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.
Ohana Hui (EXTENDED FAMILY) GATHERINGS
Twice a year, every February and August, 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.
Annual Service Learning Trip
Each year, Le Nu'u takes students on an immersive service learning trip to a different Pacific Islander community, funding permitting. Our inaugural trip took students to Oʻahu, May 17–24, 2026, where they worked alongside Aunty Blanche McMillan and Hui Mahiʻai ʻĀina — a Waimānalo-based village community providing housing, food, and long-term support for those facing hard times in Hawaiʻi. It was extraordinary. In May 2027, students will travel to Pago Pago and Apia for hands-on service and cultural immersion in the Samoan Islands.
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.
