What is the name of your organization?
Acton Digital Inc. (dba Kaulike Academy)
What is the name of your solution?
Tech Savvy Teens
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Empowering at-risk Native Hawaiian youth to bridge the digital divide and build futures through intergenerational tech education.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Honolulu, Hawaii
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
United States
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
Around the world, marginalized youth lack access to quality education, mentorship, and skills needed to thrive in a digital society. In Hawaiʻi, Native Hawaiian and low-income teens are overrepresented in dropout and underemployment statistics, while kūpuna (elders) face isolation and digital illiteracy. This generational divide limits both groups’ access to essential services like telehealth and online banking. At the same time, workforce development and digital equity efforts rarely center Indigenous approaches or localized solutions. Tech Savvy Teens addresses these overlapping challenges—youth disengagement, digital inequity, and community isolation—through a culturally-rooted, tech-enabled intergenerational learning model that can scale across underserved rural and Indigenous communities globally.
What is your solution?
Tech Savvy Teens is a youth-led initiative where Native Hawaiian teens teach kūpuna how to use digital tools—from mobile banking and telehealth to email and online safety. Teens are trained in job readiness, digital literacy, and soft skills, then deployed at senior centers, community events, and pop-up clinics to provide hands-on tech support. The program combines virtual training with real-world apprenticeships and partnerships with senior living communities, universities, and cultural organizations. It uses mobile-first technology and scheduling software to coordinate services and collect data, while enabling expansion across islands and rural areas. This scalable model boosts confidence, bridges generations, and builds a workforce pipeline grounded in culture and service.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution serves two key underserved populations: Native Hawaiian and low-income teens (ages 13–19), and kūpuna (elders) across Oʻahu. Teens often face barriers to traditional education and career pathways; many are disengaged and lack access to mentorship or tech training. Kūpuna, especially in rural areas, struggle with isolation and limited access to digital services. By training teens to support kūpuna, the program builds youth confidence, leadership, and employability while enhancing elder independence and connectivity. Both generations benefit—teens gain soft skills and credentials, and kūpuna access tools for healthcare, communication, and financial well-being. The program strengthens community resilience through aloha, kuleana (responsibility), and pilina (relationships).
