Place-based Learning and Community Engagement in Schools

Who We Are

PLACES is an exciting collaborative venture between schools along the Wai'anae Coast of Oahu, Hawaii, the University of Hawaii, Manoa's Office of Student Equity, Excellence & Diversity (SEED), and the local community of Wai'anae and Oahu. The project is funded through the Department of Education, Native Hawaiian Education Program.

What We Do

PLACES supports the planning and implementation of Place-based, Cultural Projects (PBCP) for the children in Wai'anae schools. These projects provide opportunities for children to engage with community and develop habits of social activism and environmental stewardship while they simultaneously develop the skills and strategies outlined in Hawaii's Content and Performance Standards and The Common Core Standards.

Out-of-School programs offered after school and on the weekends through PLACES extend children's opportunities to be engaged in highly motivating learning experiences within the arts and sciences, provide children with health and fitness opportunities, and generally increase the amount of time children spend learning and in positive interactions with adults and other children.

Who We Work With

PLACES partners with a broad section of community organizations and individuals within the local Wai'anae community and the larger community of Oahu to leverage community resources, including those within agriculture, the arts, natural resource development, and higher education.