Nalukai Fall Program
Our 2026 Fall program will be held from October 5-10 in Hilo. Stay tuned for application details and deadlines.
2026 Nalukai Fall Program Details
October 5-10, 2026
Hilo, Hawai’i (final location TBD)
6-hour sessions held daily 9:30am-3:30pm
All program supplies and materials are provided, including lunch
All participants will receive a brand-new laptop that they may keep upon completion of program
Open to current East Hawaiʻi Island high school students, including those at Keaʻau High School, Pāhoa High School, Kamehameha Schools Keaʻau Campus, Waiakea 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 consecutive 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
