At Kailua High School on Oʻahu, 60 students participate in our Peer Education and Positive Coping elective course—an experiential, student-led program that teaches life skills such as stress management, conflict resolution, communication, and peer mediation.

Here’s the awesome part:
Students don’t just learn these skills—they practice them. They mentor younger peers, mediate conflicts, and model healthy coping strategies across campus. In doing so, they build leadership skills while creating a more connected, peaceful school culture.

Students earn elective credit through the course, which helps boost GPA and supports on-time graduation—especially for students who may be credit-deficient or disengaged. The program serves a diverse group of students, including those facing stress, anxiety, academic challenges, and social conflict.

With support from the Oʻahu chapter of The Awesome Foundation, we can strengthen participation and expand access to transformative learning experiences.

Why This Matters on Oʻahu

High school students across Oʻahu face increasing levels of stress, academic pressure, and social conflict. Many lack structured opportunities to learn practical coping tools in a supportive, peer-centered environment.

Our program directly addresses this need by:

Teaching students evidence-based coping strategies

Providing structured peer mediation training

Offering leadership opportunities

Supporting graduation through elective credit

Creating positive, pro-social student culture

When students learn to manage stress and resolve conflict constructively, the ripple effect impacts classrooms, families, and the broader community.