Alakaina — Lawaiʻa Naihe — Executive Director, Ho‘akeolapono Trades Academy and Institution

By Char Ravelo

Lawaiʻa Naihe. Contributed photo

Build it and they will come.

As a youngster growing up in Anahola, Lawaiʻa Naihe faced many challenges. He credits his coaches for bringing out his natural talent and abilities to play football in high school, which became his ticket to college for a chance at making changes in his life.

Equipped with a masters degree in Educational Leadership, Lawaiʻa began working with at-risk students in Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, followed by Deputy Director at Kanuikapono Charter School. He volunteers coaching youth football and has helped over 30 student-athletes to go to college.

Today, Lawaiʻa wants to offer the same helping hand to underserved youth who are not ready for college or choosing not to go. He noticed this group of less than 20 percent of the population falling through the cracks by not receiving guidance on how to navigate life after graduation.

With passion driving his hardworking ethics, Lawaiʻa found the perfect synergy between his love for education and construction — to create a trade school where young people can become carpenters, plumbers, electricians and more. Already in short supply, the increasing need for these professional services across the islands became a crisis during the COVID-19 crisis.

An inspirational educator and motivational coach for youth, when Lawaiʻa has a clear vision of how to fix a problem, there is no stopping his magnetic energy. “Why not grow our own,” he said.

The Ho‘akeolapono Trades Academy and Institution opened is less than a year old and has made significant positive changes for 14 students in Anahola, five interns, and 20 students in Hilo on Hawai‘i Island. They have touched many lives who use the classrooms, decks, window frames, and doors constructed or fixed by these students and interns. They increased self-confidence, uplifted self-esteem; developed coping skills with clarity and understanding of life’s lessons revealed in problem-solving, collaboration, teamwork, and relationships formed in non-traditional, place-based, project-based educational programs.

The academy curriculum prepares students for a career in the building trades through a combination of classroom theory and hands-on work experience; including building and construction basics, OSHA safety, estimating, blueprint reading, standard trade tools and equipment operation. They will work with various construction materials including lumber, panel products, cement, metal, roofing materials, fasteners, etc.

Cohort Rallies

Lawaiʻa gives credit to his Leadership Kauaʻi class of 2020 for showing him how ideas can come together on a big scale through group planning and collaborations. His classmates are rallying around the Hoʻakeolapono mission with resources from financial to eco-waste removal, and to post-secondary education support. They believe this school will be built in the very near future.

Classmate Frankie Harriss of Kauaʻi Community College recently met with Lawaiʻa and was impressed. “Ho‘akeolapono Trades Academy and Institute have been partnering with Jeremie Makepa and his ‘Aina Alliance group to form a really amazing project in Anahola (Lawaiʻa is also spreading his trades academy to multiple sites including on the Big Island). I was amazed at the work they have accomplished in just one year.” said Frankie.

This first year’s success was made possible through the support of the Mochary Foundation and County of Kaua‘i Innovation Grant, plus many others who see the need for trades education and believe in the Hoʻakeolapono vision. The coming year will focus on programs and fundraising for the next phases.

When it is all said and done, Lawaiʻa would like to feel he had made a difference in Hawai‘i’s educational system for Kaua‘i’s youth and communities. This visionary leader has already made a difference by raising the bar for leaders, to step up and do more to fill the gaps in the systems.

Email lawaianaihe@hoakeolapono.org for more information.

Leadership Kauaʻi is now accepting applications for the TLC Summer Course and Annual Adult Class of 2023. Visit www.leadershipkauai.org for more information.