Akeakamai Community Event

STEMworks AFTERschool (SWAS), a program of Maui Economic Development Board, provides free afterschool activities at 8 Maui County schools, serving over 500 K-8 students each semester. Through place-based, service-oriented activities rooted in aloha ʻāina and Hawaiian cultural values, students enhance their technical STEM knowledge alongside essential skills like teamwork, empathy, and leadership.

SWAS integrates Hawaiian culture into various subjects, including robotics, astronomy, digital media, agriculture, and engineering, in collaboration with cultural practitioners and community experts. The program introduces students to Hawaiʻi-based industry professionals and local career pathways, helping keiki envision futures in STEM fields that allow them to thrive in their home communities.

To showcase students’ learning and recruit new participants, STEM Family Night events are held at each participating school during November and December. This year, with the support of Kamehameha Schools, we are excited to announce the STEMworks Akeakamai Community Event, hosted by Kaunakakai Elementary School.

This public event aims to attract not only Kaunakakai ES families but all Molokai families with young keiki. Highlights include:

• Innovative Engineering Games: Mr. Kawika Gonzales will teach engineering and design through traditional Hawaiian games. Participants will engage with virtual reality (VR) and 3D modeling tools to explore ulumaika.
• Interactive Astronomy Lesson: Experience the STEMworks inflatable, walk-in planetarium.
• Augmented Reality Engagement: Learn about ʻāina artifacts through interactive technology.
• ʻĀina Stewardship Session: Discover the role of kalo in Hawaiian culture.

This student-centered event provides SWAS students a platform to showcase their projects while building their public speaking and leadership skills. The aim is to inspire more Molokai students to engage with STEM education, both in and out of the classroom.

The event also fosters community connections, allowing attendees to meet Kaunakakai teachers and administrators, encouraging future involvement in school activities.

Partner organizations contributing to this event include: Sustʻāinable Molokai, Hawaii Farmers Union, Ko Koā Uka, Alu Like, and many others, providing rich learning opportunities in Hawaiian culture and access to educational resources.

Hands-on activities for keiki will be complemented by information booths for adults, creating opportunities for community members to connect with each other and learn about initiatives to mālama ʻāina, ʻohana, and kaiāulu.