HCAP WEEKLY September 28, 2026

Kalaeloa ECS Client Gains New Beginning After Retirement

Seioliana came to the HCAP Kalaeloa District Service Center seeking employment assistance and an opportunity to return to the workforce. Although retired, Seioliana expressed that he wanted to remain active, productive, and continue contributing to his household.

While working with Kalaeloa District staff, Seioliana enrolled in the Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services (ECS) program. Through ECS, he completed Job Readiness Training (JRT), where he received support with preparing for employment, identifying his strengths, and building confidence as he began looking for work. Staff also worked one-on-one with him to develop and update his resume, highlighting his many years of experience in labor, construction, warehouse work, landscaping, and groundskeeping.

With continued support from Kalaeloa District staff, Seioliana began applying for positions that matched his skills and previous work experience. His hard work and willingness to participate in ECS paid off when he was offered a position as a Handyman/Landscaper at a local attraction company.

Seioliana’s success is a great example of how employment services, job readiness preparation, and individualized support can help clients move toward their goals. He remained motivated throughout the process and took the steps needed to prepare himself for a new employment opportunity.

The Kalaeloa District Service Center is proud to have supported Seioliana throughout his employment journey. His transition from seeking employment assistance to successfully obtaining a job demonstrates the positive impact that determination, preparation, and community-based support can have. Congratulations to Seioliana on his new position and this new chapter in his employment journey!

Click here to learn more about Nā Lima Hana.

Head Start and Cavity Free Kids

Oral hygiene is an integral part of HCAP Head Start’s commitment to supporting the whole child. The Head Start educators utilize the Cavity Free Kids curriculum that promotes and ensures oral health practices are an appropriate part of children’s daily routines and interactions, both at home and in school. Children engage in daily toothbrushing after a meal, learn how to properly hold an age-appropriate toothbrush, use and identify the right amount of toothpaste, and practice a full 2 minutes of brushing. Oral health is also introduced through playful hands-on activities such as brushing model teeth with play toothpaste and floss. This type of educational activity can help children explore healthy habits in fun and developmentally rich ways. 

Having the children brush their teeth daily in the classroom does more than keep teeth clean; it provides them with a routine, strengthens fine motor skills, builds time awareness, and nurtures children’s growing independence. Most importantly, these moments help children feel proud of caring for themselves. Each brushing moment is a small step toward confidence and healthy habits that will support them for years to come.

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Honolulu STEM Students Dive Into Earth Science Through World Geography

This September, Hā Initiative students at the Honolulu STEM Exploration Center are focusing on Earth Science. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education curriculum guides students from erosion and weathering, through weather and climate, then plate tectonics and the Earth’s composition. In addition, 3rd grade students begin studying world geography. In order to teach to multiple grade levels while keeping the curriculum accessible to younger students, the Hā Initiative is focusing on basic world geography and tying the formation of continents and oceans to plate tectonics.

So far, students learned about the commonly recognized continents and oceans in the world, identifying the names and physical features that make them distinct. This week, they assembled the continents from paper cut-out pieces and created their own cylindrical map. Next week, students will compare the shape of the continents to the shapes of the tectonic plates that they sit on. This shows that tectonic theory matches the locations of continental boundaries, earthquakes, volcanoes, and ocean trenches. This understanding is key to earth science and will be necessary for students to understand how the earth functions and what causes many global natural disasters.

Click here to learn more about Hā Initiative.