School: Kamaile Academy PCS
Grade Level: Grade 12 Physics/Astronomy
Teacher: Jameil Saez
Diving Question: How can we utilize engineering practices and ancestral knowledge to provide electricity to Mauna Ka’ala in a sustainable and ecological way?
Students toured Kaʻala Farm to observe where the water enters the pipes that supply the farm. They discussed the general layout of how they think the hydroelectric system will work and where the various components of the system will be (i.e. generator, wiring, circuit breaker, inverter, and appliances). Students also worked in small groups to collect data on water flow, velocity, and elevation as they contribute to hydroelectricity. Students made connections between types of energy (ex: potential/batteries) and the lo’i, which helped them to understand the concept of energy on a deeper level.