The University of Hawaiʻi is participating in the 2026 Prada Re-Nylon campaign, produced in collaboration with National Geographic CreativeWorks. Highlighting the “Stewards of the Ocean: Hawaiʻi” episode, the campaign features local marine educators Joanna Philippoff, director of the Marine Option Program in UH Mānoa’s School of Life Sciences and Anuschka Faucci, Leeward Community College instructor, who facilitate the regional USA Blue Schools hub. This partnership showcases the impact of ocean literacy and the work being done within the Hawaiʻi Blue School Hui to connect students with their marine environment.
The campaign highlights the impact of the education activities of SEA BEYOND, a project by Prada Group conducted in partnership with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO since 2019. “Stewards of the Ocean: Hawaiʻi,” showcases how the Hawaiʻi Blue School Hui supports teachers in integrating ocean learning into their curriculum and connects preK–12 students with local community partners. The Hawaiʻi Blue School Hui is a regional group of the USA Blue Schools and the Blue School Global Network, which is coordinated by UNESCO.
The campaign features elementary students and teachers from Kaʻōhao Charter School and one of its Blue School partners, the Pacific American Foundation, at its Waikalua Loko Iʻa fishpond in Kāneʻohe.
“It is incredibly validating to have a global campaign, supported by major partners like Prada and National Geographic, recognize the profound importance of supporting schools in building ocean literacy through place-based action-projects that celebrate Hawaiʻi’s unique marine biodiversity and rich cultural legacy,” Philippoff said.
Place-based learning
Philippoff and Faucci are supporting 10 schools over two years in developing curricula grounded in place-based learning and mālama ʻāina. They facilitate monthly teacher professional development workshops that showcase curricular resources and highlight current ocean science issues as related to Hawaiʻi’s preK–12 students.
“Our partnership with community sites like Waikalua Loko Iʻa is an incredible example of how we aim to prepare the next generation for ocean stewardship and leadership and inspire, support, and cultivate a committed network of teachers, students, and community educators,” Faucci said.
The campaign’s coverage includes two articles published by National Geographic, one highlights ancient Hawaiian fishpond technology, the other how young stewards are learning to protect Hawaiʻi’s coasts.
The Hawaiʻi Blue School Hui is led by UH and Oceania, the local chapter of the National Marine Educators Association with additional support from Hawaiʻi Sea Grant.
