HCAP WEEKLY April 6, 2026

Leahi ECS Participant Earns Healthcare Certification through Tuition Assistance

After seeking the support of the Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services (ECS) and the staff at HCAP’s Leahi District Service Center, Destinee made significant progress toward achieving long-term stability and career success by enrolling in Hawai’i Medical College. 

When Destinee first began the ECS program, she was facing barriers to employment, including limited income and uncertainty about career direction. Despite these challenges, she remained motivated and expressed a strong desire to improve and build a better future. 

Destinee shared a deep personal passion for helping others, stating that she finds fulfillment in supporting people through vulnerable moments. She was drawn to the healthcare field because of its career stability and the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives. However, her personal financial barriers prevented her from being able to attend the program to gain certifications that would allow her to achieve her dream career. Tuition assistance offered by ECS allowed Destinee to afford the necessary courses at Hawai’i Medical College and get one crucial step closer to reaching her career goals.

With guidance from the Leahi Staff and the Nā Lima Hana ECS program, she successfully enrolled, completed her training, and achieved certification. As a result of her hard work and persistence, she is now prepared to begin working in a healthcare setting and continue growing in the medical field.

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Hā Initiative Students Learn About Nutrition and the Immune System

Hā Initiative students at the Kalihi STEM Exploration Center explored the theme of nutrition and food throughout the month of March, with a focus on learning healthier lifestyle choices.

The class dove into the fascinating world of the immune system. They learned about key organs and components that help protect our bodies, including white blood cells, tonsils, thymus, spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. Through discussion, students discovered how the immune system works to fight off viruses, colds, and diseases and how nutrition plays a major role in keeping these “immune soldiers” strong.

A highlight of the lesson was making homemade immunity juice. Students used fresh ingredients such as oranges, grapefruit, lime, lemons, locally grown ginger, and fresh turmeric. They explored the health benefits of each ingredient, especially learning how vitamin C from citrus fruits helps strengthen the immune system. They also explored how local, fresh, and natural ingredients can help heal and support the body. By creating their own immunity drinks, they connected the idea that foods are not just for eating, they can also act as natural medicine that helps the body stay strong and recover from illness.

Students also connected science to culture by learning how Native Hawaiians traditionally used these natural ingredients as remedies. They discovered that turmeric is a canoe plant, brought by early Polynesian voyagers, and has long been valued for its medicinal properties. They also explored another superfood: ube–purple yam, widely used in the Philippines with origins from New Guinea and is known for its vibrant color and health benefits. 

The students then practiced important life skills in the kitchen. They learned how to peel ginger and turmeric using a metal spoon, carefully shave fresh ingredients for preparation, and use a citrus squeezer to extract juice while removing the pulp, building both confidence and practical cooking skills. Students were surprised at how delicious their immunity shots tasted and many even asked for multiple servings!

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HCAP Staff Attend the Ko’olau Career Expo at Windward Community College

HCAP staff from the Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services and Head Start & Early Head Start programs had the opportunity to participate in this year’s Ko’olau Career Expo at Windward Community College. There were over 40 local employers with resource tables set up distributing information regarding career opportunities within their organization. 

The Ko’olau Career Expo was an amazing event that allowed the local community, recent college graduates, and current students to explore the careers that are available and to seek out much needed jobs in their field. There were many attendees that were just beginning their careers and those that were looking for career changes.  

It was a successful event for HCAP, with many people either seeking employment within HCAP or interested in becoming an HCAP participant. There were attendees that sought childcare assistance through the Head Start program or wanted to take part in the Nā Lima Hana ECS Job Readiness Training program. This event gave all the community members attending the chance to seek out the next steps along their paths towards the future.

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