Fifth-grade girls from 26 schools across West Hawaii gathered Tuesday to attend GEMS – Girls Exploring Math and Science.
The event, sponsored by the American Association of University Women, featured 16 workshops the students could explore. Each girl chose the three stations they were most interested in ranging from robotics, marine sciences, and engineering to the art and science of food and computer programming. In addition to the workshops, exhibits including NASA space missions, reef teach, veterinary medicine, algae, wildlife, coral reefs, robotics and WHEA projects were on display for the girls to explore.
High school students from Kealakehe and WHEA were on hand to lead some of the workshops and act as mentors for the younger girls. Most of the older girls attended GEMS as fifth graders and were delighted to be able to give back to the program.
“I went to GEMS when I was in fifth Grade,” said WHEA student Paulina Castillo. “It was a great experience and I like giving back.”
The program pre-pandemic was held with over 300 girls attending. Jamie Pardau, co-organizer of the event and Kona AAUW president said this year they limited the number of girls to 160 with all exhibits and workshops held outdoors and each workshop was limited to 10 girls.
“We capped the program last year at 160 and realized the girls paid more attention in smaller groups. The seem more motivated to learn at this level,” she said.
Invitations to the event were hand delivered by volunteers to all schools from Naalehu to Paauilo including home school huis, and Pardau said the spots filled up quickly.
Kamehameha School’s Kahalu‘u Manowai, which is not yet open to the public, offered the site for the program for a second year.
“They wanted us to come back after last year because we are serving local girls and we are all respectful of this sense of place,” Pardau said.
With that in mind, organizers decided to provide hula lessons for the girls after lunch. Halau Aloha Ke Akua taught the girls basics and also performed for them.
GEMS Chair Cindy Armer said the program started in the 1980’s as a national movement to get girls interested in careers in math and science.
“Research has shown us fifth grade girls are at the age where girls start making decisions about their future. Having this king of program makes a difference,” she said.
By having women share their profession with the girls, they hope to be role models and share the message that you can be anything you want to be.
Dr. Parwathi Paniker, dermatologist was presenting a workshop on the different forms of skin cancer and the importance of sunscreen.
“The girls are very knowledgable about using coral safe sunscreen,” she said. “They have been very well educated.”
Alicen Vinlaun and Selah Colclasure came from Waimea Elementary School to attend the event.
Vinlaun said her favorite workshop was robotics since she sometimes does coding, but is looking to pursue a career in marine sciences.
“I like sea life. I grew up by the ocean and like to study fish,” she said.
Colclasure said she liked learning about Hawaiian Monk Seals.
“I really like sea life and always liked the seals,” she said, although that is not the career path she sees herself taking.
“I want to be a pilot like my mom,” she said.