HCAP WEEKLY December 20, 2021

Fall 2021 Kūpuna Independent Life Series Comes to a Cheerful Close

The Kūpuna Independent Life Series concluded its fall 2021 semester on Friday, December 17. During the final class of the year, the kūpuna socialized safely and celebrated with puzzle activities and a traditional Hawaiian lunch. 

Prior to the pandemic, the series was offered fully in person at HCAP’s Leeward District Service Center. The program was converted to a drive-by classroom format in 2020, and this year a drop-in format was added along with new locations at Central and Leahi District Service Centers. Reaching more seniors through the series is increasingly important as the pandemic enters its second year. 

Many of the kūpuna have been isolated due to COVID-19 and struggle with being unable to gather with loved ones during the holidays. To close out the series with some extra holiday cheer for the participants, Central District Service Center staff collaborated with HCAP Head Start’s ʻAiea I classroom to make holiday cards for the kūpuna. The keiki had a great time creating the cards and each of the kūpuna loved reading the children’s kind messages inside. 

The Kūpuna Independent Life Series staff and participants are already looking forward to reuniting in spring 2022, which is scheduled to be the first in-person series in almost two years.

HCAP Partners with Helping Hands Hawaiʻi for Annual Adopt A Family Program

HCAP is once again partnering with Helping Hands Hawaiʻi for the annual Adopt A Family program to provide holiday gifts to those in need. Adopt A Family is a seasonal program administered by Helping Hands Hawaiʻi that links donors with individuals and families in need during the holidays. HCAP is one of the community partners that works with the program to refer participants and fulfill their holiday wishlists. 

This year, many of the participating families are those who have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the Kalihi-Palama District participants, Sophia, is a single mother who lost her job during the pandemic. HCAP’s partnership with Adopt A Family is helping make it possible for Sophia’s children and many others to receive holiday gifts.

Windward District Service Center Staff Tour New Waimānalo Transitional Shelter

This week, HCAP’s Windward District Service Center staff were invited to tour the new Waimānalo Transitional Shelter. The shelter is located at the former Weinberg Village Waimānalo, a transitional housing program that served families with minor children for 25 years until closing its doors in June 2020. 

Following the tour, Windward District Service Center Manager Sonny Preston gave a presentation about HCAP programs and services to the shelter staff. Sonny is currently working on a partnership opportunity to extend HCAP’s Windward-area services to families in the Waimānalo Emergency Shelter Program. The program provides homeless individuals and families with assistance to obtain permanent housing along with a variety of services, which will now include referrals to HCAP programs such as Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services and Head Start and Early Head Start.