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Welcome to the Sullivan Center

The Sullivan Center for Innovation and Leadership embodies ʻIolani School's vision for transformative learning outlined in our 2025-30 Strategic Plan. As a hub for STEM, media content creation, service innovation and education, the Sullivan Center cultivates curiosity, creativity and purpose in every learner. Students engage in hands-on projects that merge technology, design and storytelling to address authentic challenges within Hawai‘i and beyond. Through collaboration, reflection and compassionate leadership, the Sullivan Center advances ʻIolani's commitment to community, well-being and global citizenship — empowering students to make meaningful contributions to a rapidly changing world.

Let's take a tour ...


The Haruki iLab

Located on the ground floor of the Sullivan Center, the Haruki iLab is a 4,000-square-foot design and fabrication space. It features a space for digital design, CAD and modeling. A vast array of machinery in the iLab includes two Epilog 120W CO₂ laser cutters, Epilog 120W CO₂/50W Fiber laser cutter, Epilog 200W CO₂ laser cutter, Omax 5555 Precision Waterjet, Tormach PCNC 1100 Personal CNC Mill, Proturn 9000 CNC Lathe, Shopbot PRSstandard CNC router, 3D printers, drill press, and various saws and power hand tools. The facility is home to Upper School (grades 7-12) design and fabrication courses within the iDepartment curriculum and is available for project work from other departments.

Discovery Lab

 

The Home of ‘Iobotics

The third floor of the Sullivan Center for Innovation and Leadership houses a Robotics Classroom and Lab for robotics electives; the Student Publications Center where ‘Iolani School's yearbook, online and print newsmagazine Imua, Digital Design and Film Production classes live; the Seminar Room and Esports program; and build/competitive Robotics space for ‘Iobotics; a work area for Science Olympiad; and project space for other classes, events and projects.

Publications and Media Production

Imua ‘Iolani

ʻIolani School’s official student newspaper, Imua ‘Iolani, produced by Upper School students in the Newsroom and Intro to Newsroom classes. Imua produces five print issues each year and shares content regularly imuaonline.org and on Instagram at @imua_iolani.

The mission of Imua is sixfold:

  • Be a platform for student voices, expression, and individuality
  • Portray a full picture of ‘Iolani School by sharing student perspectives
  • Illuminate issues that concern the students
  • Educate students on current events
  • Preserve the history of the school
  • Promote open communication amongst the greater ‘Iolani community

Ka Mo‘olelo O ‘Iolani

Our yearbook, Ka Mo‘olelo O ‘Iolani, has documented the story of ‘Iolani School since 1923. The yearbook's staff of students in grades 9-12 works tirelessly to craft a unique annual with exceptional content and award-winning innovative design. It captures all aspects of school life — the academics, arts, athletics, students, faculty, and tradition — bound by a meaningful theme reflective of the school year. Ka Mo‘olelo O ‘Iolani annually publishes and distributes approximately 2,600 yearbooks that forever serve to commemorate the history of ‘Iolani School.

The yearbook staff also manages an Instagram account (@iolaniyb) that publishes content throughout the school year.

Film Production

A course for aspiring filmmakers of all levels, explores different ways of bringing a creative work to life on screen. Through a series of hands-on film making projects, students gain insight into how to move an audience, build upon their vision, and express their creative voices effectively. Students gain experience in all aspects of production -- from storyboarding, scripting and casting, to shooting, directing and editing using professional-standard equipment and software. It's a fun, interactive and eye-opening class with lessons that apply across many disciplines.

Community Science

 

State-of-the-art WetLab

Community Science at ‘Iolani School is the legacy of John “Papa Jack” Kay, who taught at our school for 52 years. His mission throughout all those decades was to get students out in the real world to do scientific research. His vision for the WetLab was to provide a world-class resource for both our school and the broader STEM community. It is a facility where students conduct research and solve problems important to them. In addition, to being a gathering place for local workshops, it is also resource in terms of equipment and expertise for others in our community.

Kukulu Alaka‘i ‘Iolani: KA‘I

The KA‘I Office is the administrative headquarters for the four branches of ‘Iolani's KA‘I Programs that serves students from preschool through post-secondary education: the KA‘I Keiki Program for 3-5 year olds, the KA‘I Summer Program and the KA‘I School Year Tutoring Program for middle and high school students, and the KA‘I Kulana Program for KA‘I graduates. These four programs work together and with community partners to close the achievement gap and raise life outcomes for economically-disadvantaged, first generation high school and college students from Pālolo Valley. By partnering with key community stakeholders and connecting students with transformative opportunities and leadership development, the KA‘I programs seek to create sustainable change for its students and the Pālolo Valley community.

Community Service and Leadership

Civic engagement with aloha

Aloha is the heart of Community & Civic Engagement at ʻIolani School. By prioritizing pilina (balanced, regenerative relationships), we nurture a shared understanding of the common good that activates One Team. With our founders as guides, we build capacity for informed, committed and constructive participation in community life.

The ʻIolani Community & Civic Engagement (C+CE) Office provides rich opportunities for students to explore their purpose through service, civic engagement, and values-driven experiential learning, both in and out of the classroom.


Tsuzuki Group Library

Encompassing the entire second floor of the Sullivan Center for Innovation and Leadership, the Tsuzuki Group Library enriches the intellectual life of students by providing a warm, nurturing environment with 21st-century resources and technology. It has four objectives: to cultivate innovation, citizenship, communication and discovery. Our goal is to create independent researchers who will be able to apply the skills learned in the Tsuzuki Group Library to the next level of education and beyond.