HCAP WEEKLY April 13, 2026

Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Education

Language and literacy are foundational cornerstones in early childhood education. HCAP Head Start promotes these skills through intentional educational activities centered around letter and pattern recognition, phonological awareness and vocabulary development. Within the classrooms, children increased their early literacy and language skills through reading and writing their names. The children’s book, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, inspired children to create their own trees using letters of their first name. While making direct connections to the letters in the book to those in their name, they not only developed early spelling skills but increased their fine motor skills through the hands-on activity. 

As an extension activity, children created a necklace with their names through the use of beads. Threading of the beads strengthened the children’s fine motor skills, supported hand-eye coordination and reinforced letter, color and pattern recognition. These engaging, educational activities supported children’s individual creativity, self-expression and early math skills.

Click here to learn more about Head Start.

Leeward Client Obtains His Commercial Driver’s License With Tuition Assistance from Nā Lima Hana

Kaipo was referred to HCAP by a partner agency, Professional Driving Academy, for tuition assistance with their commercial driver’s license (CDL) training program. He had always wanted to earn his CDL as a way to provide a more stable future for him and his family, but the cost of tuition was an obstacle holding him back. 

After learning that HCAP might be able to help, he decided to take a chance and visited HCAP’s Leeward District Service Center. The Leeward district staff listened to his goals and explained more about how the Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services Program could assist him. They worked together with Kaipo to complete all the paperwork necessary to enroll him for the tuition assistance service and completed a one-on-one Job Readiness Training (JRT) to aid him in his future job search. 

Once he heard that he was approved to receive tuition assistance, Kaipo worked hard studying for his written exam to obtain his permit. He applied to Professional Driving Academy after receiving his permit and was accepted into the CDL program. There were moments when training felt overwhelming, especially learning pre-trip inspections and mastering backing maneuvers, but his driving instructor, Richard, encouraged him to stay focused and keep practicing. With his determination and hard work, Kaipo passed his written exams and successfully completed his road test.

Today, Kaipo proudly holds his commercial driver’s license and is now employed as a commercial driver. He is happy to share that he is earning a steady income and building a better future for him and his family. He remains grateful to HCAP and to Richard Hoapili of Professional Driving Academy for believing in him and helping him achieve his goals.

Click here to learn more about Nā Lima Hana.

Marine Debris Technician Guest Speaker Visits Kalihi STEM and Windward STEM Students Explore Nutrition

At Hā Initiative’s Kalihi STEM Exploration Center, returning guest speaker, Matt McDole, a Marine Debris Technician for the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project came to give a guest lecture about all the work his organization does to remove marine debris from Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, comprising of Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, featuring ten small islands and atolls. It is one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world. 

Matt showed students the types of marine debris that his team collects from the area, animals that can be found abundantly in this archipelago, and concluded the talk with demonstrating how Hawaiian monk seals galumph–flop on their bellies in a caterpillar-like motion to move. The class had many questions for Matt and are hoping to hear about more of his adventures in the future.

At the Windward STEM Exploration Center, students engaged in hands-on cooking activities in their nutrition curriculum that brought learning to life in a fun and meaningful way. By preparing food themselves, students were able to develop practical kitchen skills while building confidence and teamwork, as well as open their mind to various cuisines.

Students explored a variety of cultural foods, including making tacos. Through this lesson, they gained an appreciation for different culinary traditions and the ingredients that make each dish unique. These experiences helped broaden their understanding of culture and encouraged curiosity about foods from around the world.

In addition to cooking, students learned about nutrition through an exciting clue-based game. This activity challenged them to solve puzzles while discovering important information about healthy eating, balanced diets, and making smart food choices. The combination of hands-on cooking and interactive learning helped students better understand the connection between food, culture, and nutrition.

Click here to learn more about Hā Initiative.