Majuro, Marshall Islands – On May 9th, 2024, a small delegation from Ka’u High & Pahala Elementary Schools (KHPES) paid a courtesy visit to H.E. President Hilda C. Heine. With 20% of the KHPES students comprising Marshallese, the visit symbolizes a commitment by the school for international collaboration in education through inclusivity and cultural exchange.
Led by ʻĀina Akamu, KHPES Complex Academic Officer, the delegation engaged in a productive dialogue with President Hilda C. Heine regarding the burgeoning partnership between communities of Ka’u, Hawai’i, and the Marshall Islands. Central to the discussion was the proposal to establish a student and teacher learning exchange program. This initiative aims to facilitate reciprocal visits, allowing KHPES teachers and students, especially those that have never visited their home roots, to immerse themselves in real Marshallese cultural experience and island life. Furthermore, this opportunity fosters professional development and cultural appreciation among educators and students while at the same time allowing students from the Marshall Islands to experience life in Ka’u, Hawaii.
President Hilda C. Heine expressed her gratitude to the KHPES Principal, teachers and staff for their ongoing support to Marshallese students in Ka’u, Hawaii and looks forward to seeing the school-to-school collaboration between Ka’u, Hawaii and the Marshall Islands come to fruition in the near future.
