hanahau‘oli is Joyous Work
Hanahau‘oli School nurtures life-long learners – children, teachers, and parents. Since the school’s founding in 1918, Hanahau‘oli honors the natural way Junior Kindergarten - 6th Grade children learn – through doing – by making learning exciting, challenging and enjoyable. Our intimate and nurturing learning community supports connections between home and school and the world, respecting and celebrating the uniqueness of the Hanahau‘oli child while appreciating the interconnectedness that defines our learning ‘ohana. Grounded in tradition yet embracing of innovation, we perpetuate “joyous work,” committed to being a resource and symbol of learning’s potential.
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““Hanahau‘oli is my sanctuary, where I’ve met so many amazing people, friends, and teachers, have uncovered talents and discoveries, and most importantly, where I learned to use my hands and hear my heart.””
The Navigating AI in Education Think Tank took place over three days during the summer of 2026. On the last day, something magical happened. All the moments leading up to that day—identifying our own values, perspectives, and experiences with AI; understanding the tensions surrounding its use; hearing different perspectives; engaging in healthy push and pull; and collectively making sense of what AI is and is not—came together. As a recipient of a Hanahau‘oli School Professional Development Center Scholarship, Kate Werner thoughtfully engaged in the workshop and then shared her takeaways and reflections with us to extend to others who may be seeking to grow in their own thinking about AI and education. She beautifully describes her experience below.