KS Kaiāulu and partners break barriers to higher education

A group of almost 30 representatives from private, public, and community colleges met at Chaminade University to highlight the importance of providing higher education opportunities for rising seniors and juniors in high schools.

Sept. 24, 2024

KS Kaiāulu hosted its third annual Early College Symposium for community partners to share best practices and envision future collaboration, supporting programs that address career and college readiness and degree completion.

About 30 attendees from private, public and community colleges convened at Chaminade University in Kalaepōhaku to highlight the importance of providing higher education opportunities for rising high school juniors and seniors. The network is breaking down silos by bringing together universities across Hawaiʻi pae ʻāina to exchange knowledge and resources.

KS Kaiāulu supports early college programs that allow students, especially those in rural and underserved areas, to earn college credits while still in high school. Together, the coalition of community partners is dedicated to graduating more ʻōiwi leaders, who are grounded in E Ola! learner outcomes and embracing the kuleana to activate ea.

To Chaminade Vice Provost Janet T. Davidson, this kind of empowerment wouldn’t be possible without the support of KS Kaiāulu and community partners, like Kāpaʻa High School, working together.

“It’s Kāpaʻa’s support on the ground, it’s the hands-on support of our faculty. Kamehameha Schools has been there from the beginning,” Davidson said. “This program is emblematic of what you can do when partners work together because everyone just wants these kids to succeed.”

Sarah Morioka (from left to right) and Julia Durocher spoke on a panel moderated by Manuwai Peters at the KS Kaiāulu Early College Symposium.

Chaminade freshmen Julia Durocher and Sarah Morioka, both graduates of the Kapaʻa High School early college program, said starting college in high school challenged them academically and grew their confidence – something they would not have been able to accomplish without holistic support.

“Before the term even started, all the professors came to meet us and it showed how much they cared,” Sarah said. “From then, I knew the program was the right choice because I was surrounded by people who want the best for my education.”

Kahele Keawe, Kāpaʻa High School counselor and director of early college programs, was proud to see his former students thriving. Since the program’s founding three years ago, it has grown from 10 graduates in its first year to more than double that number today.

“These students are exactly what we hope for in this work,” Keawe said. “Their transition to college is smoother because we prepare them to be successful in new environments and handle the pressures that come with it.”

While early college programs are often taken by “high-flying” students – those already excelling scholastically – KS Kaiāulu’s partnerships focus on serving those students who may be flying under the radar, filling the need for learners in rural or financially disadvantaged communities, and first-generation college students.

“It's about empowering children to know that college is not something they have to be exceptional for – it’s something they deserve to have the opportunity to experience,” Chaminade Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Lance Askildson said.

In addition to Chaminade’s Kāpaʻa High School early college program, KS Kaiāulu funds programming that enables Hawaiian charter schools and Kula Kaiapuni haumāna to enter college. Windward Community College, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa all offer mentorship and academic programs intentionally crafted for native students, creating a familiar environment that perpetuates Hawaiian language and values.

“We treat them like ʻohana so they have ʻanakala and ʻanakē when they come to college. That way, it’s not so big and scary,” said Kanoe Kanakaʻole, coordinator at Ka Hakaʻula o Keʻelikōlani at UH Hilo.

The audience was inspired by formerly incarcerated speakers sharing their experiences taking college courses behind bars.

The summit also featured a panel of former inmates who took college courses and graduated with an associate degree from Chaminade while serving time at Hālawa Correctional Facility. The speakers, all currently taking credits to complete a Bachelor's degree, impacted the naʻau of attendees with their stories of struggle and success, underscoring how education and caring instructors were a transformative force in their lives.

“This panel validated our assumptions that a personal and caring approach to support college learners is key to success, no matter what their position or circumstances are,” said Kimo Chun KS’92, a strategy consultant with KS’ Kealaiwikuamoʻo.

“Our kaiāulu is diverse and we cannot ignore the needs of our lāhui. These men brought that reality home to me in a very authentic and emotional way,” Chun continued. “It reminds me of the initial intent for early college to support marginalized communities and college access.”

Through these partnerships, KS Kaiāulu and its collaborators understand that our keiki are the leaders of tomorrow. The collective aim is to provide ʻōpio with college and career advancement that prepares the next generation of leaders to uplift lāhui, grounded in kuleana.

“Every haumāna has potential and something to contribute to the growth of our lāhui,” Kanakaʻole said. “And with the right support, they will.”