Kala‘i Kelekolio ’26 using a Haas Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine in the D. Kenneth Richardson ’48 Learning Lab. The senior began experimenting with CNC machines when he was in Engineering 3 to make diverse parts for robotics and a spinning top. Building a foundation in smart machining, and learning about the potential of Incorporating AI into fabrication projects can save time and enable students to create more complex parts. “AI is a powerful tool when used properly. In engineering, AI usage can significantly boost efficiency, but I recommend learning the fundamentals of design, prototyping, and fabrication, before venturing into using AI,” Kelekolio says. “AI is not a replacement for understanding the fundamentals.”

By Gina Gelber

Several years ago, Academy Design Technology and Engineering (DTE) Department Head Edward Kinnear traveled to San Antonio, Texas, hoping to reconnect with former colleagues at the engineering and fabrication shop where he’d once worked. In visiting the past, Kinnear gained something unexpected: clarity about the future.

Kinnear fondly remembered his time at Texas Toolmakers, with its fabrication floor stretching across an area as large as a supermarket, and the roar of nearly 300 manual machines operated by hundreds of skilled workers waiting their turn. “In its heyday, there were guys lining up to use those machines,” he recalls. “But they were gone.”

In their place was a quieter, more streamlined operation with just six younger workers using sleek Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines. Remarkably, this small crew matched the output of their predecessors, amplified by the power of digital fabrication.

It wasn’t the first major industry shift Kinnear had witnessed. He remembered the seismic transition from manual to automated machines. History, he realized, was repeating itself – only more profoundly this time, with artificial intelligence as the next frontier. “I witnessed the drastic effect of analog to digital and could definitely see that AI would be revolutionizing everything again.”

That realization rippled far beyond Texas, eventually shaping classrooms at Punahou. Instead of continuing to invest in manual fabrication machines that were becoming obsolete, the School turned to advanced CNC systems – powerful digital tools with a clear path toward AI integration. “The overall vision is for our students, as future innovative leaders in the industry, to be competitive,” Kinnear says.

He has since championed AI across the DTE curriculum, from computer science to design, fabrication and robotics. In fabrication, students now prototype with greater speed and precision thanks to the CNC machines that can recommend optimal tooling, cutting speeds and pathways. In design, students use AI technologies such as Firefly to transform ideas into graphic design visuals, and Onshape to run performance analyses on mechanical parts or assemblies.

Computer science and Robotics students are also exploring AI with notable success. Last fall, AI helped Punahou’s Pokébolts rank first in the world on the global FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) scoreboard for three weeks, and then they ultimately finished in the top 99.5th percentile globally, at the world championship event in Houston.

“I witnessed the drastic effect of analog to digital and could definitely see that AI would be revolutionizing everything again.”
– Edward Kinnear, Academy Design Technology and Engineering (DTE) Department Head

“The super strength of team Pokébolts is their ability to custom design and fabricate their robot, as well as their seamless integration of AI applications for high-end programming and flawless autonomous performance,” Kinnear says. The FTC includes more than 5,000 teams from 67 countries.

Despite this progress, Kinnear is clear the journey is only beginning. For now, most hands-on AI experience happens in advanced courses such as Engineering 3 and 4. His next goal is broader access, so that any student who wants to experiment with the technology can.

Still, he stresses that the fundamentals remain essential. That’s why CNC machines are often run in semi-automated modes, giving students a feel for the rhythm and nuance of manual fabrication.

“It provides a valuable foundation,” he says. “But as the urgency for speed and precision rises, students will need to become familiar with tools that are relevant not only for today, but also for tomorrow.”

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