KKV’s Waiwai fellowship program offers a special opportunity for high school juniors and seniors in Kalihi to learn at KKV, which is the largest employer in Kalihi Valley. Twenty five teens will spend a total of 180 hours over five weeks, rotating through several of KKV’s programs. The broad goal is to familiarize the students with healthcare careers so they have a better understanding of what they might want to do in the future. But the program is much more than job shadowing. It offers an introduction to KKV’s wide range of services and programs and aims to give students them a better understanding of KKV’s culture based values framework that underlies our holistic approach to health and wellness. For many students, this is about tapping into a passion for service. They will also get to learn about other healthcare organizations in Hawaiʻi, from the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute, the Oʻahu Water Protectors, to the University of Hawaiʻi Medical program (JABSOM), where some may attend medical school. 

Misty Pegram, KKV’s new Community Organizer who is now in charge of the Waiwai program, began doing community work in the Philippines. There, she learned the value of going beyond standard medical services, which were often lacking, and the need of relying on community for care. In March of 2023, she began at KKV and jumped quickly into planning the summer Waiwai Health Fellowship program.

Although Waiwai has been going strong for seven years, Misty plans to bring in more education to help students advocate for themselves. Some of the discussion topics might be, “How do we bring power into the community?” or “How do we change the system for the better?” Another addition to Waiwai this year will be the program’s focus on current issues on the island, such as the Red Hill water crisis. 

Misty is approaching Waiwai planning by talking story with past Waiwai students like Benathan Setik and Bruce Konman of KVIBE. “For these students, it’s not about the prestige that comes with being a doctor,” she says. “It’s about helping the community and being a part of it. Talking story with these students is the best way to organize and find out what the community really needs. A lot of times, people just need someone willing to listen.”

KKV encourages everyone who is eligible to apply. Not only will students receive a $530 stipend for participation, which offsets what they might earn in a summer job, but they will walk away with a priceless experience. Whether or not they decide to pursue a career in healthcare, students will learn about themselves and gain inspiration from their work this summer. 

For more information about Waiwai and how to apply, click here.