The Hawaiian Islands, as the most remote island chain in the world, represent a living laboratory for both evolution and invasion. Many Native Hawaiians retain an understanding of the ecosystems, plants, and insects of each island, even though the amount of knowledge passed down through generations has been limited since Western colonization began in the late 18th century. Na Pua Nočau, Center for Gifted and Talented Native Hawaiian Children, combines modern science and cultural knowledge to design programming for Native Hawaiian children in grades K – 12 intended to encourage them to pursue higher education and professional careers in the natural sciences, with an emphasis on solving the problems facing Hawaiě. Thirty-two incoming 10th grade Native Hawaiian students participated in the four classes of the 2005 Summer Institute; we led a class of eight through lessons that combined entomology and Hawaiian culture. Topics covered included insect collecting, pinning, and identification techniques, as well as developing and conducting an experiment using natural insecticides as repellents to the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki). Long-term data on student progress have been collected since the inception of the Center on the Island of Hawaiě in 1993. College enrollments in fall 2001 indicate that 20% of Native Hawaiian students enrolled at the University of Hawaiě at Hilo were past students of Na Pua Nočau, and 400 graduates of Na Pua Nočau students enrolled in campuses across the state.