Nalukai Fall Program

Our 2027 Fall program dates have not been announced yet. Stay tuned for details in early 2027.

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2027 Nalukai Fall Program Details

  • Dates: To be determined

  • Location: Hilo

  • 6-hour sessions held daily 8:30am-2:30pm

  • All program supplies and materials are provided, including lunch

Open to current East Hawaiʻi Island high school students, including those at Keaʻau High School, Pāhoa High School, Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi, Waiākea High School, Hilo High School, Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalani'ōpuʻu, Ka ʻŪmeke Kāʻeo, Kua o Ka Lā, and Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School.

Our Fall program offers East Hawaiʻi Island high school students a free introduction to social entrepreneurship focusing on leadership, innovative stewardship and effective communication. Over 6 days of engaging workshops, students will work with local industry experts, cultural practitioners, and community leaders to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing our island, collaborate to develop products, services, and campaigns to remedy them, then pitch their solutions to the community.

Innovative Stewardship

Leadership

Effective Communication

Over 6 days, student Founders will identify and research significant local issues, engage with the community to ideate and validate potential solutions, and pitch their ventures to a live Hōʻike audience. 

Students can expect to gain an introduction to entrepreneurship and grow their leadership skills while learning how to serve their unique East Hawai’i communities.

Utilizing the Nā Hopena Aʻo framework’s structure and outcomes as its foundation, Nalukai Academy Fall provides students with a uniquely compelling introduction to Design Thinking and Lean Startup practices contextualized by the moʻolelo, values and challenges of their communities.

Day 1: Team Building and Leadership

Nā Hopena Aʻo: Belonging

Day 2: Problem Identification and Research

Nā Hopena Aʻo: Responsibility

Day 3: Service and Solution Ideation

Nā Hopena Aʻo: Excellence

Day 4: Iterative Development

Nā Hopena Aʻo: Aloha

Day 5: Effective Communication

Nā Hopena Aʻo: Total well-being

Day 6: Hōʻike and Next Steps

Nā Hopena Aʻo: Hawaiʻi

Mahalo to our partners