April 29, 2013
A Kamehameha Schools community partnership is helping Nānākuli High School students build stronger pathways to college.
The Nānāimua dual credit learning program is enabling 24 NHIS juniors and seniors to earn both high school and college credit by taking a Leeward Community College – Wai‘anae astronomy class during their school’s extended learning time period. The program is part of KS' Ka Pua Initiative.
The haumāna (students) recently went on a special huaka‘i (field trip) to KS’ Ka‘iwakiloumoku Hawaiian Cultural Center and the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Marine Education and Training Center. The huaka‘i helped connect the curriculum in their class to their culture, making the lessons learned more relevant and rewarding.
Students were able to see how their ancestors used the stars they study about in class to voyage throughout the Pacific, and how those same skills are used today by groups like the voyaging society.
Students have also visited the planetarium at Bishop Museum and have gone stargazing at Kū‘ilioloa Heiau in Wai‘anae. Other community entities in the NHIS partnership are Hawai‘i P-20 Partnerships for Education and Leeward Community College – Wai‘anae.
Photos by KS photographer Michael Young. If your division or campus has pics to share, please send them along with background information and captions to miyoung@ksbe.edu.
