Students in the 2008 Nā Pua Noʻeau Summer Institute follow their kumu along a fishpond wall in Hilo during the Reef Walkers class. Photo courtesy Nā Pua Noʻeau.

Young minds to explore hands-on learning

Nā Pua No'eau summer programs accepting applications

By T. Ilihia Gionson / Ka Wai Ola Loa

A break from school need not be a break from learning. Native Hawaiian students have attended Nā Pua No'eau's two-week Summer Institute for hands-on learning opportunities for almost two decades. This year, the institute will run from June 14 to 27 at the University of Hawai'i Hilo and UH Mānoa. The deadline for applications is April 3.

In Hilo, class offerings span from the uplands to the sea, and from the heat of the volcano to the heat of the kitchen for students in grades 6 to 12. "Being in the field every day instead of in the classroom makes learning fun and memorable for the students," said Toni Mallow, Hilo's Summer Institute coordinator.

Students in the 2008 Nā Pua Noʻeau Summer Institute investigate a petroglyph as part of the Rockology class. Photo courtesy Nā Pua Noʻeau.

Students in grades 6 to 8 may choose between Ulu Lā'au – Hawaiian Forest Ecology or Rockology – Huli Honua.

In Ulu Lā'au, students will learn about the array of forest environments on Hawai'i Island, both native and non-native, and the interdependency of all the island's ecosystems. The young foresters will also gain map reading and GPS skills from kumu Cheyenne Perry.

Rockology will cover various types of rocks, something Hawai'i Island has no shortage of, and how each type is created in Hawai'i's unique volcanic geology. This class will include huaka'i around the island with kumu Lei Reveira.

High school students may choose between Reef Walkers – Ke Ola O Ke Kaha Kai or Cooking Hawaiian Style.

Kumu Lois Sanekane will be sure students get wet while learning about marine ecosystems in Reef Walkers. Haumāna will identify fish, limu, coral and other ocean dwellers while learning about the environmental impacts threatening them.

A student at last year's Summer Institute at Mānoa works on circuitry, guided by one of the kumu. Photo courtesy Nā Pua Noʻeau.

For students with an appetite for learning, kumu Gerri and Fred Perreira will teach traditional and modern methods of Hawaiian food preparation in Cooking Hawaiian Style. A culinary education wouldn't be complete without sampling your creations, and students will be able to enjoy the edible delights they create.

"By the time students leave, they don't want to go home because we've created a safe, nurturing environment emphasizing Hawaiian values," said Mallow, the Hilo coordinator. "Students and staff become one big 'ohana."

On O'ahu, students in grades 9 to 12 will be able to learn about science, technology, engineering and math at UH Mānoa through STEM Scholars: Nā Mamo a Kalākaua. O'ahu's Summer Institute is presented in collaboration with UH Mānoa's Native Hawaiian Science and Engineering Mentorship Program.

This year's program will focus on how Hawaiian knowledge and western knowledge is being used in different STEM disciplines, and how the two understandings of science can work together for the benefit of our environment. The tentative list of activities includes learning about microprocessing and electronic circuitry, building underwater vehicles, learning about GPS, working at a loko i'a, collecting and testing water samples, and more.

A student at last year's Summer Institute at Mānoa examines a specimen under a microscope. Photo courtesy Nā Pua Noʻeau.

Noelani Puniwai attended Hilo's Summer Institute from the seventh to the ninth grade, and through Nā Pua No'eau interned with a UH Hilo marine science professor during her senior year of high school. "Summer Institute is a great way to expose children to new ways of learning and a different approach to careers," she said. "Nā Pua No'eau's programs help students understand what really interests them and then supports them in following their dreams."

While Puniwai is working on her Ph.D. in natural resources and environmental management at UH Mānoa, she often returns as a kumu in Nā Pua No'eau's programs.

"I love showing students the fun, wonder and practical sides of science. I want to show them how they can help make a difference and that there are many career paths out there that can connect with what they feel is important," she said. "Being a kumu allows me to share my knowledge and love of science while fostering the next generation. Knowledge is a cycle and what I learn I must share."

Nā Pua No'eau is a program of the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, supported in part by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Nā Pua No'eau provides all tuition, lodging, meals and transportation to and from Hilo from other islands. The only costs to families are a refundable deposit for the dorms and travel, and a T-shirt.

For those living in the continental United States, it is recommended that they make arrangements with family living in Hawai'i to have them meet the student at the airport in Honolulu.

To request an application, visit npn.uhh.hawaii.edu.
The application deadline is April 3.