“You Can Just Do What You Love”: Make IT Happen at Kalama Intermediate School
“You don’t have to follow the crowd. You can just do what you love and you’ll end up being successful that way.”
That’s what Mila Hardaker, a sixth grader at Kalama Intermediate, said after completing the Make IT Happen curriculum in her Explore Wheel Transitions class. And she meant it.
In the Summer of 2024, Principal Tami Haili reached out to RiseHI after hearing about the program from Kapa‘a Middle School, the first to adopt Make IT Happen in Hawai‘i. She believed the curriculum could be a fit for her students—but Kalama didn’t yet have the funding to purchase a schoolwide license and student workbooks.
That same month, RiseHI received a grant from TerraForm Power, the team behind the wind turbines heading out to Lahaina. Their generous support helped us bring Make IT Happen to one Maui school.
We knew exactly who to call.
Kalama Intermediate gladly accepted our offer and piloted the program with their sixth-grade “Transitions” classes taught by Katie Hong and Trina Albright.
What happened next confirmed what we hoped: students not only connected with the program, they lit up because of it.
“It’s a great program to use, especially in middle school. The students have really responded well to it, and I enjoy teaching it as well.”
The pilot gave students the space to reflect on their passions, write down action steps, and imagine new futures. One student wrote about becoming a model to help with her mom’s business—and then started doing just that. Another talked about wanting to start a coffee stand. Another started thinking seriously about psychology. The lessons weren’t just about careers—they were about confidence, action, and belief in their own ideas.
“I really like how it encourages you to follow your passion and shows you that you can be successful doing what you love. I used to just want a job that paid well—but now I actually want to have my own business.”
The power of the curriculum lies in its ability to get students to think differently—and talk differently—about their futures. And that’s what happened at Kalama.
“The conversations that we have are really rich. This program shows students the grit and determination it takes to succeed, and lets them know it’s okay to take risks and chase what lights them up.”
Following a successful pilot year, Principal Haili decided to expand Make IT Happen to both 6th and 7th grade students for the 2025–2026 school year. To fund it, she successfully secured federal Title IV funds, demonstrating the kind of leadership and resourcefulness we deeply admire in our school partners.
At RiseHI, we’re proud to support schools like Kalama Intermediate—schools that invest in helping students discover their passions early, and give them the tools to turn those passions into action.
We’re proud of Kalama Intermediate and their students. And we’re excited to see what’s next.
If you’re interested in bringing Make IT Happen to your school, fill out the inquiry form on the bottom of this page to schedule a demo.