The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $1.5 million grant to the University of Hawaii system campuses for the Huakai Ike Aina Project, which aims to support indigenous students pursuing careers in food and agricultural sciences. The project will address financial obstacles, institutional barriers, and other challenges that underrepresented students may face. Through direct financial support, experiential learning activities, integration of indigenous knowledge into education, and mentoring for graduate school, the project aims to create a pathway for students to succeed in the field. Partnering with community organizations involved in food-system education, the project seeks to improve Hawaii’s food system and support Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Alaskan Native students.
The project will be led by Matthew Kekoa Lau, an assistant professor at UH West Oahu, and supported by the Ke O Mau Center for Sustainable Island Food Systems. The coalition of UH campuses involved in the project will develop an “educational auwai,” or collaborative pathway, to support students in their academic and leadership pursuits. By creating a community-supported vision for Hawaii’s food systems, the project aims to ensure that pathways to higher education and sustainable food system innovation are accessible to all students. This initiative represents a step towards increasing diversity and equity in the field of food and agricultural sciences in Hawaii.
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