Hookui Logo

ABOUT US

Project Hoʻokuʻi helps high school freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors to meet the academic qualifications to participate and succeed in the Running Start, Jump Start, Early Admission, and Manoa Academy programs. Running Start, Jump Start, Early Admission, and Manoa Academy are statewide partnerships between the Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE), and the University of Hawaiʻi System that provides an opportunity for academically qualified high school students to begin their post-secondary education while still in high school. 

Project Hoʻokuʻi provides support services to ensure project participants will have the tools necessary to be successful on their journey. We provide financial aid, mentoring, tutoring, and competitive internship programs through the project.

Our philosophy is “we take the student where they are at” and prepare students, who are in high school and not quite ready, to attend college. Other high school students may be ready to take a college class but not have the financial means to pay for the tuition and textbook.

Project Hoʻokuʻi provides financial support for those who have the ability to successfully complete a college class. We work with the students to improve their academic skills, abilities, discover career paths, and help build their confidence. When the individual student participant is ready to engage in a college course, we support the student through the process. 

One of our goals is to create college-bound communities, while simultaneously honoring the culture and traditions of this ʻaina. We do this through place-based and culture-based learning, involving the ‘ohana, and the wisdom of the kupuna. The project is closely aligned with Na Hopena Aʻo – HĀ, to malama the entire student.

PROJECT TEAM

Lisa Uyehara
Lisa Uyehara, J.D.
Principal Investigator (PI) & Director
(808) 956-5680
uyeharal@hawaii.edu
Kiriko Takahashi
Kiriko Takahashi, Ph.D.

Co-PI
(808) 956-4457
kiriko@hawaii.edu

Kealii Kukahiko
Kealiʻi Troy Kukahiko, Ph.D

Evaluator

Caryl Hitchcock
Caryl Hitchcock, Ph.D.

Site Coordinator, Molokaʻi, Maui, Lanaʻi 
chh@hawaii.edu

ʻIwalani McCalla
ʻIwalani McCalla, B.A.

Site Coordinator, Hawai’i Island
alison33@hawaii.edu

Misty Kelai
Misty Kelaʻi, B.M.

Native Hawaiian Project Liaison
mkelai78@hawaii.edu

PROJECT PARTNERS

Jon Kamakawiwoʻole Osorio, Ph.D.

Dean of Hawaiʻinuiākea School
of Hawaiian Knowledge, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Visit website

Native Hawaiian Student Services Logo
Willy Kauai, Ph.D.

Director of Native Hawaiian Student Services (NHSS), University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Visit website

Hawaii Department of Education Logo
Department of Education (HIDOE) Schools

State of Hawaiʻi
Visit website

PROJECT RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

ALL STUDENT PARTICIPANTS

STUDENT PARTICIPANTS INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN INTERN OR UHM HOʻOKUʻI SCHOLAR

STUDENT PARTICIPANTS
SELECTED AS INTERN

INTERNSHIP

 

SCHOLARSHIP

 

HAUMANA NEWS

IN THIS ISSUE:

UH Mānoa Scholar News

School Reports

NEW! Ho‘oku‘i VI Scholarships

UHMC 2024 Commencement,Molokai

IN THIS ISSUE:

2024 Pac Rim Presentation

Kapa‘a Nahaumana Visit UHM Campus

Molokai High School Nursing Cohort