A puzzle may seem like a simple classroom activity. But in the hands of a preschooler, each piece can become an opportunity to solve a problem, discover a moʻolelo and deepen a connection to culture, identity and place.

At Kamehameha Schools Preschools, those puzzle pieces are also telling another story — one about innovation, employee growth and the power of looking within our own ʻohana for solutions.

As KSP continues to strengthen Hawaiian culture-based education across its 30 preschools, one challenge has been finding developmentally appropriate learning materials that reflect the people, places, stories and ʻike Hawaiʻi at the heart of its curriculum.

Sometimes, the resources KSP needs simply do not exist. That challenge created an opportunity for Kumu Ronette Ojeda.

Recognizing Ojeda’s creativity and ability to develop engaging visual materials, KSP created space for her talents to grow. Her hana has since expanded to include creating puzzles, custom stamps, lacing activities, interactive manipulatives and other hands-on resources tied directly to HCBE lessons, giving kumu new tools to help make learning meaningful and accessible for young keiki.

“When I create something, I’m thinking about the keiki who will be using it,” Ojeda said. “How can we make them curious? How can we make learning fun while helping them connect with the moʻolelo and ʻike our kumu are sharing? Knowing these materials can support that learning makes the work really meaningful to me.”

Her creations have supported experiences connected to KSP’s growing body of HCBE curriculum and resources, including hands-on activities tied to Hawaiian historical figures and moʻolelo. Instead of encountering these lessons only through words or images, keiki can touch, manipulate, assemble and explore.

For KSP Poʻo Kumu Darissa Kekuawela, 's contributions highlight the impact that thoughtful creativity can strengthen learning experiences for keiki.

“We have incredibly talented people throughout KSP, and it’s always inspiring to see those strengths translated into meaningful opportunities for learning,” Kekuawela said. “Ronnette has a remarkable ability to bring creativity, ʻike and intentionality to her work. She sees opportunities to make learning more meaningful for our keiki and then finds innovative ways to bring those ideas to life. The resources she has created are helping classrooms across our pae ʻāina provide engaging, culturally grounded learning experiences.”

That flexibility has allowed a creative skill to become an important support measure for preschool classrooms.

For kumu, the puzzles provide another way to translate HCBE concepts into engaging, age-appropriate experiences. For keiki, they create opportunities to practice problem-solving, collaboration, communication and persistence while strengthening their pilina to Hawaiian culture, history and place.

In doing so, the resources help advance KSP’s E Ola! Learner Outcomes, supporting the development of learners who are grounded in ʻike Hawaiʻi and prepared to contribute confidently to their communities.

The process has also created a pathway for Ojeda to continue learning.

“I’ve been able to stretch myself creatively and think differently about how my skills can support our educational mission,” Ojeda said. “It’s exciting to know that something I create can start in one place and eventually become a resource for kumu and keiki throughout KSP.”

That ripple effect demonstrates why investing in employee growth matters.

“Ronnette’s creativity is making a difference beyond where it began,” Kekuawela said. “What started as an idea to support learning has grown into resources that are helping kumu and enriching learning experiences for keiki. Her work demonstrates how thoughtful, mission-driven innovation can positively impact learning environments across all 30 of our preschools.”

What began as a need for more culturally grounded early-learning materials has become something more: an example of how KSP can cultivate innovation from within.

By recognizing talent, encouraging creativity, and giving employees opportunities to turn their strengths into meaningful hana, KSP is building its own capacity to support HCBE.

And for keiki across the pae ʻāina, those connections are coming together, one piece at a time.

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