Highlights from the 4th Cohort of App Creators
One of the main activities of our 'Īnana Innovators Program is to develop ‘Pathways to Entrepreneurship’ that recruit NHPI, non-business majors, and low-income/first-generation students to HEP and ENTM participation. To support this, we created the 'Creators' pathway, where students can dream, design, and develop their own innovations and entrepreneurial journeys. The program equips them with the necessary mentors, tools, and knowledge along the way.
For the past three semesters, we’ve focused on app creation, and this Fall, we’re excited to celebrate the 4th Cohort of App Creators. They have made significant progress on projects focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This semester, they shared their challenges, solutions, and next steps.
This semester, they had the chance to showcase their progress, sharing the challenges they faced and how they pivoted some of their ideas to keep moving forward. Creating an app or software solution for the SDGs is no small task, especially for students new to such projects. From technical issues to time management and resource challenges, they persevered, producing videos, building partnerships, collaborating with one another, and gaining clarity on their needs and next steps.
Here are their projects and the next steps for each one:
Surf Sesh
Madison Makishima – B.S. Criminal Justice
Finalize Scraper Marketing Tool and send it to businesses in CRM
Connect businesses to the website affiliate marketing program
Gather a team of engineers to create a more consistent recyclable plastic spool to remove impurities from recycled plastic for use in 3D printing.
Kahili
Kanani Tim-Sing – B.S. Environmental Science
Ashley Holen – Double Major B.S. Data Science, Analytics, and Visualization, and B.S. Computer Science with a Minor in Mathematics
Lehiwa Wong-Frank – B.S. Environmental Science
Network with Malama Coin
Develop a version of the app downloadable on app stores
Add local images of Hawaii to the app
Work on outreach within the public sector associated with tourism, such as the airport.
SDG & Me
Soraya Ortiz - Environmental/ Interior Design
Selena Buttery - Data Science, Analytics, and Visualization
Sameera Elmasri - Biology
Finish developing games for each remaining SDG
Obtain a larger dataset of feedback
Complete the book series and plushies for each book.
We truly appreciate the dedication and hard work of these students. As we look ahead to the Spring, we’re excited about the partnerships we’ll build, the technical expertise we’ll gain, and the positive impact we can make with these innovative projects. Stay tuned for more updates and progress from our talented App Creators!
La'a and Friends
Kyle-Jacob La'akea Gamiao – B.S. Environmental Science
Obtain permission and proprietary information to aggregate into the chatbot database
Develop a translation process for Hawaiian documents into English text
Migrate the app into the Kahili team’s website to serve as a way for tourists to learn more about Hawaiian values in relation to tourism
Reach out to connections at iNaturalist, Kamehameha Schools, and the Bishop Museum to explore integration opportunities.
We appreciate the dedication and hard work of these students. As we look ahead to the Spring, we’re excited about the partnerships we’ll build, the technical expertise we’ll gain, and the positive impact we can make with these innovative projects. Stay tuned for more updates and progress from our ‘Īnana App Creators!
