By: Gabe Amey

This innovative program takes students in grades 7–12 on a journey through the day-to-day lives of kamaʻāina professionals, offering an immersive look at diverse careers within their own communities. By bringing these real-world experiences to life, we inspire students to connect their passions with the skills and opportunities needed to shape their future and contribute to Hawaiʻi’s vibrant economy.

In 2024, its inaugural year, ʻOihana has already partnered with schools across the islands, including Kapaʻa Middle School, Saint Louis School, ʻIlima Intermediate, Maui High School, and ʻAiea High School. These schools are helping us bring this vision to life, offering students a chance to explore pathways such as graphic design, culinary arts, pharmacy technicians, and more. Looking ahead, our goal is to expand this library from nine to 80 courses by next summer, ensuring every keiki has the opportunity to discover a career that resonates with their aspirations and strengths.

Our initial pathway courses were created in part thanks to generous donations from organizations like Hawai‘i Leadership Forum, Leeward Community College, and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation. If your organization is interested in sponsoring the production of a pathway course to help us reach this goal, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact us using the email link below to learn how you can contribute to this community-focused initiative.

Let’s inspire Hawaiʻi’s youth to embrace their talents and build a future filled with opportunity and success!