Learning, Growing, and Giving Back

Children’s Discovery Center

At the Children’s Discovery Center, learning happens in many directions. Through its School Discovery Visit Program, thousands of children have the opportunity to explore the Center through hands-on educational experiences, with additional assistance helping make visits more accessible for Title I schools. At the same time, its Volunteer and Intern Mentorship Program gives high school and college students a place to learn by doing—building practical skills, exploring careers in education, developing as leaders, and contributing to a place that serves children and families throughout Hawaiʻi.

With support from the Takitani Foundation, these two programs create a meaningful cycle of learning and service. During the first half of 2026, the Center welcomed 89 school groups serving more than 3,100 children, while dozens of young volunteers and interns supported camps, galleries, early childhood programs, and daily museum activities. As the Center shared, “this additional staffing support has made it possible for us to serve more families and expand access to age-appropriate, high-quality learning experiences.” One example is the Center’s growing preschool camp program, where an intern helped make it possible to respond to increasing demand from families.

The experience is just as valuable for the young people serving alongside Center staff. By giving volunteers and interns meaningful responsibility, mentorship, and a chance to contribute to the learning of younger children, the program helps them begin imagining their own futures while building a lasting connection to community service. In this way, Takitani Foundation support helps create educational opportunities across generations—from the keiki discovering something new at the Center to the young adults discovering what they themselves may have to offer.