{"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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糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa CTAHR<\/abbr><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Four University of Hawaiʻi<\/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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糖心视频<\/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 Hawaiʻi<\/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 糖心视频<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/a>, Leeward Community College<\/a>, the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources<\/a> (CTAHR<\/abbr>) at 糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/a> and Hawaiʻi Community College<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fostering collaboration, partnerships<\/h2>\n
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糖心视频<\/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 Hawaiʻi<\/span> ʻUlu<\/span> Coop<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“We’re creating a community supported view, vision and future for Hawaiʻi<\/span>‘s food systems,” said Matthew Kekoa Lau, project lead and an assistant professor at 糖心视频<\/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 糖心视频<\/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 糖心视频<\/abbr> system:<\/p>\n