Nalukai Academy Spring ‘24

In March, Nalukai held its first-ever Spring break program for West Hawaiʻi Island students on the campus of Kanu o ka ʻĀina Public Charter School, serving 16 students and returning Nalukai alumni from Kanu o ka ʻĀina, Parker School, Honokaʻa High School, Kealakehe High School, and West Hawaiʻi Explorations Academy.

Throughout 6 consecutive days, student Founders identified and researched significant local issues, engaged with the community to ideate and validate potential solutions and pitched their ventures to a live Hōʻike audience.

Enormous growth, not just in entrepreneurship skills, but also leadership, self-confidence and eagerness to serve their communities was evident in studentsʻ post-camp reflections and impressive pitch day presentations.

We attribute these profound student outcomes, achieved in such a short period of time, to the holistic, place-based entrepreneurship curriculum co-developed and facilitated by former Shopify Senior UX Designer, Carlo Liquido, former Office of Hawaiian Education teacher Paoakalani Shook and cultural consultant Kawika Shook. Utilizing the Nā Hopena Aʻo frameworkʻs structure and outcomes as its foundation, the Spring program provided students with a uniquely compelling introduction to Design Thinking and Lean Startup practices contextualized by the moʻolelo, values and challenges of their own Waimea, Kohala and Waikoloa communities.

Hear more about Nalukai Spring 2024 in the video below: