Three nursing students found a perfect fit in UH Hilo’s Waiʻanae cohort
From clinical rotations at Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center to Tripler Hospital, the Waiʻanae cohort embraces a hands-on approach to healthcare that prioritizes underserved populations.
The School of Nursing at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo offers a unique approach to caring for and serving the rural community of Waiʻanae, Oʻahu, with a satellite cohort each year of 10 students as an extension of the Hilo bachelor of science in nursing cohort of 30 students.
Three recent graduates who were in the Waiʻanae cohort credit their success to the strong foundation set by Kapiʻolani Community College’s Kapoʻoloku Program that supports Native Hawaiian students.
Leilani Auld, Piʻilani Young and Kainoa Louis-Soares first connected through Kapoʻoloku, where each found the emotional and financial support that allowed them to then transition into UH Hilo’s Waiʻanae cohort.
“Discovering the UH Hilo Waiʻanae cohort program felt like finding a golden opportunity,” says Young. “To have peers and people you know, going through the same program was just awesome.”
UH Hilo School of Nursing
Being accepted into UH Hilo’s School of Nursing, a program known for its dedication to community-focused healthcare and transcultural competence, meant the trio could continue their academic journey based in the values instilled by Kapoʻoloku.
“Our students and graduates serve as pillars in our communities, upholding our commitment to growing our own healers, and giving back to their ʻohana and local communities,” says Bobbie Elisala, instructor of nursing at UH Hilo and program coordinator for the Waiʻanae cohort.
From clinical rotations at Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Wahiawa General Hospital, to Tripler Hospital, the Waiʻanae cohort embraces a hands-on approach to healthcare that prioritizes underserved populations.
“Our journey through the nursing program was more than just acquiring skills, it was about practicing them in our communities,” Auld explains. “We got to form relationships with patients we regularly saw from places we repeatedly served. This helped to build rapport and trust within our community.”
After graduation, they are preparing for the next chapter: taking their licensing exams and entering the nursing profession. Auld, Louis-Soares, and Young carry the lessons and values emphasized by both the Kapoʻoloku Program and the UH Hilo School of Nursing.
“I want to give back by mentoring future students,” Auld says. “Just as we were supported, I want to be there for others who are walking the same path.”
-Read full story at UH System News
