A cutting-edge program at Chaminade aimed at sparking innovation in students through sustainability entrepreneurship opportunities was selected to receive a $300,000 non-competitive increase in its federal grant, underscoring the importance of the effort and its impact in the community.
The ’Inana Innovators Program was originally funded with $600,000 in 2022 from the Minority Business Development Administration and the additional funding allows the program to be extended through 2025.
Principal Investigator Helen Turner, Ph.D., professor of Biology and research director at Chaminade’s CIFAL Honolulu Center, said the program is focused on attracting the next generation to sustainability-focused tech opportunities and growing the innovation sector in Hawai’i and the Pacific Islands.
“When you look at the long-term goals for Hawai’i’s economy, there are a lot of conversations about the defense sector, tourism, agriculture—those traditional mainstays,” Turner said.
“In addition to growing large new sectors like clean energy and aquaculture, we need to focus on developing individual entrepreneurs. Growing the innovation sector means starting early—with programs that teach both the mechanics of entrepreneurship and build the confidence to try.”
Federal funding for the ’Inana Innovators Program covers student compensation for innovation internships, entrepreneurship courses, and other salary support and activities.
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Mariane Uehara, ’Inana Innovators sustainability entrepreneurship coordinator at Chaminade, said participating students are excited about bringing new solutions to longstanding sustainability challenges, from climate change to the proliferation of plastic waste. In addition to courses and internships, the program offers valuable opportunities for students to get mentorship from industry experts.
Students are even challenged to create their own apps to showcase their work.
“Sustainability and entrepreneurship are big words,” Uehara said, adding, “The only way to get these things done is by doing it. Entrepreneurship is about having courage and excitement to solve problems. The tools and skills to do that, that’s what we want to teach and spark.”
Program participant Kyle-Jacob La’akea Gamiao ‘26 is working to develop an app called Lāʻau Friends. He said users will be able to use the app to identify native plants, get details on cultural protocols and practices, and serve as a platform to share stories and indigenous knowledge.
“The main goal is to do all of this in a fun and interactive way that entices not only our target demographic—children and educators—but people of all ages and places,” he said. “The app will function as a way to preserve Hawaiian culture, inform others about ways to take care of the ‘āina, and serve as a possible framework for other parts of the Pacific to use as well.”
Gamiao said during the Fall semester, his work with the ’Inana Innovators Program included everything from developing an AI chatbot to animating a character for his app to learning about how to attract sustainable funding for a project.
“I’ve learned how to be flexible but ethical in how I solve problems that approach me,” he said. “I’ve learned how to work with others and to outsource during the ideation process. I’ve also learned to balance flexibility and determination.”
Gamiao is pursuing a degree in Environmental Science and hopes to go on to graduate studies.
He also plans to continue developing Lāʻau Friends.
For Uehara, the ’Inana Innovators Program is about showing all students—from many different backgrounds—that they have the power to apply their talents and skills to society’s shared sustainability challenges.
“All of us could use an entrepreneurial mindset,” she said.
The `Inana Innovators program is funded by MBDA grant #MB22OBD8020275-T1. You can reach Principal Investigator Dr. Helen Turner at [email protected].