The Navigators’ Center logo was created to capture the essence of the Center’s vision, mission, and values. The center of the logo features a traditional Polynesian wa‘a, or canoe, voyaging on the ocean. The canoe represents our navigators, the students of Kamaile Academy, as they are currently finding their own paths to their futures through education. They are at the center of the logo because they are at the center of everything we do. As the apostrophe in our name suggests, the Navigators’ Center is truly their center. This metaphor of navigation can also be taken literally as the image of the wa‘a was created from an actual photograph of our Kamaile students training on the ocean with the Polynesian Voyaging Society.

 

Behind the canoe that symbolizes our students is the ocean that represents their lives. We believe that education is the primary route by which young people can develop their full potential, encounter life opportunities, and realize their dreams. Our role in the Center is to support them in this journey by nurturing their potential on multiple levels, bringing opportunities to them, and encouraging them to follow their dreams. In all of them we hope to instill the value of ‘imi ‘ike (to seek knowledge) while at the same time encouraging them to learn the importance of olakino maika‘i (healthful living). We seek to be the crew backing our students as they navigate through their educational experiences.

 

The background of the logo depicts the departure point of our students, the Wai‘anae Coast. We believe firmly that we must honor our community’s deep values of aloha (love) and ‘ohana (family) through the families, cultures, traditions, and values from which our students come. We want our students to develop a sense of ha‘aheo (pride) in their roots and to carry that identity with them throughout their life journeys. Moreover, the Navigators’ Center seeks to build off of the wonderful people, resources, and practices already present in our community. Rather than duplicate services or create new programs, our aim is laulima (cooperation)—bringing to our students that which is already present in their home community.

 

Finally, the background also represents our students’ destination point, that same Wai‘anae Coast. While we would support any student who wants to stay in our community when they grow older (and hopefully work in the Navigators’ Center!), we in no way mean to say that we expect our students to remain in the Wai‘anae area for their entire lives. Rather, we hope that our students learn that their kuleana (responsibility) is to never forget from where they came and to always give back to those that brought them to where they are. Every student possesses a special gift, and it is the kuleana of each to give that gift back to the world. Beyond academic success, social and emotional wellness, and physical health, we strive for our students to develop na‘auao (a deep sense of enlightened knowledge and justice) in order to be able to give back to their community. In the same way, the whole mission of the Navigators’ Center is to lift up our students and their community. Our destination is the realization of every student’s potential as well as the potential of this community as a whole.