One to see: Kala'i Kelekolio '26

This new senior culture founded by Hawaiian culture uses technical skills to support the community

By Lesa Griffith '80

Kala'i Kelekolio '26, fresh at the first robotics championship in Houston, said that he had the experience of being together with like-minded people and seeing the technical achievements of other students from all over the world. He proudly divides that his team, Punahous Pokébolts, has made her division into the quarter -finals of her division with a robot called Fugu. “The masterpiece topic was 'Reefscape' that was super cool for a team that comes from an island,” says Kelekolio.

Kelekolio, who, his older brother Kawai '21, who was the first student, was his older brother Kawai '21, who was the first student to deserve a design and a technical award, writes his older brother Kawai '21 his way.

“He did the way for me to be here today,” says Kelekolio about his brother. “He did a lot for the engineering department and I wanted to step into his footsteps.”

As a child, he sometimes went to his brother's robotics, saw the innovative creations and was inspired to try it. When he came “a large Lego family” from Kelecolio in fourth grade, he made Lego Robotic. When he came to the high school, “I wanted to go out everything.”

He is at home in Ken Richardson Learning Lab. When he enables a tour of the furnishings with industrial standard machines, he points out the Omax 5555 Jetmachining Center. It looks like a huge bathtub. Kelekolio explains how it is a water jet, the material – aluminum, steel, wood – cuts using a pressure of pressure water. “It's definitely one of my favorite machines.”

Last year Kelekolio and two friends started their technical skills to convert cars for children with wheelchair trainers for children with cerebral palsy in the Kapi'olani Medical Center. The trio joined the project under the leadership of the professor of the University of Hawaii, professor of mechanical engineering, Scott Miller.

“We thought that if we could bring this to Punahou, we can receive more support for the project and we can bring other students with us and do more of these assistive technologies,” says Kelekolio. “If you have a whole group of people who are passionate about it and want to help the community, you can do so much more.” And the Assistive Robotics Club was born.

By working with physiotherapists, the club members adapt each mini -adaptive vehicle in accordance with the customer's mobility requirements. Kelekolio explains that the coaches are not only an entertaining and committed way for children to move on, but also a springboard to help a child qualify for the insurance of a motorized wheelchair.

“It is very gratifying,” says Kelecolio. “When I started with the high school, I didn't think I would do it. Then I got out of these options and some great things.”

While he is characterized by robotics, Kelekolio says that Hawaiian culture and language play an even greater role in his life. His mother is Hawaiian language teacher Kanani Kelekolio and his father, Keoni Kelekolio, is the director of the Hawaiian voice climb at the Kamehameha schools.

“One of my passions is to speak the language and to be part of the culture,” he says, which prompted him and some fellow students to successfully apply for the classes of honor from ōlelo Hawai'i to be added to the curriculum.

During the planning of this year's carnival, the committee arrived as a topic in Paniolo Pā'ina. “In his language brain, Kala'i saw that it used the English phrasing of Hawaiian words,” says Ke'alohi Reppun, director of the Kuaihelani Learning Center for 'Ike Hawai'i. “So he went to the committee to put it in 'ōlelo to ensure that things are authentic Hawaiian. That was a moment for me as a Kumu. We made Pā'ina Paniolo. Moments like the reasons why he as a student, which we have, what we have, the potential for Punahou.

In addition to this full schedule, Kelekolio also dances Hula – he has been performing since the ninth grade (although not this year due to planning conflicts) and came to the brass band this year.

The dean of the academy, Wendi Kamiya, notes Kelkolios humility and sense of kuleana. “When they talk to him, he is not someone who comes with a list of all of his achievements,” she says. “Whatever he does [in the future] He will return something to the Hawai'i community in a way. It is only who he is. “