Applications open for KōCreate leadership, workforce program for island students

For Hawaii Island sophomores looking for more than a line on a résumé, KōCreate: OAKA is opening a two-year pathway into civic leadership, workforce experience and local opportunity. The program is aimed at current high school sophomores entering their junior year in fall 2026, with applications due May 22 and notifications expected in early June.

OAKA stands for Ōpio Alliance for Kuleana Advancement, and Vibrant Hawaii describes it as a youth-led effort for ages 15 to 24 that brings together students from every district on the island. The organization says a majority of participants come from rural, Native Hawaiian communities, a detail that reflects the island-wide challenge of making sure talent is developed here instead of exported elsewhere.

The draw is practical. Over two years, participants are expected to grow alongside a cohort while building skills, confidence and a stronger sense of responsibility. The program includes hands-on projects, mentorship opportunities and leadership experiences designed to build professional skills. Selected participants may also receive a $100 cash award, a gift certificate to a local clothing business and a featured podcast conversation, along with other storytelling opportunities.

That mix matters in a county where families are watching the post-high school pipeline closely. Vibrant Hawaii says OAKA is intended to address an opportunity gap that can limit employment mobility, reduce civic engagement and deepen inequity. The group’s Adulting 101 workshops tied to the program cover resume writing, interviewing, workplace soft skills, hands-only CPR and AED training, stroke awareness, transitions to adult healthcare, personal finance, credit and debit, and investing basics.

The push fits a broader workforce challenge on Hawaii Island. A 2023 Vibrant Hawaii report on work-based learning found transportation, staffing, time and financial constraints were major barriers to connecting students with career pathways. It also found students showed especially strong interest in creative arts and industries, while educators did not always place the same value on those fields for opportunity and growth.

Hawaii P-20 says work-based learning bridges school and in-demand careers through sustained interaction with industry or community professionals in real workplace settings. That is the gap OAKA is trying to fill, pairing school-age students with the kinds of real-world experiences that can lead to references, scholarships and paid work. In a county where young people often leave for opportunity, the bet behind KōCreate is that Hawaii Island can build its own next generation of leaders, workers and decision-makers at home.