By S. Welaahilani Wāhilani
“One Hawaiian at a time” is a phrase Uncle Walter Kahumoku has used to describe the kuleana he holds in supporting Kānaka Maoli in accomplishing their goals.
At UH West Oʻahu, we apply that kuleana by endeavoring to bridge the gap between education and the community. With a collective vision to uplift the West Oʻahu region, nine individuals came together to create Kauluhāweo, a grassroots effort to deliver wraparound support services to students and their ʻohana.
We shed light on the importance of modeling Kānaka Maoli values within Western higher education institutions.
“Nā wai hoʻi ka ʻole o ke akamai, he alanui i maʻa i ka hele ʻia e oʻu mau mākua” are words spoken by King Kamehameha II that described the intelligence and excellence of Kānaka Maoli.
To model this type of excellence and intelligence, we employ Hawaiian epistemologies in our work to activate one another and our students to become extraordinary individuals. The use of the ʻohana structure, specifically the kaikuaʻana-kaikaina (older-younger sibling) model, enable us to shift how we practiced mentorship within our unit.
With this epistemological approach, my colleagues and I can model behaviors for our students that make them feel safe, seen, heard, and, most importantly, valued.
Since its founding in 2023, Kauluhāweo has continued to grow alongside the community it serves. What began as a collective of nine individuals has expanded to 11 staff and faculty members, six of whom hold master’s degrees and two with doctoral degrees.
While these academic achievements reflect professional preparation and expertise, they also represent something much deeper: a commitment to education as a pathway to serve, uplift, and give back to our lāhui and communities.
Many of us come from the West Oʻahu communities we now serve, and our educational journeys are not viewed solely as personal accomplishments, but as responsibilities carried on behalf of our ʻohana and poʻe.
By modeling this commitment to higher education, we intentionally demonstrate to our students that academic success and cultural identity are not separate pursuits. Instead, they exist in relationship with one another. Through mentorship, guidance, and daily interactions, we encourage students to see their own educational pathways as opportunities to become future leaders, advocates, educators, and caregivers within their communities.
In many ways, this reflects the kuleana of the kaikuaʻana within the kaikuaʻana-kaikaina relationship: to guide, protect, and provide for the younger sibling.
At Kauluhāweo, mentorship extends beyond academic advising or institutional support. It is rooted in pilina, reciprocity, and collective responsibility. We strive to model for our students what it means to uplift one another, carry ourselves with humility and excellence, and return our knowledge and experiences to the communities that raised us.
In doing so, we hope to cultivate future generations of Kānaka Maoli who not only pursue higher education but also understand the importance of using their education to serve others.
For more information about the Kauluhāweo program, email [email protected]
S. Welaahilani Wāhilani is the director of Hui Kīpaipai: Early Academic Outreach at UH West Oʻahu. He is a graduate of Ka Papahana Kaiapuni, UH West Oʻahu, and UH Mānoa, currently pursuing an EdD. His work centers on integrating Indigenous culture into academia, challenging systemic barriers, and fostering decolonial praxis that supports both student and staff success.
