As part of the ‘Ike Kaiāulu: Community Engagement Program (formerly Service Learning), many courses offer a community engagement option. It can be an alternative to a class assignment; another way to practice and demonstrate learning in your course. It may also be something you choose to do to foster pilina (relationships) and pānaʻi (reciprocate) with your kaiāulu (community).

Why Community Engagement?

• Community Engagement is about relationships
• Community Engagement is hands-on learning. If you like to DO to learn, it’s a good choice
• Community Engagement clarifies the relevance of a course to real life
• Community Engagement gives you a chance to explore educational and career choices
• Community Engagement enables you to make connections and join networks in the community
• Community Engagement is valued by transfer schools.
• Many “service-based” scholarships are available for those who are involved in their community
• Ultimately, those who choose to do community engagement demonstrate greater increase in reasoning, leadership, and confidence than who choose not to engage

Where can I engage?

It’s totally up to you. ʻIke Kaiāulu has a long list of places that might speak to your heart and may be in areas you’d like to experience. Choose a community partner that relates to the area(s) you are studying. Our program also has a shorter list of semester long or Koʻolaupoko & Koʻolauloa (Windward side) focused community partners as well.

If you choose to engage in your community as part of a course assignment, be sure and get your Kumu (teacher) to approve the location ahead of time. Once you make the decision for yourself that you want to get out and learn and form bonds outside of school; GO OUT AND DO IT!

Okay, I am interested, how do I do this?

There are two ways to make this happen:

1. Talk with your kumu (instructor) as she may be able to give you course credit for your efforts or know where you might fit best in the community in relation to your coursework
2. Contact the ʻIke Kaiāulu program and they will work with you to decide how and where you might engage and then how you will show your learning (e.g., through a reflective journal, class presentation, report)

Then what?

You will volunteer a minimum of 20 hours per semester and once you complete your project and your hours. You will successfully earn a certificate of achievement and be able to list your community engagement work on your resume.

Contact Us

Noe Tupou
‘Ike Kaiāulu: Community Engagement Program Director
Hale A‘o: Room 203
42-720 Kea‘ahala Rd.
Kaneohe, HI 96744
Phone: 808-236-9230
wccserve@hawaii.edu