Nalukai Year Round: Fall Program Team Leader Recap
Aloha Nalukai ʻohana! We are the team leaders for the first Nalukai Academy Fall program of 2022. Mei Kanada, a junior at Kealakehe High School, and Sha Quanan, a senior at Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu. We are excited to give everyone a day by day rundown of the Fall 2022 program, and everything that happened and the lessons we, the facilitators and the founders have learned.
Sunday, October 16th, 2022
The fall cohort of Nalukai met for the first time at Parker School. With each arriving member, the cohort got to introduce themselves and started to become acquainted with each other. The first activity that was conducted was short introductions, in which each founder had to reveal their name and what school they are currently attending. We soon realized that this small cohort had three schools represented: Kealakehe High School, Parker School and Kanu O Ka ʻĀina Charter School. This diverse group of Founders then had the privilege of meeting Aunty Kuʻulei, who is a native Hawaiian activist, poet and kumu. Aunty Kuʻulei taught the Founders about wahi pana, and their significance to everyone as human beings, and helped to strengthen our pikoʻu to help our communities. Aunty Kuʻulei then presented the Founders with a heart-warming poem about stories. The last thing the Founders had to complete for the day was a blind maze, a fun, yet frustrating, game that teaches Founders the importance of thinking outside of the box in order to solve problems as a team. With that lesson in mind, the Founders formed four groups that were tasked with forming an idea for a food truck that solves a specific issue in their community. Until next time, that was day one.
Sunday, October 23rd, 2022
The fall Nalukai cohort met for the 2nd time but at the Kalaemano Interpretive Center. All of the Founders met with Aunty Ku’ulei Keakealani and when everyone arrived, we began by sitting in a circle and introducing the meaning of our names. Afterwards, everyone walked towards the compass that showcased different areas of the island. Founders were given time to observe their surroundings and wander for a bit before returning back to the main grassy area. Once we walked back to this area, we were introduced to Aunty Lei, Kaikea, and others. They were from the Ka‘ūpūlehu Marine Life Advisory Committee (KMLAC) and talked to the founders about the Try Wait restriction set in the Ka’ūpūlehu Marine Reserve. Founders were able to listen to why we should wait to fish in the area and the plans and processes that went into this restriction. Founders were also able to ask important questions regarding the Try Wait ban.
Sunday, October 30th, 2022
The cohort met for the 3rd time, once again, at Parker School. Once everyone arrived, the founders got the privilege to witness a speech by Allen Murabyashi. Allen gave a truly engaging presentation about problems that affect communities in Hawaiʻi. Allen gave wonderful insight on misinformation on Hawaiiʻs top issues, and also gave the Founders some tips about how to research new perspectives on certain issues, to think outside of the box to come up with new solutions. After the Founders had the opportunity to ask Allen Murabyashi some questions to help them on their own problem-solving journey, they were all partnered up to research a problem that meant a great deal to them. After the presentation that Allen gave, students organized into pairs and dove deeper into the problems that they ideated. The Founders looked into problems such as neurotypical standards in public education, qualifications and resources for political candidates, ignorance towards international media, unprepared students graduating from high schools, the use of silicon in solar panels, and the lack of interest in Hawaiian culture in public high schools. Together, the Founders were able to conduct research about what their problem is and what organizations are already taking action.
Sunday, November 6th, 2022
The cohort met at Kīholo bay. More specifically, the loko iʻa (fish pond) that is located a little inland from the shore. There, the Founders met with Aunty Kuʻulei who chanted the founders into the loko iʻa, and that is where the journey began. The founders were first given time to take in the beautiful scenery and crystal-clear waters of the pond and let nature speak to them. They were then given a short history lesson by Aunty Kuʻulei about Kīholo, and how less than one decade ago, there were parties held at that place so large that truck-loads of trash had to be picked up afterwards. Because of the desecration of this loko iʻa, commissioned by King Kamehameha I himself, it was decided that the loko iʻa be considered kapu and not for public access. The Founders then got to learn about the Wiliwili tree, and got to convey its importance in visually creative ways. The last activity of the day was the cleaning of the inside and around the loko iʻa, to help the loko iʻa thrive and stay clean. The Founders of Nalukai got to actively participate in the caring of one of the most vital and sustainable resources to native Hawaiians, and experienced first-hand what the power of entrepreneurship can accomplish in this ever-changing world.
Sunday, November 13th, 2022
The Nalukai Fall Founders came together to form new groups based on the topics that they were interested in solving.. After the teams were formed, they began by introducing themselves along with why they valued the problem the teams were assigned. From here, Founders began to learn about stakeholder interviews and testing assumptions. After creating four questions to ask one stakeholder (per team), the Founder called that stakeholder and held interviews to further investigate their problem. Afterwards, the teams shared their findings and began a solution ideation exercise using sticky notes. Each member on a team chose a different category of solution. After each round of creating a new solution, the Founders would rotate the sticky notes (and categories that were on the sticky notes). This activity allowed for the founders to brainstorm creatively and prepare for their following stakeholder interviews and solution ideation.
Sunday, November 20th, 2022
Founders had the chance to learn more about their problem statements as well as their personal connections to the problems that they were working on. Using solution ideation tools from the previous week, Founders explored the idea of the minimum viable product (MVP) while connecting back to their valuable stakeholder interviews. Founders also caught a glimpse of the “Worst Possible Solution.” Founders learned about identifying assumptions, MVP brainstorming, and more.
Sunday, November 30th, 2022
The cohort went online to learn more about their MVP designs. They received important tips and feedback on what MVPs could look like and began to create MVP artifacts with their groups. Many were working through the challenge of narrowing down to a certain problem that they wanted to address while also maintaining a balance between their stakeholders and their solutions. The founders were encouraged to stay focused on the problem rather than the solution.
Sunday, December 4th, 2022
The Nalukai Fall Founders met in person at Parker School to learn about Pitch and Performance. Teams finalized and presented their 1-page MVP designs and artifacts. Other founders shared feedback and wonderings. May Samali, venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and Nalukai summer facilitator, joined us to share her tips and strategy for an amazing pitch presentation. She highlighted many important examples such as Fathom, Voatz, and ShearShare. May also shared key aspects to include in the pitches. Overall, Founders got to learn the Art and Science behind the Pitch. Founders participated in improvisation activities that strengthened engagement skills and quick-thinking skills. With these activities and May Samali’s advice, Founders learned more about business models, landscape mapping, the “why,” and call to action. The founders used tools that evoke emotion and practiced elevator pitches to further strengthen their pitch presentation skills. Tips for online presentations were also provided to the Founders regarding Hōʻike.
December 11th, 2022
Founders met for one last time before delivering their final presentations. Each group was able to prepare for a few minutes before presenting to a panel consisting of the Nalukai facilitators. The facilitators were able to give each group some feedback and constructive criticism so that they may improve their final presentation. Though the founders were quite nervous to present to the panel, the team leaders were there to give each group some helpful advice and encouragement as they were approaching the end of their Nalukai journey.
December 18th, 2022
Nalukai Founders reached the end of their journey as a cohort. This was the day of their final Hōʻike presentations. Because this session was online, mentors, parents, members of the community and Nalukai alumni were able to attend and support these Founders on this day. Teams had a few minutes to practice together before it started, then it was go-time. All the groups presented with pride and confidence, even through the technical difficulties, these Founders were able to pull through, because that’s what true entrepreneurs do. At the end of the final presentations, the founders received praise and lots of congratulations on all of their hard work this fall. With the end of one journey, a new one begins as these Founders now become Nalukai alumni.
All in all, the Nalukai Fall Cohort was an explorative and community-focused experience for the Founders to learn about the entrepreneurial process. Founders had opportunities that strengthened their connections to the community. Throughout the several challenges that the founders faced, time management during the school year was a common one. Regardless, founders gained a new sense of belonging within Nalukai and we hope to nurture a similar environment for the many more cohorts to come!
