Le Nu'u students receiving instruction from Uncle Scotty and the Waimānalo Canoe Club — learning traditional outrigger paddling during the 2026 Hawaiʻi Service Learning Trip. Photo courtesy of Waimānalo Canoe Club Facebook.
Community engagement
"Community engagement isn't a program - it's a way of life. Every connection we make today becomes part of the support system for the next generation of Pacific Islander students" -Uncle Phil Medlock
Community is at the Heart of Everything We Do
Community is at the heart of Pacific Islander culture. Our Community Engagement pillar creates meaningful connections that celebrate cultural identity, build lasting support networks, and expand our students' sense of belonging.
hui ʻohana nui (extended family gatherings)
Three times a year, Le Nu'u brings our Pacific Islander ʻohana together for an evening of food, laughter, and genuine connection. No formal program — just the kind of gathering where students, families, community members, athletes and non-athletes alike can meet, mingle, and know they belong to something bigger than themselves. A quick update on Le Nu'u happenings, maybe a guest or two, and a whole lot of aloha. These are the moments where lifelong friendships and networks are built — not through programming, but through presence.
Hui Mahi'ai 'Aina: Hawaii Service Learning
Annual spring service trip to Oʻahu where students work alongside Aunty Blanche McMillan and Hui Mahiʻai ʻĀina — a Waimānalo-based village community that provides housing, food, and long-term support for those facing hard times in Hawaiʻi. Through hands-on service and cultural immersion, our students give back while reconnecting with their Pacific Islander roots. Our inaugural 2026 trip ran May 17–24 — and it was extraordinary. We are committed to making this an annual tradition, funding permitting, and look forward to expanding our service learning reach to other Pacific Islander communities — including Sāmoa and beyond — in the years ahead.
Ongoing Community Partnerships
We are building meaningful relationships with Arizona's Native American communities, particularly the Tohono Oʻodham Nation, through cultural exchanges, community events, and collaborative celebrations that promote mutual understanding between Pacific Islander and Native American communities/
