Projects

Partnership

The 2025 ʻAha Hoʻoponopono gathered haku hoʻoponopono, social sector professionals, and aloha ʻāina practitioners, along with committed community members, to discuss the perpetuation of ʻike kūpuna and the growth of hoʻoponopono within ourselves, our families, and our communities in contemporary contexts. This was done via Micro, Mezzo, and Macro systems with ʻike lōkahi: interconnected harmony with Kānaka, Honua, Akua. The gathering took place at University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu in partnership with CIIHE (UH Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Excellence).

Restoration Project, Service Learning, Partnership

NiU NOW! is a cultural agroforestry initiative dedicated to restoring Hawaiʻi’s niu (coconut) heritage as the “tree of life.” The Uluniu Project at UH West Oʻahu emphasizes cultural renewal, environmental stewardship, and sustainable local food systems. Through aloha ʻāina work and cultural practices of food security—including the establishment and maintenance of the niu nursery and uluniu (coconut grove) at West Oʻahu—it strengthens students’ and the community’s relationship to the ʻāina (land).

Multimedia Project, Curriculum Development, Partnership

The Eddie Kamae Songbook: A Musical Journey is a collection of 34 songs that were meaningful to Eddie’s journey as a musician, filmmaker, and Hawaiian son. Available online for free, the songbook was produced by Eddie & Myrna Kamae’s The Hawaiian Legacy Foundation in partnership with University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu and ʻUluʻulu: Moving Image Archive. ʻUpena supported the project with research, translation, and editing of texts (documents, meles, website copy, etc.), in addition to curriculum material. With the launch of the project successfully completed, ʻUpena is also developing a talk-story video-series with the producers and friends of The Eddie Kamae Songbook.

Documentation, Partnership

Spearheaded by UH West Oʻahu’s Academy of Creative Media, the “Two plus Too” initiative—in partnership with other academic divisions and with funding support by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation—creates interdisciplinary courses built on the idea that ‘two’ represents foundational pillars, and ‘too’ opens the door for everyone. ʻUpena assists ACMWO in partnering with faculty to support pilot transdisciplinary courses and projects, document outcomes, and create reflective digital artifacts.

Workshop

The aim of Onizuka Day of Exploration is to provide an enriching educational experience for participants of all ages, focusing on hands-on activities, workshops, and classes with a special emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Additionally, the event highlights Hawaiian culture, sustainability, and career development, fostering learning and discovery in a variety of fields. ʻUpena supported UH West Oʻahu hosting of the event by providing workshop(s) for participants. In 2023 we offered “One Small Step… One Giant Leap: Into the Future – Take Your First Steps in Virtual Reality!” and “All you need is a little bit of magic” – Intro to Animation: Create Your Own Flipbook!”.

Multimedia Project, Partnership

With the support of LAVA (The Laboratory for Advanced Visualization & Applications) and utilizing the Create(x) laboratory located at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu, the goal of this project was to create a proof-of-concept immersive experience while developing the ʻUpena staff’s understanding of the technology.

By presenting non-sensitive enrollment data (from Fall 2012 to Fall 2023) with animations and geographical mapping in an immersive environment, viewers experience an engaging and memorable view of student population demographics over the course of years, facilitating comprehension and highlighting trends.

Multimedia Project

Indigenous communities share stories in many ways – orally, through song, music, pictures, etc. to pass down their culture, knowledge, and history across generations. Elders who are often referred to as Knowledge Keepers or Historians play a critical role in preserving and sharing these stories alongside community Storytellers. These are three examples of the transformation of storytelling using technology.

Digital storytelling platforms: Many indigenous communities are now using digital platforms to share their stories through videos, audio recordings, and interactive multimedia. These platforms allow for wider dissemination and preservation of traditional stories, while also engaging younger generations who are more familiar with digital media.
Watch Māui: Fish the Islands – Short Animation.

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences: VR and AR technologies create immersive storytelling experiences, allowing users to virtually explore indigenous lands without disturbing it, participate in traditional ceremonies, and interact with digital representations of cultural artifacts and characters from traditional narratives.
Experience The Stories of Māui – Augmented Reality with Aero or watch a project demo.

Mobile apps and games: Indigenous communities can develop games that incorporate traditional stories, languages, and cultural elements. These interactive formats aim to make traditional knowledge more accessible and engaging for younger generations, while also preserving and promoting indigenous cultures in a modern context. Play The Story of Māui – Game or watch the project demo.