Conference Engagement Activity
Nā Kilo Holokai: The Observant Navigators
Meet the Characters!
Our main characters of Nā Kilo Holokai are Kahoaka, Kolonahe, and ‘Aukai.
Each of these navigators are skilled in Mikili (Intuition), Loli ‘ānō (Adaptability), and Kāula (Prediction).
These skills are not just helpful but necessary when it comes to holokai.
‘Aukai
Kilo Kai (observer of the ocean)
‘Aukai (Kilo Kai) relies on a deep foundation of ancestral knowledge and Mikili (Intuition) to sense the ocean’s hidden currents and swells. By feeling the pulse of the water, he maintains a steady course even when the stars and winds are obscured.
Kahoaka
Kilo Hōkū (observer of stars)
Kahoaka (Kilo Hōkū) reads the celestial map of the night sky to foresee the journey’s path long before it appears on the horizon. As a master of Kāula (prediction), she uses her observation of the stars to provide a predictable blueprint for the crew to follow.
Kolonahe
Kilo Makani (observer of wind)
Kolonahe (Kilo Makani) tracks the invisible currents of the air. He is the master of quick thinking and ensures the crew remains agile and responsive whenever the winds change. He uses Loli ‘ānō (adaptability) to pivot the vessel’s strategy at a moment’s notice.
While our main story is inspired by the story of Mo’ikeha (Collection of Hawaiian Antiquities and Folk-lore, Vol. IV), these 3 characters were created just for this story, just for our Ed Tech conference. The visuals for the story posters and the character/resource cards were created using AI-generated artwork to demonstrate the possibility of tools that are increasingly accessible to educators. This project is another example of how technology can support engaging educational experiences, support creativity, storytelling, and gamification in the classroom. Engagement through visual communication can take time, but with the help of AI tools, we can streamline the construction while focusing on our educational content.
Our story about 3 sibling navigators began as an idea to share a DnD-like (Dungeons and Dragons) experience. If you are unfamiliar with DnD, donʻt worry! Our interactive story is only inspired by DnD elements and was built for our EdTech conference. What you will experience is more like an engaging interactive story. The story has been broken down into 10 short scenes with 10 optional scenes (side quests) that allow you to experience kilo and holokai with our 3 main characters.
