Case Study: Empowering Native Hawaiian Youth at Hakipu'u Academy

From open-air tents to state-of-the-art labs: How Allison Shipping Containers helped Hakipu’u Academy transform their learning environment in the heart of Kaneohe.


Project Location: Kaneohe, Oahu, HI

The Challenge: Learning Under the Elements


Hakipu’u Academy Public Charter School is dedicated to the Native Hawaiian youth, focusing on hands-on, community-based education. However, their facilities were limited. For years, students and teachers conducted science experiments and digital storytelling sessions under open-air tents. In the tropical Kaneohe heat, this meant battling the elements and a lack of proper storage for expensive equipment, making it difficult for students to focus and for teachers to instruct.


Our Solution: The 20' Deluxe Office Classroom


Allison Shipping Containers delivered two 20-foot Deluxe Shipping Container Offices to the academy’s campus. These units were customized to serve as high-functioning educational hubs including. Each unit features a mini-split AC system to ensure students remain "cool and comfortable" year round.


  • The Science Lab (Mo’omona): One unit was designated as a science lab to support the school's philosophy of Ma Ka Hana Ka ‘Ike—the learning is in the doing—providing a safe, enclosed space for experiments.
  • The Media Studio: The second unit serves the CTE (Career and Technical Education) program, providing a secure, climate-controlled environment for video production and digital storytelling.


The Result: Much Improved Learning Environment


By moving out of the tents and into these specialized units, the school has gained a climate-controlled, secure space that supports their mission of community-based education.


"They’re really doing a lot for our community, helping Native Hawaiian youth, so we are really happy to be able to support them." — Allison Hoehn, CEO of Allison Shipping Containers


"One will be used for science, or what we call 'Mo’omona,' which is part of our saying that goes 'Ma Ka Hana Ka ‘Ike'—which is 'the learning is in the doing.' ...And then we have a second classroom for CTE... the containers will be perfect for storing equipment and making sure all of our students are cool and comfortable while they put their films together." — Kai Villemele, Finance & HR Manager at Hakipu’u Academy

Build Your Community Space


Does your school or non-profit need a rugged, climate-controlled solution? Whether you need a specialized lab, a media studio, or a secure administrative office, we specialize in delivering high-quality, modified containers across all the Hawaiian Islands.
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