Undergraduate Research

The  Kaʻao Program Goals and Mission

The Kūlia URE Ka'ao Questions v.1 (These questions help to frame your personal connection to your topic as well as your research goals)

How the Program Goals and Mission articulate out to the research process: 

The Hawaiian framework of HUA, HAʻALELE, HUAKAʻI, HOʻINA and HAʻINA provides a culturally rich and insightful lens through which to view the research process. Each stage beautifully aligns with a critical phase of inquiry, from initial inspiration to the application of findings.

HUA stands for the genesis of your inquiry;

HAʻALELE stands for embarking on the research journey;

HUAKAʻI stands for voyaging on the the Research Expedition

HOʻINA stands for returning to the origin, with Integration and Reflection

HAʻINA stands for unveiling the discoveries and synthesizing the knowledge gained.  

_______________________________________

     HUA: The Genesis of Inquiry

HUA (egg, fruit, or seed) represents the initial spark or reason for the research. In the context of research, this is the phase where you identify your:

• Research question or problem: What is the core question you are trying to answer?

• Purpose or rationale: Why is this research important? What knowledge gap will it fill?

• Motivation: What circumstances or interests led you to this particular topic?  (This element can be personal or biographical)

---REFLECTION SECTION--- (on a personal level)

• Why am I here?

• Why did I decide to come to college?

• Why do I want to get a degree?

Just as a seed contains the potential for a plant, HUA embodies the foundational idea that will grow into a full research project.

_______________________________________

     HAʻALELE: Embarking on the Journey

HAʻALELE (to leave, to depart) signifies the preparation and planning phase before fully engaging with the research. This phase involves:

• Literature review: Exploring existing knowledge and identifying what has already been done.

• Methodology design: Deciding how you will conduct your research (e.g., surveys, experiments, interviews, archival research).

• Ethical considerations: Ensuring your research is conducted responsibly and respectfully.

• Resource gathering: Identifying and securing the necessary tools, materials, and support.

This stage is about getting ready to move forward, understanding the landscape, and charting your course.

The library has amazing resources for your research journey:

1.  Existing research guides in over 47 different subjects.  

2.  Articles and online publication resources.

3.  Books and online books on campus and at all campuses

4.  Citation and documentation standards

5.  A live chat window link that allows a reference librarian to field your questions.  (click on the orange rectangle to the right of the screen that says, "Live Chat--Ask Us!"

6.  Tutors via The Study Hub.  

---REFLECTION SECTION--- (on a personal level)

• What is it going to take? Emotionally? Physically?  

• What is my ambition/outlook on what I want to do?

• How must I prepare?

• What must I do to be ready for college?

_______________________________________

     HUAKAʻI: The Research Expedition

HUAKAʻI (a journey, a voyage) is the active execution phase of the research. This is where you:

• Collect data: Implementing your chosen methodology to gather information.

• Analyze data: Interpreting the collected data to find patterns, themes, and answers to your research questions.

• Iterate and adapt: Being open to new discoveries and adjusting your approach as needed.

• In terms of the writing phase, you would need to ensure that elements like PIE structure are addressed.  You would also need to ensure that your documentation avoids plagiarism.

Like a voyage, this stage can involve challenges and unexpected turns, but it's where the core work of discovery takes place.  During this phase, much of the twists and turns probably take place in terms of your figuring out what "TRUTH" the research elements teach you and discerning if those elements mesh with your own existing TRUTH or TRUTHS.  

---REFLECTION SECTION--- (on a personal level)

• Will my journey be impactful?  

• Who will help me along this journey?

• Am I anxious/nervous?  

• Is this risk worth it?

• Where do I leave from?

• How will this new education bring improvement to my life?

_______________________________________

     HOʻINA: Integration and Reflection

HOʻINA (to return, to go back, a reintegration, the readdressing of the HUA) is the final phase of reflection, application, and future direction. This stage involves:

• Readdressing the HUA: Looking back at your initial reason for the research and evaluating how your journey has addressed it.

• Personal and professional growth: Reflecting on what the research process has taught you about yourself and your field.

• Future research directions: Identifying new questions or areas for further exploration that have emerged from your current work.

• Impact and legacy: Considering how your research contributes to the broader body of knowledge or addresses real-world issues.

HOʻINA emphasizes the cyclical nature of knowledge and how each research journey can lead to new "seeds" for future inquiry.

---REFLECTION SECTION--- (on a personal level)

• How will my friends/family look at me? differently?  same?   

• What is next? 

• Do I want to continue on the journey or re-integrate now? 

• How will I take my degree and learning back to my community?

• How will I help my lāhui?  

• What will I do now with my degree?

_______________________________________

        HAʻINA: Unveiling the Discoveries

HAʻINA (a declaration, a confession, a solution, the main point of an experience or story) represents the synthesis and presentation of your findings. This phase involves a deepening, big-picture assessment of your research in the context of your individual knowledge as well as the larger community knowledge or ontology; it may also encompass loop-closing on how to make meaning of what you learned and its impact on other research and researchers:

• Formulating conclusions: Drawing clear answers and insights from your data analysis.

• Discussing implications: Explaining the significance of your findings and their broader impact.

• Identifying successes and areas for improvement: Reflecting on what went well and what could be done differently in future research.

• Communicating results: Sharing your findings with your audience (e.g., through papers, presentations, reports, SURF poster).

This  HAʻINA is where you articulate what you've learned and the "solution" or main point of your research journey; it may also synthesize the big picture items that showcases how your 'small' research fits into 'bigger' paradigms and findings.

---REFLECTION SECTION--- (on a personal level)

• What will I do now with my degree in terms of how my degree articulates out to 'bigger picture elements?'

• How does my research help to shift or change the discourse?  

• What might a future research project that builds off of this one incorporate?

• What is the best methodology to share out my ideas?