University of Hawaiʻi research shows that less than 3 percent of Native Hawaiian students transfer out of its UH Community Colleges system to attend UH Mānoa, and that only half of the university’s Native Hawaiian students graduate on time.
A new partnership between Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawaiʻi System will help put more Hawaiian students on the path to a successful UH graduation by cultivating a cultural learning community in Mō‘ili‘ili. The collaboration is part of KS’ Mō‘ili‘ili Education and Innovation Initiative.
The Vision
Mō‘ili‘ili is located at the doorstep of UH Mānoa and is among the major urban redevelopment areas in Kamehameha’s commercial properties portfolio.
The cultural learning community envisioned by the KS/UH partnership includes educational support services for Hawaiian learners, and cultural activities, gardens and gathering places for students, faculty and the community.
“It is important to recognize the synergies possible for education within our commercial lands,” says Walter Thoemmes, KS Commercial Real Estate managing director. This concept is imbedded in KS’ Strategic Plan 2020.
“If done right, Kamehameha’s Mō‘ili‘ili properties will become the ‘place to be’ for all UH students. Our Native Hawaiian haumāna will feel especially welcome because Hawaiian culture is a critical theme in the development of the learning community.”
The Partnership
KS’ Commercial Real Estate and Community Education divisions recently hosted two charrettes and several Native Hawaiian student focus groups to determine barriers that impact Hawaiian student enrollment, transfer from community colleges to UH Mānoa, and graduation rates.
The discussions also focused on how to mitigate those barriers, supporting students’ entry to and persistence through the college experience.
Among the 40 charrette participants were UH System President David Lassner and the chancellors of UH Hilo and Oʻahu’s community colleges. The cross-functional group also included KS Trustee Lance Wilhelm, CEO Jack Wong and staffers from both organizations representing educational and cultural programs, administration, and student and academic services.
Lassner says that the KS/UH partnership is a strong one.
“It was a remarkable demonstration of the power of our new partnership and what we can accomplish when we commit together and bring together different perspectives and roles from all parts of two of Hawaiʻi’s major institutions – Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawaiʻi System – to focus on an area that’s so important to both of us.”
The Collaborative Process
These were not your typical charrettes. Professionals from WCIT Architecture’s Hawaiian strategies studio DTL facilitated discussions and captured the group’s manaʻo on vision boards. The colorful boards contain the moʻokūʻauhau (genealogy) of Mō‘ili‘ili, as well as the social, educational, commercial, and cultural elements of the vision.
UH Mānoa Dean of Architecture Daniel Friedman had high praise for the collaborative process.
“Among dozens of exercises I’ve attended over the years, few as large and diverse as the KS/UH Mōʻiliʻili charrette worked as effectively as this to focus and articulate the convergence of values, principles, and priorities.”
Mahalo nui loa
Thoemmes thanks KS Community Education Director Stacy Clayton and Area Development Director Cathy Camp for shepherding the charrette process, and creating a new path for KS and the community to work and dream together.
The Mō‘ili‘ili Education and Innovation Initiative
The goal of the Kamehameha Schools Mō‘ili‘ili Education and Innovation Initiative is to create a Hawaiian cultural and learning district in Mō‘ili‘ili that will deepen the Hawaiian cultural identity of Hawaiian college students and improve their educational outcomes, while maximizing returns on KS commercial investments.
Among dozens of exercises I’ve attended over the years, few as large and diverse as the KS/UH Mōʻiliʻili charrette worked as effectively as this to focus and articulate the convergence of values, principles, and priorities.
Daniel Friedman, UH Mānoa Dean of Architecture
Professionals from Hawaiian strategies studio DTL facilitated discussions and captured the group’s manaʻo on vision boards.
KS CEO Jack Wong closes the charrette process by thanking participants and emphasizing the importance of the initiative.
Charrette participants share their commitment to learning more about Mō‘ili‘ili and supporting Hawaiian student success.
KS directors Stacy Clayton, Walter Thoemmes and Cathy Camp shepherded the charrette process.
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