Learning & Programs
Ho‘ākea creates learning experiences that connect classrooms to ʻāina, waʻa, and community. These experiences support students, educators, and leaders in developing the skills, understanding, and relationships needed to thrive.
While every Hoʻākea experience reflects the unique people, places, and stories of its community, all programs are guided by a common set of learning objectives aligned with HĀ and the Vision of a Hawaiʻi Public School Graduate.
Nā Hopena Aʻo
HĀ · BREATH
Nā Hopena Aʻo, or HĀ, are the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education's shared learning outcomes. Hoʻākea grounds every experience in these six strengthened senses, which together spell BREATH.
Strengthened Sense of Belonging
He pili wehena ʻole
A relationship that cannot be undone
Kūpaʻa au i koʻu wahi no ka pono o ka ʻohana, ke kaiaulu, ka ʻāina a me ka honua nei.
Strengthened Sense of Responsibility
Ma ka hana ka ʻike, ma ka ʻimi ka loaʻa
In working one learns, through initiative one acquires
ʻAuamo au i koʻu kuleana no ka hoʻokō pono ʻana i ia kuleana mai ka mua a ka hope.
Strengthened Sense of Excellence
ʻAʻohe ʻulu e loaʻa i ka pōkole o ka lou
There is no success without preparation
Noke au ma ke ala kūpono e hiki aku ai au i koʻu kūlana poʻokela iho nō.
Strengthened Sense of Aloha
E ʻōpū aliʻi
Have the heart of a chief
Me ke aloha au e hana ai i ʻili nā hopena maikaʻi ma luna oʻu, o ka ʻohana, ke kaiāulu, koʻu ʻāina a me ka honua nei.
Strengthened Sense of Total Well-being
Ua ola loko i ke aloha
Love is imperative to one's mental and physical welfare
Me ke aloha au e mālama ai i ka noʻonoʻo, ka naʻau, ke kino a me ka pilina ʻuhane i pono koʻu ola.
Strengthened Sense of Hawaiʻi
ʻO Hawaiʻi kuʻu ʻāina kilohana
Hawaiʻi is my prized place
Hōʻike au i ke aloha a me ka mahalo no koʻu ʻāina kilohana ʻo Hawaiʻi nei.
Learning Objectives
Guiding Framework
A shared foundation for the Hoʻākea Hui, the network of partners organizing Hoʻākea, that brings consistency, quality, and alignment to every event and program statewide, while honoring the unique strengths, voices, and visions of each community.
Cultivate Navigator Mindsets
Students demonstrate curiosity, resilience, and reflection through hands-on, place-based learning rooted in the navigator tradition.
Strengthen Cultural Identity and Connection to Waʻa and ʻĀina
Students deepen their relationship to land, ancestors, and place through protocol, moʻolelo, and their relationship with ʻāina.
Apply Knowledge in Real-World, Interdisciplinary Contexts
Students use academic and technical skills to address authentic problems and contribute to their communities.
Practice Stewardship and Leadership
Students act with kuleana, contributing to the well-being of ʻāina and their communities as leaders and civic participants.
Engage in Reflective Learning and Meaningful Contribution
Students articulate their growth through moʻolelo, creative expression, and performance-based assessments. Learners develop a visual or mapped understanding of their place from mauka to makai, deepening cultural identity and geographic literacy.
Learning for Students
Ho‘ākea engages students in hands-on learning rooted in ʻāina and waʻa, where culture, academics, and real-world experience come together. Students learn by doing, exploring their environment, listening to stories of place, and working collaboratively with peers, educators, and community practitioners. Learning is active, meaningful, and connected to Hawai‘i and students’ everyday lives.
What students experience through Ho‘ākea
- Hands-on learning using ʻāina and waʻa as living classrooms
- Guided exploration of science, history, language, navigation, and stewardship
- Practice of cultural and safety protocols grounded in place and respect
- Opportunities to develop curiosity, resilience, reflection, and responsibility
- Structured reflection through storytelling, journaling, and creative expression
This learning follows a clear arc of preparation, experience, and reflection, helping students carry what they learn back into their classrooms, homes, and communities.
Learning for Teachers & Schools
Ho‘ākea supports teachers as learners and partners in place-based education. Educators learn alongside students and community practitioners, building confidence and capacity to connect classroom instruction to meaningful, real-world learning rooted in ʻāina and culture. These experiences strengthen relationships, deepen understanding of place, and support engaging, student-centered instruction.
What teachers and schools gain through Ho‘ākea
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Stronger connections between classroom learning and real-world experiences
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Opportunities to learn alongside cultural practitioners and community partners
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Increased confidence in integrating ʻāina-based and place-based learning
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Support for culturally responsive instruction grounded in Nā Hopena A‘o
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Models for safe, intentional learning that complement standards-aligned instruction
Ho‘ākea is designed to support, not replace, classroom teaching, helping schools create learning that is rigorous, relevant, and connected to students’ lives.
Learning with Community Partners
Community organizations, cultural practitioners, and waʻa and ʻāina educators play a central role in Ho‘ākea learning. Their knowledge, experience, and connection to place anchor learning in authenticity and care, creating meaningful experiences for students and educators alike.
01 · Design
Design and Lead Learning
Community partners co-design and lead hands-on learning experiences rooted in local places, stories, and practices.
02 · Share
Share Knowledge and Place
Partners share moʻolelo, cultural knowledge, and place-based expertise that deepen student understanding and connection.
03 · Build
Build Lasting Relationships
Ho‘ākea fosters long-term partnerships between schools and communities, strengthening trust, collaboration, and shared responsibility for student learning.
Leadership Learning
Ho‘ākea offers opportunities for educational leaders to experience place-based learning firsthand. These experiences help leaders better understand how ʻāina- and waʻa-based learning supports student engagement, cultural identity, and academic success.
By participating in Ho‘ākea, leaders gain shared context around preparation, safety, and partnership, strengthening alignment between schools, communities, and systems. Leadership learning supports thoughtful decision-making and helps sustain culturally responsive, student-centered learning across Hawai‘i.
Experience firsthand
Leaders take part in ʻāina- and waʻa-based learning directly.
Build shared context
Around preparation, safety, and partnership.
Strengthen alignment
Between schools, communities, and systems.