HCAP WEEKLY August 24, 2026

Single Father Finds a New Path to Financial Stability

HCAP’s Corporate staff had the opportunity to set up a table at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s Kamaʻāina Come Home, presented by Zippy’s, trademarked by, and held in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Island Economic Development Board (HIEDB). The job placement event connects Hawaii professionals, students, and community members, whether living in Hawaii or away from home, with employers, organizations, and opportunities to stay engaged with Hawaii’s workforce and community.

The evening drew more than 100 attendees — jobseekers, career changers, students, and professionals — all looking to make real connections with local employers and resource partners. HCAP was proud to be one of the resource partners in the room.

Representing HCAP were Hanako and Nia from the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), who spent the evening speaking with attendees about how HCAP’s programs can support their families and careers — from how they can receive energy assistance in the Hawai’i Home Energy Assistance Program, reduce their household energy consumption with the Weatherization Assistance Program, enhance their children’s learning with the Head Start and Hā Initiative programs, and enroll in employment services with Nā Lima Hana.

Weatherization Assistance Program specialist, Nia shared, “There was a lot of community building and outreach especially for women and children looking to rebuild their lives in Hawaii.“ 

It was a great reminder of why events like this matter: real people, face-to-face, learning about resources that can make a difference in their lives. Mahalo to HIEDB and Zippy’s for putting together such a meaningful evening. HCAP looks forward to engaging with more community members in future events!

Click here to learn more about HCAP’s programs and services.

STEM Students Are Back to School for 2026-2027!

At Kalihi Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program, students were excited to kick off another amazing school year! The staff are thrilled to welcome back all of the returning students and extend a warm welcome to new students joining the STEM family. 

The first day of STEM began in August, on the first day of school. As soon as the dismissal bell rang, students eagerly ran to see the brand-new STEM classroom. Returning students were thrilled to find many of their projects from last year proudly displayed around the room, along with their artwork decorating the walls. It was wonderful to watch students reconnect with friends, explore their new learning space, and get excited about another school year.

During the first week, students began with a Pentomino Challenge. Pentominoes are puzzles made from 12 unique shapes, each created by connecting five equal-sized squares. Students carefully cut out each small shape, strengthening their fine motor skills, before arranging the pieces to solve a variety of puzzles. Through this activity, students explored geometry, spatial reasoning, problem-solving, patterns, and 2D and 3D shapes. They even discovered how many of the pentomino pieces resemble letters of the alphabet, helping them recognize shapes in fun ways.

Next, students completed their first experiment using the Scientific Method. They participated in the exciting Water Bottle Flip Challenge, where they investigated how science affects a successful bottle flip. Students developed hypotheses about which bottle type and how much water would create the best flip. They explored concepts such as gravity, center of gravity, balance, and mass distribution while testing different amounts of water. Students carefully recorded their observations, analyzed their results, and adjusted their techniques based on the evidence they collected. This hands-on experiment demonstrated that science often involves testing, learning from mistakes, and improving through repeated trials.

Finally, students were introduced to the daily D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) time. Each day, students will spend 10 minutes reading independently to strengthen their literacy skills while also practicing relaxation, focus, and concentration. D.E.A.R. provides students with a calm opportunity to build positive reading habits and improve their mindfulness skills. 

Here’s to another fantastic year of STEM learning with the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program and we look forward to another year filled with creativity, discovery and teamwork!

Click here to learn more about Hā Initiative. 

HCAP Partners with Goodwill to Share Resources with Kumuhonua Participants

Kumuhonua Emergency Shelter was recently visited by Goodwill to share some of their services with the shelter’s participants. HCAP is grateful to form such a valuable partnership with Goodwill and to welcome their team, Velma De-Graft Turkson, Assistant Supervisor of the Employment Training Program; Geri Yotsuda, Career Navigator; and Stephanie Carrier, Supervisor of the SEE Hawaii Work Program. The Goodwill staff shared information about their employment training program to all the current participants receiving SNAP benefits.

During the presentation, Velma shared with participants that Goodwill can assist those who enroll in their program to build not only self-confidence, but the skills that they will need to secure and maintain employment while becoming financially independent. Velma also stated that their program includes group and individual sessions in a classroom setting that is designed to facilitate personal growth and self-reliance. 

The team further provided basic information on how to apply and who can qualify for the Goodwill training program. They also discussed the changes that are occurring for SNAP recipients and what they will be expected to do if they are able to work. Participants learned that the training program can assist in job search, employment and education to help them to become more self-sufficient. Participants were engaged, asking questions about benefits and the program to which the Goodwill staff were able to share more.

Those participants who attended the presentation expressed that they greatly enjoyed learning about the information that was provided and are willing to use the resources to take the next step towards securing permanent housing. 

Again, Kumuhonua thanks the staff from Goodwill for their time and generosity in sharing their program and all that they offer.

Click here to learn more about Kumuhonua.