates graduate meetups like this one for alumni attending California universities.

In the years since graduating, Zoe Leonard KSH'15 (center) has continued to work with College Horizons, inspired by her experience in their programming.