A new documentary showcasing the impact of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’蝉 and its efforts to help students navigate the transition from high school to higher education will premiere statewide on June 7.
Project Hoʻokuʻi: Finding a Path for the Future is a 30-minute sequel to the 2023 documentary The Power of Hoʻokuʻi: Joining Together to Build Our Future. The film follows students, educators and community partners connected to Project Hoʻokuʻi, a 东精影业 Mānoa initiative, that supports students as they prepare for college, career training and future professions.
Now in its 18th year and sixth iteration, Project Hoʻokuʻi has served more than 2,000 students across Hawaiʻi, 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.
“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 Director and Principal Investigator Lisa Uyehara. “Through the stories shared in this documentary, we want students and families across Hawaiʻi 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.”
The documentary explores how financial aid, tutoring, mentoring, internships and ʻāina-based learning help students access opportunities through programs such as Running Start, Jump Start, Early Admission and Mānoa Academy. It also highlights the project’蝉 expanding efforts to address workforce needs by supporting pathways in fields including healthcare, education and the skilled trades.
Project Hoʻokuʻi partners with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education and 东精影业 Mānoa’蝉 to help students build academic skills, explore career options and strengthen connections to culture, community and place.
The documentary premieres Sunday, June 7, at 7 p.m. on KHON. Encore broadcasts are scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, at 9:30 p.m. on KHON and Sunday, June 14, at 8 p.m. on KHII.