Aloha+ Challenge Dashboard Lab: Empowering Students to Drive Hawaiʻi’s Sustainable Future

Track progress, engage with data, and inspire action through workforce development and strategic partnerships aligned with Hawai‘i's 2030 sustainable development goals.

About the Dashboard Lab Program

The Aloha+ Challenge Dashboard Lab Program is a hybrid-statewide program to provide students with meaningful workforce training on sustainable development policy and data, project management, mentorship, and the opportunity to build relationships with a broad network of local organizations while improving the Aloha+ Challenge Dashboard to be a state-of-the-art model on localized sustainable development goals. The program will consist of sub-programs such as the College Internships (i.e. Pilot Program), Kamehameha Schools Loʻi Kalo to the United Nations Educational Pathways, and other student engagement programs and collaborations. 


Leveraging Hawaiʻi Green Growth UN Local2030 Hub's numerous MOU’s and public-private partnerships the Dashboard Lab will provide the opportunity for strategic partnerships and programs that invest in youth leadership with practical internship and workforce development opportunities. 

"The Aloha + Challenge Dashboard has brought together the sustainability community of Hawaiʻi through a data driven engaging platform.  The launch of the Lab Pilot Program continues to show how innovative Hawaiʻi Green Growth is in this space and why it continues to create opportunities for our next generation to have a voice in the sustainability challenges we face. "

- Todd Nacapuy, Accuity Chief Information Officer, HGG Measures Working Group Co-Chair

Vision Statement

Empowering the next generation with the knowledge, tools, and resources to pursue green jobs in Hawai‘i.

Mission Statement

Provide students with meaningful workforce training in sustainable development policy, data management, and project management, fostering mentorship and relationships with local organizations. Participants help maintain and improve the Aloha+ Challenge Dashboard, building a state-of-the-art model for localized sustainable development goals.

Opportunity for Impact

The Dashboard Lab Program connects students with a hands-on, project-based internship program aimed at updating the Aloha+ Challenge Dashboard, Hawai‘i’s open-data platform that tracks progress on 36 targets and over 230 indicators across six sustainability priority areas. The program ensures the long-term viability of the Dashboard by engaging students in its continuous improvement, contributing to the Green Workforce & Education priority area.

Program Elements

  1. Sustainability Metrics Updates: Participants update the Aloha+ Challenge Dashboard, ensuring data accuracy and accountability across all priority areas.
  2. Collaborative Learning: Engage with the UH Mānoa Institute for Sustainability and Resilience (ISR) through capstone internships, workshops, and professional development sessions.
  3. Professional Development: Access a wide network of partners and receive mentorship to prepare for post-graduate opportunities.

Strategic Partnerships

Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between Kamehameha Schools, University of Hawai‘i, East-West Center, Esri, and Hawai‘i Green Growth (HGG) enable innovative workforce development.


Students gain mentorship and practical experience through:

  • Dashboard maintenance and data updates
  • Creating data visualizations and infographics
  • Annual report development
  • Outreach and communications
  • Stakeholder engagement with statewide partners


Program History & Milestones


Pilot Program (Spring 2023)

  1. The hybrid pilot launched with participation from students across the University of Hawai‘i System. Interns worked remotely and from HGG’s office at the East-West Center, focusing on diverse projects such as:
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  • Economic data analysis
  • Communications strategies for the Aloha+ Challenge Dashboard
    Outcome    : The pilot cohort completed their internships in May 2023, with several students expressing interest in continuing their projects into the summer.


Outcome: The pilot cohort completed their internships in May 2023, with several students expressing interest in continuing their projects into the summer.

UH Mānoa ISR Capstone Internship (Fall 2023)

  1. Four capstone students joined the Dashboard Lab and worked on:
  • Action Spotlights: Showcasing community organizations (e.g., Mālama Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i Ulu Co-op)
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Supporting the Food Systems Dashboard project
  • Operational Documentation: Creating standard procedures for project handoffs
    Professional Development    : Students participated in joint HGG and ISR sessions on resumes, job searching, and interview preparation.

UH Mānoa ISR Capstone Internship (Fall 2024)

  • Service Learning Agreement: HGG is finalizing an agreement with the UH Mānoa College of Social Sciences (CSS) to provide Educational Fieldwork Experience (EFE) through the Dashboard Lab Program.

Career Preparation: EFE will connect academic experiences with post-graduate careers through internships, mentorship, and practicums. The 2024 cohort will participate in professional workshops, access a cross-sector partner network, and contribute to project-based learning aligned with Hawai‘i’s sustainable development goals.

Get Involved

Become a Partner or Sponsor

  • Collaborate with us to expand program opportunities and impact.
  • Organizations interested in partnerships can connect with the Dashboard Lab to support sustainable development goals.


Aloha+ Challenge Dashboard

  • Explore the platform to see Hawai‘i’s progress toward sustainable development goals.


Contact Us