Kawehena is a federally-funded Native Hawaiian Education Program (NHEP) initiative housed under the GPA Program in the SEED Office at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM). Kawehena aims to increase awareness of, access to, and engagement in technology, energy, agriculture, astronomy, climate, and health-related disciplines and support programming here at UHM for Native Hawaiian high school, undergraduate, and graduate students— particularly those from underserved communities.
increase the college enrollment of Native Hawaiian seniors from 8 target high schools on O‘ahu and Hawai‘i island (Hilo, Ka‘ū, Kaimukī, Kea‘au, Leilehua, Nānākuli, Pāhoa, and Wai‘anae)
increase the college retention and success of Native Hawaiian lower-division undergraduates
increase the college success, graduation, and subsequent employment of Native Hawaiian upper-division undergraduates, and
increase the graduate school enrollment rate of Native Hawaiian students pursuing graduate degrees in TEACH-related* disciplines
The name "Kawehena" was carefully chosen for this project. Kawehena roughly translates to, "The Opening," and symbolizes the overarching theme of this project: to expose students to the possibilities available to them. Our logo depicts the endemic (unique to Hawai‘i) ‘ama‘u fern. ‘Ama‘u are known for their brilliant color, their diverse capabilities, and their ability to thrive in a variety of environments. It is our hope that through this project, the Kanaka ‘Ōiwi students we serve will deepen their understanding and appreciation for just how brilliant, capable, and resilient they are.