HONOLULU (HI Now) - At Sacred Heart Academy in Honolulu, a quiet but powerful movement is taking shape. The Girls Got Grit mentorship program is connecting high school students with some of Hawaii’s most accomplished professional women, giving them the tools, confidence and connections to build a future right here at home.
Over the past 10 weeks, more than 200 students have been mentored by more than 40 C-suite women across the state. Partner organizations including Hawaii News Now have stepped up to provide mentors and internship opportunities, embodying the program’s core belief that it takes a village to raise a child.
The program does not just focus on career skills. Students have explored how artificial intelligence impacts people, culture, relationships and community, while learning to challenge assumptions and speak with purpose.
For the girls going through it, the impact is personal. Junior Dierdre Kunishige, now in her third year with the program, says connecting with experienced professional mentors has been one of the most valuable experiences of her life. Freshman Ava Cramer says it helped her find her voice and build her confidence on stage, and she is already encouraging other girls to sign up.
Beyond the individual, the program is working to retain talent and create a workforce pipeline that keeps Hawaii’s brightest young women rooted in the islands.
For more information, visit sacredhearts.org and look for the Girls Got Grit section.
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