{"id":235276,"date":"2026-05-29T16:12:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T02:12:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=235276"},"modified":"2026-05-29T16:35:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T02:35:17","slug":"project-hookui-documentary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/29\/project-hookui-documentary\/","title":{"rendered":"Project Hoʻokuʻi documentary highlights pathways from HS to higher ed"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"people<\/p>\n

A new documentary showcasing the impact of the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Mānoa<\/span>\u2019s Project Hoʻokuʻi<\/span><\/a> and its efforts to help students navigate the transition from high school to higher education will premiere statewide on June 7.<\/p>\n

\"documentary<\/p>\n

Project Hoʻokuʻi<\/span>: Finding a Path for the Future<\/em> is a 30-minute sequel to the 2023 documentary The Power of Hoʻokuʻi<\/span>: Joining Together to Build Our Future<\/em><\/a>. The film follows students, educators and community partners connected to Project Hoʻokuʻi<\/span>, a UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> College of Education<\/a> Center on Disability Studies<\/a> initiative, that supports students as they prepare for college, career training and future professions.<\/p>\n

Now in its 18th year and sixth iteration, Project Hoʻokuʻi<\/span> has served more than 2,000 students across Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, primarily in rural communities, near Native Hawaiian homesteads and at schools with high percentages of students receiving free and reduced-price lunch. Approximately 50 participants have earned associate degrees before graduating from high school.<\/p>\n

“Our hope is that viewers see what is possible when students are given the support, opportunities and encouragement to pursue their goals,” said Project Hoʻokuʻi<\/span> Director and Principal Investigator Lisa Uyehara. “Through the stories shared in this documentary, we want students and families across Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> to know that higher education and career pathways are within reach, while also showing how culture, community and a strong sense of place can help guide that journey.”<\/p>\n

The documentary explores how financial aid, tutoring, mentoring, internships and ʻāina<\/span>-based learning help students access opportunities through programs such as Running Start, Jump Start, Early Admission and Mānoa<\/span> Academy. It also highlights the project\u2019s expanding efforts to address workforce needs by supporting pathways in fields including healthcare, education and the skilled trades.<\/p>\n

Project Hoʻokuʻi<\/span> partners with the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Department of Education and UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span>\u2019s Â鶹´«Ã½nuiākea<\/span> School of Hawaiian Knowledge<\/a> to help students build academic skills, explore career options and strengthen connections to culture, community and place.<\/p>\n

The documentary premieres Sunday, June 7, at 7 p.m. on KHON<\/abbr>. Encore broadcasts are scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, at 9:30 p.m. on KHON<\/abbr> and Sunday, June 14, at 8 p.m. on KHII<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The documentary explores how financial aid, tutoring, mentoring, internships and ʻāina<\/span>-based learning help students access opportunities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":235277,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[269,95,204,9],"class_list":["post-235276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-center-on-disability-studies","tag-college-of-education","tag-education","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t