Faculty, students, alumni, and leadership representing six organizations came together to envision a multi-phase project on and adjacent to the UH Hilo campus supporting a complete educational system spanning from preschool to Ph.D., taught entirely through ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.

Organizations are Ka Haka' Ula O Ke'elikolani (KHUOK, College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo), 'Aha Pūnana Leo (Hawaiian language preschools), Hale Kuamoʻo (Hawaiian language curriculum development and research), Mokuola Honua (Global Center for Indigenous Language Excellence), 'Imiloa Astronomy Center, and Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu (Nawahi, Hawaiian language immersion charter school).

Our team was tasked with visualizing spatial needs and developing proof-of-concept designs for three new facilities. Multiple phases of user research, including one-on-one interviews, co-creation workshops, and "talk story" sessions, were held with over fifty Hawaiian language education founders and senior leaders. Students, parents, program graduates, and community members also contributed their knowledge and experiences.

A cluster of buildings, and the adjacent Nawahi, will support an immersive and complete P-25 Hawaiian Indigenous Language Cycle (P-25 HILC). Upon completion, this is intended to be the world's most complete indigenous language "preschool through Ph.D." campus.

Client: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Office of the Vice President for Administration
Principal Investigator: Brian Strawn AIA
Co-Principal Investigator: Karla Sierralta AIA
Project Partners: Keiki Kawai‘ae‘a, PhD, Associate Professor, UH Hilo interim vice chancellor for academic affairs, and Ka‘iu Kimura, Interim Director of Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language and Executive Director at UH Hilo’s ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i.
Kuʻikahi Consortium Partners: Ka Haka' Ula O Ke'elikolani College of Hawaiian Language, Hale Kuamo'o, Mokuola Honua Center for Indigenous Language Excellence, 'Aha Punana Leo, 'Imiloa Astronomy Center, and Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu Lab Public Charter School.
Project Staff: ʻEiwa Colburn, Glenn Grande, Jason Hashimoto, Charlie Palanza, Griffin Ward, Hunter Wells, Isaac Jang.

Project Team: Keola Annino, Micah Axalan, Airon Castaneda, Christina Holcom, Keliʻi Kapali, Vivianne Nguyen, Coby Shimabukuro Sanchez, Bryson Tabaniag.