Blog & Updates

Latest Stories

Follow our students' journey through their own voices and experiences.

July 10, 2024

Final Days at Hui o Koʻolaupoko: Weeding and Reflection

Our final volunteering days at Hui o Koʻolaupoko with Kristen focused on weeding native plant gardens, providing a bittersweet conclusion to our environmental restoration work.

By Mele Barton

July 4, 2024

July 4th at Iolani Palace: Protest, Memory, and Resistance

On July 4th, we witnessed a ceremony at Iolani Palace that reframes Independence Day as a day of remembrance for the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

By Vaishnavi Murthy

July 3, 2024

Liliuokalani Church Food Share: Hunger as an Issue of Justice

At the Liliuokalani Church Food Share Event, we learned that hunger is not an issue of charity but of justice, connecting with community members through acts of service.

By Isaac Bernstein

June 30, 2024

Sugarcane Plantation Village: Roots Across the Pacific

At the Sugarcane Plantation Village in Waipahu, we learned how cultures from across the Pacific took root in Hawaiʻi, creating the unique social fabric that persists today.

By Vaishnavi Murthy

June 28, 2024

Puʻu o Mahuka Heiau: Standing in Sacred Space

Visiting Puʻu o Mahuka Heiau reminded us that history is embedded in life, land, and cultural practices that refuse to disappear, challenging our assumptions about learning.

By Elsa Goebel-Bain

June 25, 2024

Mālama Maunalua: Restoring Native Marine Ecosystems

Volunteering with Mālama Maunalua to remove invasive algae taught us about the urgent need for environmental restoration and the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.

By Isaac Bernstein

June 20, 2024

Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi: Planting Huli and Building Community

Our day at Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi was not just physical labor—it was a lesson in respect, intention, and community building through traditional farming practices.

By Ella Weber

June 15, 2024

Hawaiian Mission Houses: Language, Faith, and Cultural Exchange

At the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site, we learned about the creation of the Hawaiian alphabet and the translation of the Bible into Native Hawaiian, witnessing the intersection of missionary work and cultural preservation.

By Natalie Gelman & Mele Barton

June 14, 2024

The 'No Kings' Protest: Hawaii's Complex Relationship with the U.S.

Walking through the 'No Kings' protest in Honolulu revealed Hawaii's unique history and the ongoing tensions between Hawaiian sovereignty and U.S. governance.

By Vaishnavi Murthy & Natalie Gelman

June 14, 2024

Iolani Palace: A Symbol of Sovereignty and Resilience

Visiting Iolani Palace, the only official royal residence in the United States, reminded us that history is never neutral and the palace stands as a powerful symbol of Hawaiian sovereignty.

By Elsa Goebel-Bain

June 13, 2024

Hui o Koʻolaupoko: Watershed Management and Community

Volunteering with Hui o Koʻolaupoko taught us about native plants, wildlife, and the importance of community collaboration in environmental restoration.

By Isaac Bernstein

June 11, 2024

Kamehameha Day Lei Draping: Honoring Ancestral Legacy

Witnessing the Kamehameha Day lei draping ceremony was a profound honor, showing us how cultural practices serve as living symbols of resilience and ancestral connection.

By Ruxandra Iosif

June 5, 2024

Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi: Understanding ʻĀina Through Taro Cultivation

At Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi farm, we learned that kalo is not just a crop—it is an ancestor, teaching us about the deep relationship between Hawaiians and the land.

By Vaishnavi Murthy

May 29, 2024

Washington Place and Umeke Lāʻau: A Powerful Beginning

Our first full day in Honolulu brought us to Washington Place and the Umeke Lāʻau art installation, where we engaged with Hawaiian communities on a personal level.

By Mele Barton

January 15, 2024

Welcome to Princeton Pono Pathways

An introduction to our transformative summer program focusing on Indigenous justice and community engagement in Hawaiʻi.

By Program Director

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More posts coming soon as our students continue their journey!