Empowering the next generation of digital stewards through the
2025 Aloha ʻĀina Waste Management Challenge.
"A responsibility shared by all."
Waiakea Intermediate School's Computer Science students acted as professional media consultants for the County Department of Environmental Management. Students researched and learned about how to take of their aina by researching how to recycle and take care of our sewage system infrastructure. Waiakea students applied their ʻIke (knowledge) of HTML and CSS to create digital websites to carry their learning forward and serve our Hilo community.
1. Community Connection
Students practice Mālama I Ka ʻĀina (Caring For the Land) by turning complicated facts about trash and sewage into easy-to-understand guides for the public. By sharing this knowledge, they are helping everyone in our community take better care of our island environment.
2. Workforce Readiness
By acting as professional consultants for the County, students practiced meeting real deadlines and responding to client needs/feedback. This experience turned their classroom lessons into "real-world" skills they can use in future jobs.
3. Local Job Pathways
This project showed students how they can find great STEM and computer science jobs right here on the Big Island. By working with the County, they learned that their coding skills can help them become the future engineers and innovators who protect our home. They also explored other local STEM career opportunities available in their home communities.
Congratulations to the Honorable Mention & Outstanding Website Award Recipients for the 2025 Aloha Aina Waste Management Challenge
Click a reflection note to enlarge
Mahalo to the County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management for providing this opportunity for our students to engage with their community.