Paying It Forward: A La Pietra Student’s Mission to Make Travel Possible for Others
March 19th, 2025
Junior Kailani E. presents her Independent Project, "Adventure Awaits: Funding a Travel Dream," to her peers.
In 2023, Kailani was a sophomore at La Pietra – Hawai‘i School for Girls and among the first students to participate in the school’s new Global Exchange Program with Hakuho Girls’ High School in Yokohama, Japan. Studying at another all-girls school thousands of miles from home gave her a new perspective on the power of connection and shared learning. She was struck by how the students in Japan bonded in the classroom—supporting and encouraging one another, much like her peers at La Pietra.
As she reflected on her journey, Kailani realized how transformative travel had been in her own life. “I've been traveling on all these trips, and each time I've learned something new. It's been very beneficial to my life,” she shares.
Inspired to give another student a similar opportunity, Kailani launched her junior-year Independent Project: Adventure Awaits: Funding a Travel Dream. This longstanding La Pietra tradition allows students to design and pursue projects of personal significance, encouraging them to make an impact on themselves, the school, and the broader community. Through her project, Kailani’s goal is to raise $1,500 to cover travel expenses for a future La Pietra student in the Global Exchange Program, ensuring that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of this life-changing opportunity.
“This trip isn't just a vacation—it's a chance for one student facing financial struggles to step outside their comfort zone, explore new possibilities, build confidence, and gain knowledge that will stay with them for life,” Kailani says.
For Kailani, the project is deeply personal. “I want to use the Independent Project to give back,” she shared. “By combining my passion for travel with service and leadership, I felt like that kind of exemplifies who I am as a person.”
A student at La Pietra since sixth grade, Kailani has been deeply involved in service throughout her years at the school. She has served on Student Council, participated in Leo Club and the National Honor Society, and mentored younger students as a Peer Leader. “I just want to be involved as much as I can,” Kailani shares. “The feeling of giving back is just really rewarding. I want whatever I do in the future to have purpose and have an impact on people.”
Projects like Kailani’s highlight how the Independent Project at La Pietra empowers students to extend their learning beyond the classroom, fostering creativity, innovation, and real-world impact.
“Experiences like these have the power to transform lives, and with your help, we can make this opportunity a reality for one special student,” Kailani adds. “Any contribution—big or small—gets us closer to our goal, and every donation counts!”
You can help Kailani achieve her goal to fund a travel experience that will open doors for a fellow student by donating or learning more here.
About La Pietra – Hawai‘i School for Girls
Founded in 1964, La Pietra – Hawai‘i School for Girls is an independent, college preparatory school for girls in grades 6-12. With a mission to educate young women to lead a life of purpose, La Pietra provides students with exceptional faculty, small class sizes, and a nurturing environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and self-exploration. Students thrive academically and socially in a supportive community that offers personalized attention, with a 7:1 student-teacher ratio and class sizes averaging 8-10. For more information, visit lapietra.edu.
