A pioneering dual-credit partnership between Kapiʻolani Community College and Radford High School celebrated its fifth anniversary in May with a milestone achievement: 20 students earned Kapiʻolani CC’s Academic Subject Certificate (ASC) in Sustainability—16 seniors and four juniors—one of the largest graduating cohorts in the program’s history.
The ASC in Sustainability introduces students to core sustainability concepts through coursework in environmental science, Pacific Islands studies and service-learning.
High school students who complete the ASC in Sustainability graduate with 14 college credits. The experience encourages students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world issues affecting Hawaiʻi’s communities and ecosystems.
“I feel as though I could use what I’ve learned from this program in college as a future architecture major at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa,” said Radford High School graduate Avalynn Cresencia. “This career has much to do with the environment and sustainable materials and practices.”
Hands-on fieldwork
Over the past five years, more than 70 Radford High School juniors and seniors have enrolled in the program. The curriculum blends academic theory with hands-on practice, including fieldwork through a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where students engage in ecological data collection to support native species conservation at the Honouliuli Wetland.
“This program has had a lasting influence—students aren’t just learning about sustainability, they’re actively contributing to it,” said Professor Wendy Kuntz, coordinator of the ASC in Sustainability. “This Radford High School cohort is the latest success in a five-year partnership that has grown into a model for sustainability education.”
Research, community engagement
The program also extends learning beyond the classroom through research and community engagement. Students complete a capstone project and present their work at Kapiʻolani CC’s Student Undergraduate Research Fair, tackling topics such as beach litter, fast fashion and mental wellness through cultural connection.
College and Career Counselor Malia Kau, who coordinates the program at Radford, said, “Our partnership with Kapiʻolani Community College has been invaluable for our students. They’re developing essential skills that will support their success beyond high school.”
