The Makerspaces at Kalani High School
Bryan Silver in Honolulu is looking to get the kids out of the classroom and into the community
Bryan Silver is a Science and Engineering Teacher at Kalani High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was named 2025 State Teacher of the Year. He shared with us the school’s Maker Lab, which include use of shipping containers.
The school has 1400 students in 9-12 grades. I have four levels of engineering and a STEM Capstone classes. I then run three robotics programs after school with five teams (VEX, FTC, FRC).
I have a bunch of tools:
Laser engravers (universal and Xtool) 5 units.
3D printers - 16 Anycubic units,
Sticker makers, vinyl cutters, embroider machines (single needle),
Three sets of bench top power tools.
One 8’x4’ CNC router,
One metal laser XTool.
I teach OnShape for the 3D modeling software. I keep the lab open from 2-5 daily. Students are mainly from my engineering classes that use the lab from 7am to 5pm. I do have a few students working on projects that use the lab.It is open to all. We either teach the students from the class how to use or get them paired with one of the knowledgeable engineering students.
I asked Bryan if he had two makerspaces.
Yes, we have an additional mobile makery that is in a 40’ shipping container that we bring and leave at our feeder school elementary schools for the semester, train the teachers to use the lasers, 3D printers, power tools, and STEM lessons, then give them the keys to use it and have fun with their classes throughout the semester. The Kalani robotics team does the teacher trainings and monthly maintenance of the lab.
My primary lab is both in a warehouse classroom, and I have another shipping container we modified to support more tech equipment and expand our space and offerings to students. It was that unit that got us to envision building another unit that could go and stay at a school for an extended period of time.
My students just got done working a three-day craft fair where 8 student entrepreneurs were selling ornaments they had designed and made by hand using the tools in the shop. Each student’s Business got $300 to create 100 units, which they then sold. The profits are used to build a project for a client of their choosing and give away in the following semester.
I’m always looking for ways to get the kids out of the classroom and talking with folks in the community. Developing responsibility, planning, collaboration, and pride in the work they produce, finding ways to be sustainable and give back to others.