Article contributed by a student author as part of a series highlighting haumana experiences at the 2025 World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education.

In November 2025, a delegation of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama students and educators traveled to Auckland and Waitangi, Aotearoa to participate in the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE). One of these groups was the Ambassadors of Aloha ʻĀina. This high school program researches and retraces the footsteps of Hawaiian aliʻi and alakaʻi to gain a deeper understanding of diplomacy, leadership and global connections. The hui attended WIPCE to share Hawaiian perspectives on education and diplomacy, build meaningful relationships with peers from around the world, and bring ʻike home that would strengthen our lāhui.

Before arriving in Auckland for the conference, the group traveled to Waitangi, where haumāna gathered with our ʻohana from Hoʻokahua, Hawaiian Ensemble, and members of the Polynesian Voyaging Society to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the designation of Ngāti Ruawāhia, a name gifted to Hawaiians when Hōkūleʻa first made landfall in Waitangi. The gathering honored decades of voyaging and enduring relationships between Kanaka Maoli and Māori communities.

“That experience reminded me that our traditions are not just history; they are our living kuleana,” shared Kealohaʻāina Kanoa-Wong, a junior at KS Kapālama. “Our kūpuna left us strong traditions rooted in sustainability and perpetuation, that are equally essential to the life of both ‘āina and kānaka. All we need is to continue them.”

Carrying that experience with them, students entered WIPCE with a deep sense of purpose. Over the course of the conference, the Ambassadors of Aloha ʻĀina delivered two presentations. During the first one, they shared research focused on Hawaiian diplomacy, education and aloha ʻāina, drawing connections between aliʻi leadership and modern education.

“The key to a thriving kingdom starts with education,” said Halaʻi Pacarro, a KS Kapālama senior. “Our kūpuna understood that. That is why we follow in their footsteps.”

Haumāna spoke not only as researchers but as young ʻōiwi leaders shaped by place-based learning. Haweo Pacarro, a sophomore at KS Kapālama, reflected on the significance of presenting in a global setting: “Hawaiians can thrive in global settings and come home with the knowledge and skills to lead our people.”

Their second presentation took place in the To Ao Rangatahi Youth Lounge, a space dedicated to youth voices. This session focused on the importance of pilina built through exchange and shared experience. Students emphasized that true learning happens when people meet one another with respect and a willingness to learn.

As part of the presentation, the Ambassadors of Aloha ʻĀina taught attendees the Hōkūleʻa Haʻa, connecting their message to the legacy of the Polynesian Voyaging Society and the broader story of Moananuiākea. 

“Our ocean has always connected us,” shared Hilinaʻi Holt, a KS Kapālama junior. “It has never separated us.”

In the spirit of exchange, the Tītahi ki Tua Māori student group followed by teaching Māori dance and haka, filling the room with energy and aloha. “That exchange showed me what real diplomacy looks like,” said Kamahaʻo Haumea-Thronas, a junior at KS Kapālama. “People standing together, honoring one another, and building pilina across the Pacific.”

Beyond formal presentations, students attended sessions on language revitalization, youth leadership, and engaged with educators from across the world. 

“Being in these spaces and hearing stories of resilience felt like gaining lost time back,” shared Avapuhi Ulufale, a senior at KS Kapālama. “It reminded me why this work matters.”

As the Ambassadors of Aloha ʻĀina returned home, they carried more than memories. They returned with a strengthened identity and renewed kuleana to serve the lāhui. WIPCE reaffirmed that when Hawaiian voices rise from a place of kuleana and aloha, they have a place in global conversations.

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kapalama campus, native hawaiian identity, hawaiian culture, hawaiian culture based education, student experiences, student leadership, aloha ʻāina, ʻōiwi leadership, ks kapalama

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