Basic necessities, such as food, clothing and shelter, are crucial to an individual's survival.  Using a concept similar to Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, HCAP uses a holistic approach that focuses on providing the basic necessities first. 

High quality early childhood education, nutrition, health, social services, and strong parent involvement help our clients ensure a healthy childhood development.  Once enrolled, children are taught health and safety education concepts through daily practices, including tooth brushing, personal hygiene and eating nutritious meals.

HCAP's employment programs help clients secure meaningful employment that pay livable wages and, thereby, help them achieve economic self-sufficiency. Clients develop the confidence, motivation, and problem-solving techniques needed to enter O'ahu's competitive job market.

Education is one of the most effective ways individuals can raise their present and future income. There are reams of clear evidence that higher levels of education are generally associated with higher earnings. Nationally, individuals with less education have been losing economic ground over the past two decades. Policies that support education for low-income parents and children offer them the potential for lasting economic security. That is why HCAP has made education an integral part of its mission.

By employing several program tools available within HCAP, our staff at the District Centers help clients create individualized plans --- "road maps" --- they can use to achieve gainful employment, family harmony and increased self-worth. These collaborative interactions enable many HCAP clients to begin their journey towards upward mobility.

During its 40 years of service to low-income O'ahu residents, the need for a holistic approach to helping clients overcome the ravages of poverty has become all too evident. Unfortunately, there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution to address and improve all of their life issues. The most successful method has been the cumulative result of improvements applied to various facets of the client's life. For that reason, HCAP uses a wide variety of programs to optimize the services provided to each client.