In 2007 Mr. Eugene McElroy recognized a need to support Native Hawaiian students, particularly those living in rural areas, to gain access to postsecondary education. He approached Dr. Kelly Roberts about addressing this need. Dr. Roberts, and the original team, worked towards increasing access to postsecondary education and certification programs with a particular focus on Native Hawaiian and at-risk high school students. They did this with funding from the U.S. Department of Education, Native Hawaiian Education Program (Award # S362A090051). Thus, Project Hoʻokuʻi began in 2009 on the islands of Hawaiʻi, Maui, and Molokaʻi. Hoʻokuʻi utilized the early enrollment programs already in place, which at the time were not serving many Native Hawaiian students.
In 2014, Hoʻokuʻi II was funded by the Native Hawaiian Education Program (Award # S362A140067), and was refined and expanded to include the islands of Oʻahu and Lānaʻi. During this time, the State of Hawaii Department of Education, in partnership with the University of Hawaii System and other partners, created P20, focusing on early college opportunities for all Hawaii Department of Education high school students. In the spirit of collaboration and aloha, we all worked together to benefit Hawaii’s na keiki.
The goal of Project Hoʻokuʻi III: Na Kumu Alakaʻi (Award# S362A180010) is the formalization of Project Hoʻokuʻi I and II, which successfully supported over 1,000 Native Hawaiian students, students with disabilities, and other at-risk students, towards postsecondary transition at 28 high schools. The formalization includes working collaboratively with the Hawaii Department of Education faculty and staff by training them on the essential skills and elements that made Hoʻokuʻi I and Hoʻokuʻi II successful.