Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Planning at UH Mānoa a Step Closer to Approval

Authors: Dr. Konia Freitas & Dr. Priyam Das

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP) and Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies (KCHS) are working together to prepare a landmark Graduate Certificate (GCERT) in Indigenous Planning, anticipated to launch in Fall 2026. 

The certificate builds on a strong foundation. For years, DURP and KCHS have collaborated through a Memorandum of Agreement that allows planning students to enroll in Hawaiian Studies courses with waived prerequisites. Seeing this partnership, the Planning Accreditation Board supported its growth. The GCERT shows a steadfast commitment to promoting Indigenous knowledge and shaping the future of the planning profession.

The program’s goal is clear: to better equip planners with the skills, ethics, and cultural grounding needed to tackle Hawai‘i’s critical planning issues—land use, housing, environmental sustainability, and climate change adaptation. The coursework will emphasize Hawaiian and Indigenous worldviews, methodologies, and values such as pilina (relational accountability), kuleana (responsibility), and aloha (equity and compassion). These principles are foundational to planning in Hawai‘i, where culture and ecology should guide policy and practice.

The 16-credit GCERT will include a new core course, PLAN 611: Foundations in Indigenous Planning, four electives, and a one-credit capstone. The capstone experience will invite applied learning opportunities that connect theory with practice. The program will offer flexibility, with evening and online options for working professionals.

In late 2024, 173 students and professionals across Hawai‘i responded to a survey conducted by DURP and KCHS to assess demand for the GCERT. Responses indicated that 76% of students and 55% of professionals were likely to enroll. Both groups ranked course content and employment outcomes as top priorities, with many willing to commit one to two years of part-time study.

The certificate seeks to advance UH’s mission as a foremost Indigenous-serving institution. While offering a uniquely Hawaiian approach, it positions UH Mānoa alongside the only two other Indigenous planning programs in North America, at the University of New Mexico and the University of British Columbia.

For planners, the GCERT is more than a credential—it is an invitation to transform planning practice. By centering Indigenous knowledge, ethics, and community, the program will prepare graduates to lead with respect, innovation, and justice.