Dr. Lui K. Hokoana is Chancellor of the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.

In December, we took you to our farm on Molokai. This month we take you to our Education Center on Lāna’i where big things are happening.

We’ve had a robust dual enrollment program on Lāna’i for a while. High school students take UH Maui College courses and get a jump start on a degree or on their chosen profession. Pūlama Lānaʻi, which was created in 2012 to manage, preserve and protect the island’s land and natural resources, generously funds the students’ UHMC tuition. Recruiting more students and expanding the program will be the main focus of our new Satellite Manager. Long-time Lāna’i resident Natalie Ropa previously worked in student support services so she is a familiar face and a supportive presence.

“We have about 70 students in the program every year. That’s from a total of about 200 high school students,” Ropa explains. “There are about 50 seniors in the Class of 2026 and 30 have come through the program.”

Since the program began in 2016, 14 students have been awarded Associate of Arts degrees along with their high school diplomas. Seven of them achieved this success just last year. “These seven committed to the program from 9th Grade and have inspired the grades below them to cohort together and commit to doing it, too,” says Ropa.

Let’s hear what some of those seven say about their experiences. For Myah Doolin, working toward an AA degree while still in high school felt like a powerful head start. “I’m already much closer to obtaining a baccalaureate degree,” she says. “The dual enrollment support helped me save money on tuition, adjust to college level work, and build relationships with UH Maui College instructors who can support my future plans. Earning my AA means I can transfer more smoothly to a four-year university or apply for better jobs in Hawaiʻi with a degree already completed. Overall, this pathway allows me to have a connection to the resources on Lānaʻi, stay connected to my school and community, and still move forward with my education and career goals.”

Others, like Hannah Mae Lee and Micah Kahihikolo, were drawn by the challenge. As soon as she found out she could achieve an AA degree by the time she graduated from high school, Hannah Mae jumped in. “I knew I wanted to challenge myself and branch out into new experiences and opportunities,” she says. Micah echoes that feeling. “I never want to back down from a challenge,” he says. He’s planning to attend Honolulu Community College to become an Automotive Technician.

Spencer Chew wanted to get a feel for college. “I think that having my AA degree has given me both the skills necessary and the courage to pursue further higher education,” he says.

Kelly Raqueno knows exactly where she’s going next. “Having my AA allowed me to complete some of the prerequisites I’ll need as I move into healthcare and work toward my bachelor’s degree,” she says. “This achievement means a lot to me because it represents growth and persistence.”

Kimora Agliam advises those considering the dual enrollment program to think hard about their choice. Participation requires a lot of hard work and sacrifice. But if they choose dual enrollment, they will have gotten a head start on their futures.

For Jake Ropa, the decision was not taken lightly. “I earned my AA to help uplift the image of what Lāna’i truly is, challenging the stereotypes that reduce our island to pineapple fields or hotel work. I wanted to show the outside world, and especially the younger generation at home, that Lāna’i is more than how it is often perceived. More importantly, I wanted to become a role model, proving that it is possible to balance sports, high school responsibilities, and college-level coursework, and that students from Lāna’i are capable of achieving far beyond the limits others may place on us.

Natalie Ropa – yes, she is Jake’s proud mom – has more big plans, too. “I really want to focus on adult education,” she says, “and see how we can take our dual enrollment model and tailor it to fit our adult community. Workforce training really interests me,” she says. And she’s the perfect role model. She is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Curriculum Studies from UH Mānoa.

For complete information about UH Maui College, please visit https://maui.hawaii.edu/