Teacher Hub

Welcome, Kumu!

ʻOihana Career Explorations connects Hawaiʻi students with real career stories from professionals across industries, helping them discover what's possible and find a path that excites them.

Soon
Student logins for HIDOE public schools are almost here.We're in the final stages of signing an agreement with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education that will let us set up logins for public school students. We hope to open this up as soon as possible. Until then, public school classes use ʻOihana in teacher-facilitated mode.
What ʻOihana is

Real Hawaiʻi careers, one story at a time

ʻOihana offers video-based career courses featuring real professionals from fields across Hawaiʻi's workforce. Each course includes a Student NoteGuide for reflection and self-assessment, and courses span the HIDOE CTE Career Pathways.

Graduation requirement

ʻOihana supports the PTP

The Personal Transition Plan (PTP) is a graduation requirement for all HIDOE public school students, and it includes career exploration. Each ʻOihana course gives students documented, structured exposure to a real career, and the completed NoteGuide is the written record.

How ʻOihana aligns to the PTP →
Quickstart

Get your class started in three steps

  1. Sign in and look around

    Log in at oihana.thinkific.com/hub. You'll land on the Hub with three tabs, plus a teachers-only Community.

  2. Pick how you'll teach

    Lead the class through a course together, or have students log in and explore on their own. You can even mix both.

  3. Choose your first course

    Browse the Course Catalog, or start with a ready-made unit plan and final project.

    See example units →
Platform walkthrough

What you and your students will see

Start with the student walkthrough to learn the basics, then the teacher toolkit for what's different on your side.

When you log in, you land on the Hub

HomeRecent activity. Jump back into in-progress courses.
Course LibraryCourses you're already enrolled in.
Course CatalogEvery available course to browse and enroll in.

Teachers also see the Teacher Community: a teachers-only space for questions, introductions, and new-course announcements.

How each course is structured

  • Video lessons. A professional shares their story across chapters: Introduction, A Day in the Life, Skills, Challenges and Opportunities, Education and Training, Career Outlook and Earnings, Finding Your Purpose, and a Summary.
  • Student NoteGuide. A downloadable PDF students complete as they watch.
  • Self-paced. Pause, rewind, and revisit any lesson.
How ʻOihana is used in schools

Two ways to teach it

Pick the one that fits your setup. Each has its own page with materials, keys, and ready-to-paste assignments.

📋 Teacher-Facilitated

You lead the class through a course together

Play the course on your classroom screen. Students follow along in NoteGuides or Student Workbooks. No student logins needed.

  • NoteGuides vs. Workbooks, and printing help
  • Answer keys and pacing for 45-minute periods
  • Example units and final project instructions
Go to Teacher-Facilitated → 📱 Student-Facing · HIDOE coming soon

Students log in and explore on their own

Each student gets a login, browses the catalog, and completes courses and NoteGuides at their own pace.

  • Adding students and launching your class
  • Career Interest Assessment
  • Submissions, sample LMS assignment, progress reports
Go to Student-Facing →
📚 Curriculum Resources

Standards alignment, SEL, PTP, and CTE pathway mapping

Includes a full walkthrough of one course, Solar Construction Manager, showing exactly where each standard shows up.

View Curriculum Resources →
🎬 Tutorials

Every tutorial in one place

The ʻOihana trailer, 3 student walkthroughs to share with your class, and 3 short teacher videos.

Go to Tutorials →
🎬 Tutorials

Short videos, one topic each

All tutorials are under 5 minutes. Student videos are made to share: copy the link and post it in Google Classroom, Canvas, or wherever your class lives.

Start here · the ʻOihana trailer

See why we created ʻOihana

Meet the Hawaiʻi professionals who share their stories, and see what your students will explore. It's a great way to open your first ʻOihana class.

Made for students. Copy a link and post it wherever your class lives, or play it in class.

📋 Teacher-Facilitated

Lead your class through a course together

You play ʻOihana from your teacher account on a projector or classroom screen. Students follow along in a NoteGuide or Workbook. No student logins required, and you control the pacing, pauses, and discussion.

Student materials

NoteGuides vs. Workbooks

Both have fill-in-the-blanks that follow along with the videos. The differences are how many courses they cover, how you get them, and the Check Your Understanding questions.

Individual NoteGuide

1 course
What it is
A standalone PDF students complete while watching one course.
Where to get it
Inside each course on ʻOihana, in the "Student NoteGuide" lesson right at the start. Download it, then send it digitally or print it.
Courses covered
Every current course. NoteGuides are always up to date.
Best for
Single-course assignments, drop-in career exploration days, mixing courses from different pathways, or flexible pacing.

Student Workbook

3 courses
What it is
A printed booklet covering three courses, with a Summary page after each career.
Where to get it
Request copies from us (see Printing below). Digital copies are available too.
Courses covered
Workbook #1: General Contractor, Pharmacy Technician, Graphic Designer
Workbook #2: Entrepreneur, Commercial Driver, Hospital Aide
Workbook #3: Documentary Filmmaker, Culinary Chef, Fashion Designer
Best for
A structured unit where the whole class moves through a set of careers together.
Cover of ʻOihana Student Workbook #1

Using Workbooks with the course? Workbooks don't include the Check Your Understanding questions. In the course, those questions have to be answered before the next lesson unlocks, so either answer them together as a class or skip them. For a smooth run in front of your class, answer them on your own teacher account ahead of time.

⚠️ Workbook noteAll Earning Potential videos are now up to date, with salary information that's clearer and easier to keep current, and we're in the process of updating the workbooks to match. Until the new versions are out, the Earning Potential fill-in-the-blanks won't match the video: have students watch that lesson and skip its fill-in section. All other lessons are unchanged.
Printing

Printing is optional. We can help.

NoteGuides and Workbooks work fine digitally: students can fill in the PDF on a device, or you can project it and have them write answers on paper. If you'd rather have printed copies, we'll help you figure out the best option for your class, whether that's printed NoteGuides for specific courses or a class set of Workbooks.

Want a quote for printed copies?

Email us and include:

  1. Your school name
  2. Estimated number of students
  3. What you'd like printed (which Workbook, or which course NoteGuides)

Answer keys

Workbook and NoteGuide keys

NoteGuide keys are organized by career pathway. Some courses fit more than one pathway, so they appear twice. Keys are added as courses launch (last updated August 2026).

Workbook keys

Workbook #1 key ↗ Workbook #2 key ↗ Workbook #3 key ↗

NoteGuide keys by pathway

Don't see a key for your course? Email aloha@risehi.com and we'll send it directly.

Suggested pacing

Plan two 45-minute periods per course

Each course runs about an hour including the NoteGuide, so most classes split it across two periods: the first half of the course one day, the rest the next.

Single course

2 periods

Period 1: Introduction through Skills. Period 2: Challenges through Summary, plus reflection.

Two-week unit

7–9 periods

3–4 courses across different pathways, discussion, and a final project work day.

Semester track

1 course every 2–3 weeks

5–8 careers across the semester, a career journal along the way, and a final project at the end.

Example units

Ready-to-use unit plans

Day-by-day plans for 45-minute periods, with curriculum connections. Swap in any courses that fit your class.

📝 Example Unit A · NoteGuides

Careers in Health and Community

2 weeks · 9 periods of 45 min · mix any courses
FormatTeacher-facilitated, NoteGuides
CoursesFirefighter · Pharmacy Technician · Network Engineer · Student choice
PathwaysLaw and Public Safety · Health Services · Information Technology · student-selected
MaterialsTeacher login, a NoteGuide per course (printed or digital), writing materials

Day 1 · Intro + Firefighter, part 145 min

0:00–0:10Introduce ʻOihana: what it is, how it works, and what students will do over the next two weeks. Hand out or share the Firefighter NoteGuide.
0:10–0:40Watch Introduction, A Day in the Life, and Skills. Pause after A Day in the Life for discussion:
  • What surprised you about this career?
  • What skills did he mention that you already have?
0:40–0:45Students catch up on NoteGuide sections. Collect or remind them to save.

Day 2 · Firefighter, part 245 min

0:00–0:35Watch the rest of the course, Challenges through Summary. Students complete the NoteGuide.
0:35–0:45Students finish the NoteGuide reflection.

Day 3 · Pharmacy Technician, part 145 min

0:00–0:05Quick recap: what do students remember from the Firefighter course?
0:05–0:45Watch Introduction through Skills. Students complete the NoteGuide as they go.

Day 4 · Pharmacy Technician, part 245 min

0:00–0:35Watch Challenges through Summary.
0:35–0:45Pair-share: What surprised you about this career? Is it what you expected?

Day 5 · Network Engineer, part 145 min

0:00–0:45Watch Introduction through Skills. Students complete the NoteGuide.

Day 6 · Network Engineer, part 2 + mid-unit reflection45 min

0:00–0:33Watch Challenges through Summary.
0:33–0:45Short written reflection (back of the NoteGuide or a separate sheet): Of the three careers you've seen so far, which fits you best and why? What about your personality or interests connects to that career?

Day 7 · Student choice, part 145 min

0:00–0:05Students vote on a 4th course, ideally from a pathway you haven't covered. Good options: General Contractor, Culinary Chef, Solar Construction Manager, Graphic Designer, Commercial Driver.
0:05–0:45Watch Introduction through Skills.

Day 8 · Student choice, part 245 min

0:00–0:35Watch Challenges through Summary.
0:35–0:45Show the final project options and have students choose one.

Day 9 · Final project work session45 min

0:00–0:45Students use their completed NoteGuides as reference to start their final project. Circulate and support. Assign the rest as homework if needed.

Curriculum connections

CRP2CRP4CRP7CRP8CRP12 RI.1RI.7W.2W.4SL.4 Self-AwarenessSocial AwarenessResponsible Decision-Making

The Day 1 discussion and Day 6 reflection build SL.4 and Self-Awareness. By Day 6, students are comparing careers and making a reasoned choice, which grounds their final project in reflection rather than assumption.

Teacher tip: The reflection prompts in each NoteGuide are great pre-writing for the final project. Have students revisit what they wrote before starting a resume or cover letter.

📒 Example Unit B · Workbook #1

Business, Health, and Creativity

2 weeks · 7 periods of 45 min · General Contractor, Pharmacy Technician, Graphic Designer
FormatTeacher-facilitated, Workbook #1
CoursesGeneral Contractor (Nick Tang) · Pharmacy Technician (Noelle Aiono) · Graphic Designer (Scott Naʻauao)
PathwaysBuilding and Construction · Health Services · Cultural Arts, Media, and Entertainment / Business
MaterialsTeacher login, Workbook #1 for each student (printed or digital), writing materials
⚠️ Earning PotentialWe're updating the workbooks now that all Earning Potential videos are up to date. Until the new versions are out, if a fill-in section doesn't match the video, have students watch and jot their own notes in the margin.

Day 1 · Intro + General Contractor, part 145 min

0:00–0:08Introduce ʻOihana and the workbook. Walk through the Table of Contents so students know what's ahead.
0:08–0:40Watch Introduction, A Day in the Life, and Skills. Pause after the site visit segment:
  • What does a general contractor actually manage day to day?
  • What surprised you about this role?
0:40–0:45Preview Day 2. Students hold onto their workbooks.

Day 2 · General Contractor, part 245 min

0:00–0:35Watch Challenges and Opportunities, Education and Training, Earning Potential, and Finding Your Purpose.
0:35–0:45Students complete Nick Tang's Summary page. Discuss: Would you want a career where every day and every job site looks different?

Day 3 · Pharmacy Technician, part 145 min

0:00–0:05Transition: We're moving from construction to healthcare. What do you already know or assume about working in a pharmacy?
0:05–0:40Watch Introduction, A Day in the Life, and Skills.
0:40–0:45Pair-share: What did Noelle say about her role that you didn't expect?

Day 4 · Pharmacy Technician, part 2 + mid-unit reflection45 min

0:00–0:32Watch Challenges through Finding Your Purpose.
0:32–0:45Complete Noelle Aiono's Summary page. Written reflection: Between General Contractor and Pharmacy Technician, which fits your personality better? Use at least one specific thing you learned to explain.

Day 5 · Graphic Designer, part 145 min

0:00–0:45Students know the format now, so this can move a little faster. Watch Introduction through Education and Training.

Day 6 · Graphic Designer, part 245 min

0:00–0:30Watch the remaining chapters.
0:30–0:45Complete Scott Naʻauao's Summary page. Introduce the final project options and have students choose.

Day 7 · Final project work session45 min

0:00–0:45Students draft their final project, flipping back to the Skills, Education, and Finding Your Purpose sections of their favorite career for specific details.

Curriculum connections

CRP2CRP4CRP7CRP8CRP12 RI.1RI.3RI.7W.2W.4W.7SL.4 Self-AwarenessSelf-ManagementSocial AwarenessResponsible Decision-Making

Comparing three very different careers builds CRP8 and Responsible Decision-Making. Keeping one workbook complete across seven sessions builds Self-Management.

Teacher tip: The Summary page after each career is excellent pre-writing. Have students re-read all three before choosing which career to write about.

Final project options

Copy-and-paste student instructions

Students choose the career that interested them most and complete one option. Each set of instructions is ready to paste into Google Classroom, Canvas, or a handout.

Other assignment ideas

Shorter ways to extend a course

1–2 class periods

Career comparison

Assign two courses from different pathways. Students fill in a side-by-side chart, then write a short paragraph on which career fits them better, using at least two details from the courses.

Example: Solar Construction Manager vs. Pharmacy Technician. Here's what a strong column looks like:

Solar Construction ManagerPharmacy Technician
Education and trainingNo degree required. Started as an installer; earned NABCEP PV Associate and OSHA 10/30.Student fills in
Day-to-day workSafety talks, flying between islands, working with the EPC firm. About half on site, half at a desk.Student fills in
Earning potentialAbout $65K–$85K starting; $90K–$130K+ with experience.Student fills in
ProsBuilding something real that lasts 25+ years.Student fills in
ConsLots of travel, shipping delays, hard on the body.Student fills in

Wrap-up paragraph prompt: Which of these careers fits you better, and why? Use at least two details from the courses.

Prep 1 period · present 3–5 min

Class presentation

Each student presents the career they found most interesting, using five short slides. It's a quick way for the class to "visit" careers they didn't watch themselves.

Example: a 5-slide outline for Solar Construction Manager:

  1. Meet the professionalDevan Araujo grew up on Maui and builds utility-scale solar projects for AES.
  2. A day in the lifeMorning safety talks, flights to job sites on other islands, and inspections with the EPC firm.
  3. How to get thereStarted as a $14/hour installer. No degree needed. Key credentials: NABCEP PV Associate, OSHA 10/30.
  4. Pay and outlookAbout $65K–$85K starting in Hawaiʻi. Lots of work ahead as Hawaiʻi works toward 100% renewable energy by 2045.
  5. Is it for me?One thing that appeals to me, one thing that worries me, and my verdict.

Quick grading check: all five slides covered, at least one specific fact per slide, and a clear "is it for me?" answer.

Interview prep

Students use one course as research to prepare five questions they'd ask that professional in an informational interview.

Career journal

Students write a short journal entry after each course, tracking how their interests change over the semester.

Teacher tip: The reflection prompts in each NoteGuide help students connect personally to each career. They make great pre-writing for a cover letter or essay that students can easily revisit.

📱 Student-Facing

Students log in and explore on their own

Each student gets their own login, browses the catalog, and completes courses and NoteGuides at their own pace, in class or at home.

Soon
Coming soon for HIDOE public schools.We're in the final stages of signing an agreement with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education that will let us set up logins using public school student emails. We hope to make this available as soon as possible. In the meantime, public school classes can use ʻOihana in teacher-facilitated mode. We'll announce it here and in the Teacher Community as soon as it's ready.
Getting students started

From roster to first course

Public schools: please holdStudent logins are currently available for private schools and programs that manage their own student email accounts. If you're at an HIDOE public school, please don't send a student roster yet. We'll let you know as soon as the agreement is final. Until then, see Teacher-Facilitated to run ʻOihana with your class.

  1. Send us your roster

    Download the roster sheet and fill in one row per student: first name, last name, grade level, and school email. Then email the completed sheet to aloha@risehi.com with your school name.

    Download roster (Excel) ↗Copy in Google Sheets ↗

  2. Pick a launch date (optional)

    Tell us when you want students to get access, so their welcome emails arrive the day you're ready.

  3. Students set a password

    Each student gets an access email from RiseHI with a link to set their password. If it's missing, check spam or junk first.

  4. Log in and start

    Students go to oihana.thinkific.com/hub, take the Career Interest Assessment or browse the Catalog, and enroll. Enrolled courses show up in their Course Library.

💡 Tip: Post the student link in your LMS (Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.) so students can find it easily: oihana.thinkific.com/hub

Career Interest Assessment

Not sure where to start? Start here.

30 quick questions, about 5 minutes, with no right or wrong answers. It helps students identify their interest type and matches them to ʻOihana courses. It's based on the Holland Codes (RIASEC) model, the same six interest types used in the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET Interest Profiler.

RRealisticIInvestigativeAArtisticSSocialEEnterprisingCConventional
  • Assign it or let students self-serve. It works as a first-day activity or something students find on their own.
  • Retake anytime. Students can take it as often as they like.
  • Matches grow with the catalog. Results only include courses ʻOihana offers right now, so retaking after new courses launch can surface new matches.
Student walkthrough

Videos to play for your class

Show these on day one so students know how to log in, find a course, and use their NoteGuide.

Student submissions

Collecting NoteGuides

Students download the NoteGuide inside the course, complete it, and turn it in through your school's existing platform. NoteGuides aren't submitted through ʻOihana.

Canvas

Create an assignment and have students upload their completed PDF.

Google Classroom

Post an assignment with a PDF upload option.

Email

Students email completed NoteGuides directly to you.

Print

Print NoteGuides for students to hand in.

Proof of completion: To confirm students finished the course and didn't just share answers, ask them to upload their certificate of completion. They get one automatically when they finish a course.

✂️ Sample assignment: copy and paste into your LMS

This assignment asks you to explore a real career through ʻOihana Career Explorations.

Visit oihana.thinkific.com/hub and choose one course from the catalog that interests you. Download the Student NoteGuide directly from the course page and complete it as you go through the entire course.

Your NoteGuide will ask you to reflect on the professional's background and journey, what a typical day in that career looks like, the skills and characteristics needed to succeed, education and training pathways, and what stood out to you most about this career.

When you are done, upload your completed NoteGuide as a PDF below. Also attach your certificate of completion, which you will receive automatically after finishing the course.

Due: [DUE DATE]
Submission format: Multiple PDF upload

Want a bigger project? The (resume, cover letter, reflection essay) work for student-facing classes too.

Answer keys

NoteGuide keys by pathway

Keys are added as courses launch (last updated August 2026). Don't see one? Email aloha@risehi.com and we'll send it.

Tracking student progress

Request a progress report

We're working on letting teachers see this data directly. For now, email us and we'll send a report.

What's included

  • Courses enrolled in
  • Course completion status
  • Percent of course completed
  • Date of last activity

To request a report

  1. Email aloha@risehi.com
  2. Include your name, school, and the student names or emails you need data on
  3. Allow 1–3 business days

🔑 Answer Keys

Every answer key in one place

Workbook keys and NoteGuide keys for every course. Keys are added as courses launch (last updated August 2026).

Student Workbooks

Workbook keys

Workbook #1 key ↗ Workbook #2 key ↗ Workbook #3 key ↗
⚠️ Workbook noteAll Earning Potential videos are now up to date, with salary information that's clearer and easier to keep current, and we're in the process of updating the workbooks to match. Until the new versions are out, the Earning Potential fill-in-the-blanks won't match the video: have students watch that lesson and skip its fill-in section. All other lessons are unchanged.
Individual NoteGuides

NoteGuide keys by pathway

Some courses fit more than one pathway, so they appear twice.

Don't see a key for your course? Email aloha@risehi.com and we'll send it directly.

📚 Curriculum Resources

How ʻOihana fits your curriculum

For teachers, counselors, and administrators connecting ʻOihana to standards documentation, curriculum maps, or program planning.

About ʻOihana

A career exploration layer, not a single-pathway course

ʻOihana Career Explorations is a career awareness and exploration program developed by RiseHI Foundation for middle and high school students in Hawaiʻi. Through video-based courses, students explore the day-to-day realities of careers across Hawaiʻi's workforce: what the job looks like, what education is required, and what earning potential looks like.

Rather than teaching technical skills within one pathway, ʻOihana helps students make informed decisions before committing to a specific pathway. Courses currently cover 11 of the 13 HIDOE CTE Career Pathways.

HIDOE Personal Transition Plan (PTP)

Every HIDOE student needs a PTP to graduate. ʻOihana makes the career exploration part real.

The PTP is a 0.5-credit graduation requirement for every Hawaiʻi public high school student, in place since 2007. It's a student-led, four-year plan (grades 9–12) for life after high school: college, career training, the military, or going straight to work. Career exploration is a required part of it, and students are expected to document it.

Each ʻOihana course gives students structured, documented exposure to a real Hawaiʻi career. The completed NoteGuide, the certificate of completion, and a final project like a resume are exactly the kind of evidence a PTP portfolio asks for.

Why the PTP is often hard to get right

Every school has to do the PTP, but schools have had a lot of freedom in how. In a May 2026 update to the Board of Education, the Department said that "variations in implementation have led to inconsistent experiences for students." The same update named these gaps:

No clear picture of "good"Educators aren't sure what a strong PTP looks like.
Scattered timingWhen and how PTP activities happen varies from school to school.
Box-checkingWithout structure, PTP work can turn into a checklist instead of real exploration.
What's changing

New requirements start this school year (2026–27) for the Class of 2030

  • A standard four-year sequence: Grade 9 Exploration, Grade 10 Focus, Grade 11 Action, Grade 12 Execution.
  • A statewide College and Career Readiness platform with a PTP module, including career exploration, electronic portfolios, and resume building.
  • Completion of the new financial literacy requirement is documented through the PTP.

Where ʻOihana fits, grade by grade

The minimum PTP activities for each grade, with the ʻOihana pieces that support them.

Grade 9

Exploration

  • Create a 4-year academic plan
  • Set a freshman-year goal
  • Complete career and interest inventories
  • Explore careers and post-secondary programs
  • Start a resume
With ʻOihanaTake the Career Interest Assessment (RIASEC), then complete 3–5 matching courses. Save each NoteGuide as a documented "career of choice."
Grade 10

Focus

  • Revise the 4-year plan
  • Write SMART goals
  • Research post-high options that match career goals
  • Update the resume
With ʻOihanaUse each course's Education and Training lessons to find real Hawaiʻi programs and certifications. Turn Reflection #1 ("which skills would you need to strengthen?") into a goal.
Grade 11

Action

  • Choose a pathway: Enroll, Employ, Enlist, or Experience
  • Write SMART goals
  • Complete a job interview
  • List scholarships and financial aid
With ʻOihanaA Career Comparison helps students choose a direction. Interview Prep and the Cover Letter project build interview skills.
Grade 12

Execution

  • Finalize a postsecondary transition plan
  • Complete a final resume
  • Complete financial literacy
  • Complete a culminating activity
With ʻOihanaThe Resume + Cover Letter project produces a final resume. Earnings lessons give real Hawaiʻi pay ranges to plan around.

The five PTP components, covered

Goal setting and progress monitoringReflections ask what students would need to strengthen. Revisit them each year.
Career and educational explorationEvery course: the job, the training path, the pay, and the outlook in Hawaiʻi.
Course planningCourses map to all 13 CTE pathways, so students can match interests to pathway programs.
Career portfolio developmentNoteGuides, certificates, and final projects are ready-made portfolio artifacts.
Student self-evaluationSelf-assessment checklists and three reflections in every course.

A simple PTP routine with ʻOihana

  1. Start with interestsStudents take the Career Interest Assessment and save their results.
  2. Explore 2–3 careersComplete matching courses each year, in class or on their own.
  3. File the evidenceAdd each completed NoteGuide and certificate of completion to the PTP portfolio.
  4. Make one thingFinish a final project (resume, cover letter, or reflection essay) and update it each year.

Want help fitting ʻOihana into your school's PTP process? Email aloha@risehi.com.
Sources: HIDOE, Guidelines for Creating a Successful Personal Transition Plan (July 2026) · HIDOE update to the Board of Education Student Achievement Committee (May 14, 2026)

Curriculum alignment in practice

One course, standard by standard

Here's a full walkthrough of the Solar Construction Manager course, showing what students see on screen, what they fill in on their NoteGuide, and which standards each part covers. Every ʻOihana course follows the same structure.

Solar Construction Manager course landing page on ʻOihana
The course landing page students see on ʻOihana.

Solar Construction Manager
with Devan Araujo, Maui

Devan started as a $14-an-hour module installer on the mainland and worked his way up over nine years before coming home to build utility-scale solar projects, including Kūihelani One on Maui.

CTE pathwaysBuilding and Construction · Energy
HIDOE programsResidential and Commercial Construction · MEP Systems · Sustainable Energies · Power Grid Technology
LengthAbout 1 hour, or two 45-minute periods
Student work23-page NoteGuide · 10 knowledge checks · 3 reflection questions
CRPCommon Core ELACASEL SELPTP evidence← tag colors used below
  1. 1
    Getting Started

    Pre-course evaluation and NoteGuide download

    Students start with a short pre-course evaluation, then download the Student NoteGuide from inside the course. Lessons appear in a fixed order, and later lessons unlock as students pass each knowledge check.

    CRP11
    Why it alignsCRP11: students navigate a digital platform, download materials, and complete digital assignments.
    Course outline showing Getting Started, Introduction, A Day in the Life, and more
    Course outline. Later lessons stay locked until knowledge checks are passed.
    Student NoteGuide download lesson
    The NoteGuide download lesson.
  2. 2
    Introduction

    Introducing Devan Araujo · Devan's Journey

    Each lesson pairs a short video with on-screen key points and quick definitions (like "Utility Market"). Students fill in the matching blanks on their NoteGuide, then complete a self-assessment checklist on whether this kind of work fits them.

    RI.1RI.3RI.7CRP12Self-Awareness
    Why it aligns
    • RI.3: students trace how Devan's choices (odd jobs → installer → nine years in the utility market) led to his career.
    • RI.7: the same content arrives as video, on-screen text, and NoteGuide.
    • CRP12: Devan grew up on Maui and builds Hawaiʻi's energy future.
    • Self-Awareness: the checklist asks students what's true about them.
    Introducing Devan Araujo lesson with video
    Every lesson opens with a short video.
    Key points and quick definition in the Devan's Journey lesson
    Key points and a quick definition, on screen.
    NoteGuide page: Introduction with fill-in blanks
    NoteGuide p. 3: the same story, with blanks.
  3. 3
    After every lesson

    Check Your Understanding

    A multiple-choice question follows each lesson, both in the course and on the NoteGuide. In the course, students need the correct answer to continue.

    RI.1CRP8
    Why it alignsRI.1: students answer from specific evidence in the lesson. CRP8: they weigh plausible answer choices against what they heard.
    Check Your Understanding question in the course
    In the course: "Requires a correct answer to continue."
    NoteGuide page with knowledge check and self-assessment checklist
    NoteGuide p. 4: the same check, plus the self-assessment checklist.
  4. 4
    A Day in the Life

    A Day in the Life · Misconceptions

    Students learn what the job really looks like: morning safety talks, flying between islands two or three days a week, and working with the EPC firm that physically builds the project. The Misconceptions lesson corrects a common assumption: only about half of Devan's time is on the job site.

    RI.1RI.7Social Awareness
    Why it alignsSocial Awareness: students see how one role coordinates engineers, tradespeople, and global partners to keep Hawaiʻi's lights on.
    NoteGuide page: A Day in the Life
    NoteGuide p. 5: A Day in the Life, with a quick definition of "EPC Firm."
  5. 5
    Skills · Reflection Question #1

    Key Characteristics and Skills → Reflective Self-Assessment

    Devan names three skills: being a people person, technical aptitude, and compromise. The first reflection asks students to write a paragraph on how they handle communication, adaptability, and pressure, and which skills they'd need to strengthen.

    W.2W.4CRP8Self-AwarenessSelf-Management
    Why it alignsW.2 and W.4: a short explanatory paragraph written for a clear purpose. Self-Management: students name skills to grow, which is the start of goal-setting.
    NoteGuide page with knowledge check and Reflective Self-Assessment prompt
    NoteGuide p. 8: Reflection Question #1.
  6. 6
    Challenges · Education and Training

    Challenges and Opportunities · Getting Started · Continued Growth

    Students hear the hard parts (shipping delays, 7 AM calls with partners in Spain, constant travel) alongside the opportunities. Then they learn Devan's path in: no degree required, starting at the bottom, and stacking credentials like NABCEP PV Associate and OSHA 10/30. The NoteGuide lists Hawaiʻi-based options, including Honolulu Community College's construction trades programs.

    RI.3CRP2CRP7Responsible Decision-MakingPTP
    Why it alignsResponsible Decision-Making: students weigh trade-offs like travel and physical demands against opportunity. PTP: students document a concrete education and training pathway, with local programs.
    NoteGuide page: Hawaiʻi-based opportunities including Honolulu Community College, NABCEP, and OSHA
    NoteGuide p. 14: Hawaiʻi-based training options.
  7. 7
    Career Outlook · Reflection Question #2

    The Landscape · Earnings Potential → Research: Job Availability and Pay Range

    Students learn Hawaiʻi-specific pay ranges, from about $65,000–$85,000 starting out to $90,000–$130,000 or more with experience. The second reflection is a short research project: find two real solar or renewable-energy job openings in Hawaiʻi, record the employer, title, and pay, and compare them to the lesson.

    W.7RI.1CRP7CRP11Self-ManagementPTP
    Why it alignsW.7 and CRP7: a short research project using reliable job search sources. Self-Management: students connect preparation to real financial outcomes. Great homework if class time is short.
    NoteGuide page: Earnings Potential
    NoteGuide p. 16: Earnings Potential.
    NoteGuide page: Research job availability and pay range
    NoteGuide p. 17: Reflection Question #2.
  8. 8
    Purpose · Summary · Reflection Question #3

    Finding Your Purpose → Self-Assessment and Career Exploration

    Devan talks about turning on the trackers, driving past Kūihelani One with his sons, and building projects guaranteed for 25 years. The final reflection asks students to write one to two paragraphs on whether this career aligns with their own values, strengths, and interests, including how they'd handle travel, shipping delays, and the physical demands.

    W.2W.4CRP8Responsible Decision-MakingSelf-AwarenessPTP
    Why it alignsThis is the PTP evidence: a written, reasoned judgment about fit, grounded in what the student learned. It's also the best pre-writing for a final project.
    NoteGuide page: Self-Assessment and Career Exploration
    NoteGuide p. 21: Reflection Question #3.

Teaching it in two 45-minute periods

Period 1 · Steps 1–545 min

0:00–0:05Pre-course evaluation; NoteGuides out.
0:05–0:35Introduction, A Day in the Life, Misconceptions, Key Characteristics and Skills. Pause for knowledge checks as a class.
0:35–0:45Reflection Question #1.

Period 2 · Steps 6–845 min

0:00–0:05Recap: one skill Devan named that you already have.
0:05–0:35Challenges and Opportunities through Your Next Step.
0:35–0:45Reflection Question #3. Assign Reflection #2 (job research) as homework.
HIDOE CTE alignment

13 Career Pathways

ʻOihana currently offers courses across 11 of the 13 pathways. Advanced Manufacturing and Education are in development.

Growing

We're continuously building out our career courses, with a goal of 80 courses by the end of 2027. New courses are announced in the Teacher Community as they launch.

CTE Career Ready Practices

Common Career Technical Core

Hawaiʻi CTE uses the CCTC Career Ready Practices as cross-cutting standards across all pathways. ʻOihana addresses these:

CRP2

Apply appropriate academic and technical skills. Students connect academic knowledge to real-world career contexts throughout every course.

CRP4

Communicate clearly and effectively. Students practice professional communication through final projects (resume and cover letter).

CRP7

Employ valid and reliable research strategies. Students evaluate career information, educational pathways, and labor market data in each course.

CRP8

Use critical thinking to make sense of problems. Students analyze whether a career fits their interests, values, and goals.

CRP11

Use technology to enhance productivity. All ʻOihana content is delivered on a digital platform; students navigate courses and complete digital assignments.

CRP12

Work productively using cultural and global competence. Courses are rooted in Hawaiʻi's workforce, featuring local professionals and careers relevant to island communities.

Common Core State Standards

ELA skills, built in

ʻOihana courses integrate reading, writing, research, and discussion.

Reading: Informational Text
RI.1

Cite textual evidence to support analysis. Students engage with career information and industry data.

RI.3

Analyze connections between individuals, ideas, and events. Students examine how education, training, and career outcomes connect.

RI.7

Evaluate information presented in different formats. Students take in video, text, and data across each course.

Writing
W.2

Write informative/explanatory texts. NoteGuides and workbooks require written explanation and summary.

W.4

Produce clear and coherent writing appropriate to task and audience. Resume and cover letter final projects.

W.7

Conduct short research projects to answer a question. Career exploration and pathway research.

Speaking and Listening
SL.4

Present claims and findings. Career presentations and class discussions.

SL.5

Integrate multimedia into presentations. Platform-based learning and digital NoteGuides.

SEL competencies · CASEL framework

All five CASEL domains

Self-Awareness

Students reflect on their interests, strengths, and values as they explore careers. The Career Interest Assessment helps them identify their interest type, and courses keep asking: Does this career feel like a fit for me? Why or why not?

Self-Management

Students set goals for their future, including education goals, timelines, and action steps. Earnings chapters connect preparation to real financial outcomes, and self-paced courses build self-directed learning habits.

Social Awareness

Students hear from professionals across many backgrounds and industries, including careers that serve vulnerable populations, and learn how different careers impact communities across Hawaiʻi.

Relationship Skills

Resume and cover letter writing teaches professional communication. Students also learn why networking, references, and professional relationships matter.

Responsible Decision-Making

The core purpose of ʻOihana: helping students choose a pathway based on real knowledge rather than assumption or default. Students weigh trade-offs (education cost vs. earning potential, job demands vs. lifestyle, local vs. off-island opportunities) and make reasoned plans.

Questions about curriculum alignment? Email aloha@risehi.com and we're happy to help.

💬 FAQ & Contact

We're here to help

Quick answers to common questions, and how to reach us when you need a hand.

Teacher Community

Ask questions, introduce yourself, and see announcements when new courses launch.

Go to the Community

Email us

A student can't find a course they enrolled in.

Enrolled courses appear in the Course Library tab, not the Catalog. If the student doesn't see it there, have them log out and log back in. If the issue persists, contact us at aloha@risehi.com.

A student can't access the platform at all.

Make sure they're going to the correct URL: oihana.thinkific.com/hub. If still having trouble, email aloha@risehi.com and we will manually restart their account.

A student didn't get their welcome email.

Have them check spam or junk first. If it's not there, confirm the email on your roster was correct and let us know so we can resend it.

Can students access ʻOihana from home?

Yes. ʻOihana is fully online and accessible from any device with internet access.

Can I assign specific courses to my students?

Yes. Direct students to specific courses by sharing the course name or link. Students can also browse on their own through the Course Catalog at oihana.thinkific.com/hub/catalog.

What if a student misses a course or needs more time?

Courses are self-paced and always available. There are no deadlines on the ʻOihana side. Submission deadlines are entirely up to you.

I don't see a teacher key for a specific course.

Teacher keys are being added as courses launch. Email aloha@risehi.com and we can send it directly in the meantime.