Key Takeaways
- The Hawaiʻi International Science Experience (HISE) is a student‑led, five‑day, fully sponsored program that brings together local Hawaiʻi Island youth and international peers to explore STEM, sustainability, and culture.
- Created to overcome geographic barriers, HISE expands access to global science, technology, engineering, and mathematics opportunities for island students.
- The inaugural event runs from Sunday, July 19 to Thursday, July 23, 2026, featuring a student‑led summit, hands‑on STEM labs, cultural exchanges, and island‑wide field trips.
- Partnerships include schools in Japan, Taiwan, and Cambodia, with roughly 50 Hawaiʻi Island student leaders, 20 educators, 12 international students, and three international educators participating.
- Activities span University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo programs in pharmacology, geography, geology, space, agriculture, and data analysis, as well as visits to solar farms, ocean‑tech parks, Mauna Kea stargazing sites, ahupuaʻa restoration projects, and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
- Beyond the summer program, HISE aims to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s STEM pipeline, foster youth leadership, and build lasting networks that support students’ long‑term academic and career pursuits.
Overview of the Hawaiʻi International Science Experience
The Hawaiʻi International Science Experience (HISE) is a pioneering, student‑run initiative headquartered in Hilo that seeks to connect Hawaiʻi Island youth with global peers through science, sustainability, and cultural exchange. Designed by students for students, the program leverages the island’s unique natural laboratories—volcanic landscapes, marine ecosystems, and rich indigenous knowledge—to provide immersive, real‑world learning opportunities. By hosting an international collaborative on home soil, HISE eliminates the travel and financial barriers that often prevent local learners from participating in global STEM forums. The initiative reflects a growing recognition that Hawaiʻi’s environment and cultural heritage can serve as a model for innovative, place‑based solutions to worldwide challenges.
Inspiration and Founding Story
The concept for HISE emerged after a group of students from Waiākea High School attended an international science fair in Kyoto, Japan, alongside peers from more than twenty countries. Witnessing the transformative power of cross‑cultural collaboration ignited a desire to recreate similar opportunities within Hawaiʻi. These students recognized that while the island offers abundant scientific and sustainability resources, many young people lack accessible pathways to international experiences. Motivated by their own exposure to global STEM communities, they founded HISE to bring the world to Hawaiʻi, ensuring that local youth could benefit from the same exchange of ideas, mentorship, and inspiration they had enjoyed abroad.
Program Structure and Schedule
HISE’s inaugural session will run for five days, from Sunday, July 19 through Thursday, July 23, 2026, and is fully sponsored for all participants. The schedule blends a student‑led summit, hands‑on STEM workshops, cultural exchange activities, and site‑based explorations across the island. Each day is structured to balance academic learning with experiential fieldwork, allowing students to apply classroom concepts in real‑world settings. The program culminates in a reflective showcase where participants present their findings and cultural insights, reinforcing the collaborative spirit that defines the experience.
Student Leadership and Organizational Team
The 2026 edition of HISE is guided by a student board led by Luke Gee, president of the Hawaiʻi International Science Experience 2026 Student Board. Gee oversees a core team of six representatives drawn from four high schools—Kealakehe, Parker, Hilo, and Waiākea—who collectively manage logistics, curriculum development, outreach, and partnership coordination. This student‑driven governance model ensures that the program remains responsive to participants’ interests and empowers youth to take ownership of their learning journey. Adult mentors, including educators and nonprofit executives, provide advisory support while allowing students to lead decision‑making processes.
International Collaboration and Participant Demographics
HISE 2026 will host approximately fifty Hawaiʻi Island student leaders and participants, accompanied by twenty local educators. International representation includes twelve students and three educators from partner institutions in Japan, Taiwan, and Cambodia. Confirmed partner schools are Ritsumeikan High School (Kyoto, Japan), Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Senior High School (Taiwan), and New Generation School/Preah Sisowath High School (Cambodia). This diverse cohort fosters multidirectional dialogue, enabling participants to share distinct cultural perspectives while jointly tackling scientific inquiries related to sustainability, technology, and environmental stewardship.
STEM Learning and Field‑Based Exploration
Academic components of HISE draw on the expertise of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, offering modules in pharmacology, geography, geology, space science, agriculture, and data analysis. Students will engage in laboratory experiments, data‑collection exercises, and analytical workshops that highlight cutting‑edge research relevant to island ecosystems. Field excursions extend learning beyond the classroom: the group will visit solar energy installations in Waikoloa, the Hawaiʻi Ocean Science and Technology Park at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaiʻi Authority, and stargazing sites on Mauna Kea. Additional stops include ahupuaʻa restoration projects in Waimea and Kohala, and an immersive tour of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, where participants study volcanic processes, ecosystem recovery, and hazard mitigation.
Cultural Exchange and Indigenous Knowledge Integration
Recognizing that sustainable solutions are enriched by traditional wisdom, HISE weaves cultural exchange and indigenous knowledge throughout its agenda. Participants will take part in protocol‑based activities led by Native Hawaiian practitioners, learning about ahupuaʻa land‑management systems, traditional fishing practices, and the spiritual significance of places like Mauna Kea. These experiences are paired with collaborative projects where students co‑design sustainability initiatives that blend modern scientific methods with ancestral practices. By honoring Hawaiʻi’s cultural heritage, the program reinforces the idea that innovation thrives when diverse knowledge systems are respected and integrated.
Long‑Term Vision and Community Impact
Beyond the summer immersion, HISE aims to fortify Hawaiʻi’s STEM pipeline by creating enduring pathways for student advancement. The initiative plans to establish mentorship networks, internship pipelines, and alumni forums that keep participants connected to research institutions, industry partners, and community organizations long after the program ends. Executive Director Gail Takaki emphasizes that investing in youth leadership today cultivates a generation of confident, capable contributors capable of addressing global challenges such as climate change, resource management, and technological equity. Student leader Micah Tajiri echoes this sentiment, noting that HISE demonstrates what Hawaiʻi’s youth can achieve when given the tools, experiences, and relationships to envision—and realize—broader horizons.
Closing Thoughts and Participant Reflections
As the inaugural cohort prepares to gather in July, excitement builds around the promise of shared discovery and mutual growth. Tajiri describes the program as “a pretty cool program” that will “give more students the opportunity to collaborate across cultures and see what’s possible.” Takaki adds that HISE “is designed to create meaningful impact for students, our island, and our global partners,” fostering a future where Hawaiʻi’s youth are not only participants but leaders in the worldwide STEM community. With its blend of rigorous science, place‑based learning, and cultural reverence, the Hawaiʻi International Science Experience stands as a testament to the power of student‑led initiative to transform educational landscapes and inspire lasting change.