{"id":239451,"date":"2026-08-24T15:45:38","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T01:45:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=239451"},"modified":"2026-08-24T15:45:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T01:45:38","slug":"stem-culture-place-for-keiki","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/08\/24\/stem-culture-place-for-keiki\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> program connects STEM<\/abbr>, culture, place for 422 keiki across 3 islands"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Children
First grade students at K\u0101neʻohe<\/span> Elementary measure the length of a kalo stem<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This summer, 422 Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> keiki learned how STEM<\/abbr> (science, technology, engineering, math) connects with Hawaiian culture and place through hands-on activities, including programming robots, investigating local environments and building and engineering challenges.<\/p>\n

\"Children
Two first grade students at K\u0101neʻohe<\/span> Elementary measure the length of a kalo stem<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From June 1 through July 16, Ka Pilina Noʻeau<\/span> Hoʻomau<\/span><\/a> (KPNH<\/abbr>), a project of the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa\u2019s Center on Disability Studies<\/a> (CDS<\/abbr>), brought its STEM<\/abbr> program to 10 sites across Oʻahu<\/span>, Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island and Kauaʻi<\/span>.<\/p>\n

“Across grade levels, the hands-on curriculum integrates mathematics, science, engineering, computer science, reading and vocabulary while drawing upon Hawaiian and local culture to make student learning more meaningful and connected to place,” said KPNH<\/abbr> Principal Investigator Kiriko Takahashi.<\/p>\n

STEM<\/abbr> learning across 10 sites<\/h2>\n

KPNH<\/abbr> offered its 2026 summer program at ʻEwa<\/span> Beach, Holualoa, Kaleiʻopuʻu<\/span>, Kāneʻohe<\/span>, Linapuni and Liholiho elementary schools, as well as Boys & Girls Club of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> sites in Waiʻanae<\/span>, N\u0101n\u0101kuli, ʻEwa<\/span> Beach and Līhuʻe<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"Child
A prekindergarten student at Linapuni Elementary designs a collage using living and nonliving objects collected<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The program is organized around five grade-level bands, with lessons, materials and activities tailored to students at different developmental levels. Younger students explored STEM<\/abbr> concepts through movement, games, plants, shapes, models and introductory robotics. Older students engaged in programming, data analysis, environmental investigations, measurement and engineering-design challenges.<\/p>\n

“The materials, resources and lesson plans were well organized and made it easy to facilitate engaging, hands-on learning experiences,” said Kāneʻohe<\/span> Elementary School teacher Jolyn Kresge.<\/p>\n

KPNH<\/abbr> staff worked with schools, Boys & Girls Club of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> personnel and other project-site partners to prepare and deliver the program across three islands.<\/p>\n

KPNH<\/abbr> staff worked with site personnel to register students, train staff, develop lesson guides and student workbooks, prepare instructional kits, administer pre- and post-assessments, conduct observations and facilitate focus groups.<\/p>\n

Read the entire story on the College of Education website.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The program is organized around five grade-level bands, with lessons, materials and activities tailored to students at different developmental levels.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":239453,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[269,95,1314,313,73,9],"class_list":["post-239451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-center-on-disability-studies","tag-college-of-education","tag-manoa-sustainability","tag-stem","tag-sustainability","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