Hawaiʻi CC launches first community college drone certification program

VIDEO NEWS RELEASE

Thomas Costa attaches the LIDAR payload to the DJI Matrice 350 RTK drone. This drone is the workhors

ENGT 107 students Avery Bryce and Tiala-Ann Kailianu-Carvalho inspect the Mavic 3 Multi-spectral dro

(L-R) Isaac Mandaloniz, Thomas Costa and Khayden Kahihikolo insert batteries in the DJI Matrice 350

The first community college drone certification program in the state is at Hawai‘i Community College

Kahiau Kiyuna, part of the first cohort class in 2023 and a certified commercial drone pilot, hovers

MJ Crandall, the first female ENGT 107 student and also the first certified commercial pilot to come

Link to video and sound (details below): https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/FyDUChSCNv

Spring registration for the first drone certification program in the state’s community college system is now open at Hawaiʻi Community College. The program, backed by a $650,000 National Science Foundation grant, emphasizes practical applications of drone technology across industries, including agriculture, civil defense and environmental conservation.

Debuting with a test cohort in fall 2023, the program quickly gained traction, equipping students with a comprehensive introduction to drone operations, including preparation for the FAA Part 107 certification required to become a licensed commercial drone pilot, and combining classroom learning with hands-on lab experiences. Students practiced flying both racing drones and advanced commercial models. In fall 2024, the introductory course ENGT 107 reached capacity almost immediately.

“Students are fascinated by how drones revolutionize traditional methods of  observation,” said Paul Agamata, program administrator and instructor. “Tasks that once took days on foot, such as surveying 50-acre fields, can now be accomplished in just 30 minutes with drones. The accuracy is astounding—down to 2 centimeters or better.” 

Addressing real-world challenges

The program’s interdisciplinary approach ensures students can apply drone technology across multiple sectors, addressing real-world challenges on Hawaiʻi Island and beyond. 

After ENGT 107, there are three courses needed to complete the certificate. Graduates of the program will be prepared for careers in a variety of fields, including construction surveying, public safety, environmental management, agriculture, and media production. The program also emphasizes data analysis. 

“Learning to fly is the easy part,” Agamata said. “The challenge lies in collecting and interpreting data—skills we teach so students can use drones effectively in their industries.”

Community partners

The program has also attracted interest from community partners such as Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources. These partnerships provide students with opportunities to apply their skills in real-world scenarios, from disaster response to agroforestry management. 

“Having knowledgeable, licensed drone pilots who can help make observations and collect data during emergency situations lessens the human risk,” said Talmadge Magno, Hawai‘i County civil defense administrator. “This technology gives us many advantages.”

Visit hawaii.hawaii.edu for more information about ENGT 107 and take the first step toward becoming a certified drone pilot. For more information, contact Agamata at (808) 934-2686.
 

VIDEO Link: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/FyDUChSCNv

BROLL: (1 minute, 25 seconds)

0:00-1:13 - Drones flying at Hawaiʻi CC

1:13-1:25 - students working on drones in the classroom

SOUND:

Kahiau Kiyuna, Hawaiʻi CC student (15 seconds)

“My hopes and dreams are to just help Hawaiʻi, whether that's in emergency response for search and rescue, you know, observing volcanic activity or just even continuing on with forest management and forest surveying.”

MJ Crandall, Hawaiʻi CC student (on planning to work in conservation after graduation) 

(7 seconds)

“So, merging, you know, unmanned aircraft systems with conservation is kind of like a match made in heaven.”

Paul Agamata, Hawaiʻi CC, Program Administrator (calls drones UAS, unmanned aerial systems) (15 seconds)

“I'm feeling like Hawaiʻi Community College is a trendsetter. I feel like because it's the first of its kind in the state that we lead the way in being able to establish UAS as a predominant technology and business here on the Big Island.”