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In the pursuit of place-based, generative AI educational technologies, the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) offers a powerful framework for identifying and addressing diverse user needs. In partnership an Hawaiian language immersion (Kaiapuni) school and 13 educators, this 1-year case study presents a research approach rooted in assets-based design and Design Thinking that leverages rapid iteration, usability testing, and speculative prototyping to co-design a generative AI tool for Kaiapuni educators. Our synthesis of observations, participant reflections, and usability testing feedback provides evidence for such methods in their ability to envision ideal outcomes for Kaiapuni education supported by generative AI technologies. 

As large language models (LLMs) become increasingly integrated into educational technology, their potential to assist in developing curricula has gained interest among educators. Despite this growing attention, their applicability in culturally responsive Indigenous educational settings like Hawai‘i’s public schools and Kaiapuni (immersion language) programs, remains understudied. Additionally, ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, the Hawaiian language, as a low-resource language, poses unique challenges and concerns about cultural sensitivity and the reliability of generated content. Through surveys and interviews with kumu (educators), this study explores the perceived benefits and limitations of using LLMs for culturally revitalizing computer science (CS) education in Hawaiian public schools with Kaiapuni programs. Our findings highlight AI’s time-saving advantages while exposing challenges such as cultural misalignment and reliability concerns. We conclude with design recommendations for future AI tools to better align with Hawaiian cultural values and pedagogical practices, towards the broader goal of trustworthy, effective, and culturally grounded AI technologies. 

Colonization has impacted Native Hawaiians for centuries, destroying culture, language, and community, and exacerbating disasters such as COVID-19. However, a renaissance of Hawaiian culture has emerged, marked by increased longevity, education, and social mobility among Native Hawaiians. In this restorative spirit, we present Kaona, a tabletop role-playing game (RPG) and digital storyteller, designed to foster youth wellbeing from a Native Hawaiian perspective, by introducing the values of lōkahi (harmony). Kaona engages players in culturally revitalizing gameplay, integrating technologies to enrich immersion as players collaborate to restore balance to the realms they explore. Players problem-solve, self-reflect, and build community as they navigate complex quests inspired by local lived experiences and Hawaiian mo‘olelo (stories and legends). This paper details Kaona’s development, iterative playtesting, and our initial observations, presenting culturally restorative, community-informed RPGs as a promising avenue for empowering Native Hawaiian youth, fostering community wellbeing, and inspiring Indigenous futures. 

Hawaiian bilingual language immersion (Kaiapuni) schools infuse curricula with place-based education to increase student connection to culture. However, stand-in teachers often lack the background and tools needed to support immersion learning, resulting in discontinuity for students in their culturally relevant education. This experience report describes a partnership between the Ka Moamoa Lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'O Pu'ohala School to design a teacher-substitute support platform via a hybrid of assets-based design methodology and emerging technology capabilities. We share insights offered by teachers and design requirements for such a platform. We also reflect on how HCI methodologies should adapt to center and respect Native Hawaiian perspectives. 

This experience report describes two years of work integrating coding with Micro:bits and Makecode into a Hawaiian immersion bilingual school setting to teach computer science (CS) skills in a place-based approach. This report highlights the collaborative partnerships and programs between a public Hawaiian immersion school, a non-profit organization that manages important cultural sites, and a university lab that develops sustainable technology. Students identified the importance of sustainability in computing by engaging with past, present, and future technologies in culturally relevant contexts. We describe ongoing work to improve the way we support students and teachers in a Hawaiian-immersion bilingual school setting. 

Hands-on computing has emerged as an exciting and accessible way to learn about computing and engineering in the physical world for students and makers of all ages. Current end-to-end approaches like Microsoft MakeCode require tethered or battery-powered devices like a micro:bit, limiting usefulness and applicability, as well as abdicating responsibility for teaching sustainable practices. Unfortunately, energy harvesting computing devices are usually only programmable by experts and require significant supporting toolchains and knowledge across multiple engineering and computing disciplines to work effectively. This paper bridges the gap between sustainable computing efforts, the maker movement, and novice-focused programming environments with MakeCode-Iceberg, a set of compiler extensions to Microsoft's open-source MakeCode project. The extensions automatically and invisibly transform user code in any language supported (Blocks, JavaScript, Python)into a version that can safely and correctly execute across intermittent power failures caused by unreliable energy harvesting. Determining where, when, and what to save in a checkpoint on limited energy, time, and hardware budget is challenging. We leverage the unique intermediate representation of the MakeCode source-to-source compiler to design and deploy various checkpointing techniques. Our approach allows us to provide, for the first time, a fully web-based and toolchain-free environment to program intermittent computing devices, making battery-free operation accessible to all. We demonstrate new use cases with multiple energy harvesters, peripherals, and application domains: including a Smart Terrarium, Step Counter, and Combination Lock. MakeCode-Iceberg provides sustainable hands-on computing opportunities to a broad audience of makers and learners, democratizing access to energy harvesting and battery-free embedded systems.