{"id":205540,"date":"2024-10-27T08:00:05","date_gmt":"2024-10-27T18:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=205540"},"modified":"2024-10-30T13:08:51","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T23:08:51","slug":"indigenous-students-develop-food-systems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/10\/27\/indigenous-students-develop-food-systems\/","title":{"rendered":"$1.5M grant supports Indigenous students, develops food systems"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa CTAHR<\/abbr><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Four University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> campuses have been awarded a $1.5-million grant for the Huakaʻi<\/span> ʻIke<\/span> ʻĀina<\/span> (HIʻA<\/span><\/abbr>) Project to strengthen Native Hawaiian-serving institutions through advancing food and agricultural sciences. <\/p>\n

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UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa CTAHR<\/abbr><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The HIʻA<\/span> Project aims to address systemic challenges that students face, from financial obstacles to cultural and institutional barriers. Through direct financial support, including scholarships and travel opportunities, the program seeks to empower these students to become future leaders in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>‘s food systems. By providing opportunities for huakaʻi<\/span> (educational journeys) and experiential ʻāina<\/span>-based learning, the initiative aims to provide education grounded in cultural relevance and place-based knowledge. <\/p>\n

The Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian (ANNH<\/abbr>) grant<\/a> from the U.S.<\/abbr> Department of Agriculture was awarded to UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/a>, Leeward Community College<\/a>, the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources<\/a> (CTAHR<\/abbr>) at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/a> and Â鶹´«Ã½ Community College<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fostering collaboration, partnerships<\/h2>\n
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UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> Sustainable Community Food Systems<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The multi-institutional effort will focus on providing direct financial support to allow underrepresented students to focus on their education without financial strain; conducting experiential learning through ʻāina<\/span>-based learning activities and cross-campus huakaʻi<\/span> (travel); integrating Indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge into food systems education; demystifying the path to graduate school through mentoring and targeted support; and fostering cross-campus collaboration and course articulations.<\/p>\n

HIʻA<\/span> will also foster partnerships with community-based organizations actively involved in food-system education, including: MAʻO<\/span> Organic Farms<\/a>, Hoʻokuaʻāina<\/span><\/a>, K\u014dkua Learning Farm<\/a>, Hawaii Banana Source<\/a>, Kualoa Grown<\/a>, Kakoʻo<\/span> ʻŌiwi<\/span><\/a>, Waip\u0101<\/a>, and Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> ʻUlu<\/span> Coop<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“We’re creating a community supported view, vision and future for Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>‘s food systems,” said Matthew Kekoa Lau, project lead and an assistant professor at UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Building educational pathways ʻauwai<\/span>i<\/h2>\n
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Leeward CC<\/abbr><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Aligned with the mission of UH<\/abbr> as a Native Hawaiian place of learning<\/a>, the HIʻA<\/span> Project will enable the formation of a multi-institutional coalition dedicated to the development of an educational ʻauwai<\/span>\u2014a collaborative pathway that nurtures and supports students throughout their academic and leadership journeys. <\/p>\n

The coalition includes key faculty members from across the UH<\/abbr> system:<\/p>\n