{"id":200561,"date":"2024-07-15T14:32:03","date_gmt":"2024-07-16T00:32:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=200561"},"modified":"2024-07-17T08:44:47","modified_gmt":"2024-07-17T18:44:47","slug":"miss-hawaii-volunteer-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/07\/15\/miss-hawaii-volunteer-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Miss Hawai\u02bbi Volunteer 2024: Merging passion and purpose at UH<\/abbr>"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Kinsler
Makenna Kinsler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a child, Miss Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Volunteer 2024 Makenna Kinsler first became aware of the hardships in her island home when she walked through Kakaʻako<\/span> with her mom to help the homeless. Now a double major at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa<\/a>, Kinsler is still impacted by that experience.<\/p>\n

\"Three
Kinsler, left, with Miss Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Teen Volunteer Emalia Pomaialoha Dalire and Gov. Josh Green<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Seeing those vulnerable parts of our community that needed upliftment was really eye-opening,” Kinsler recalls. “I always remember to be grateful and give back where I can because recognizing what I have made me want to help others.”<\/p>\n

Driven by her dedication to serve, Kinsler participated in Miss Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Volunteer<\/a>, a scholarship program that promotes community service, academic excellence and leadership. Raised in M\u0101noa Valley and educated at La Pietra School for Girls, she remains closely connected to her community, from working knee-deep in loʻi<\/span> kalo (taro patches) to m\u0101lama ʻ\u0101ina (care for the land) to feeding the hungry.<\/p>\n

Merging science with ʻike Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> (Indigenous knowledge)<\/h2>\n

\"Kinsler<\/p>\n

Kinsler is pursuing degrees in global environmental science<\/a> and Hawaiian studies<\/a> and is determined to merge both disciplines into her future career as an urban planner. Her vision is to create communities that are sustainable, resilient and rooted in Hawaiian values.<\/p>\n

“In Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, we give a lot of importance to places and wahi (locations). I\u2019m taking an ahupuaʻa<\/span> (land division) class right now and it\u2019s an interesting perspective of how we can model our communities today looking at the urban side of balancing nature and city as Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> really rapidly grows our population,” said Kinsler.<\/p>\n