HCAP WEEKLY December 22, 2025

Head Start Keiki Learn About Community Safety

Head Start keiki learned about the vital roles Community Helpers play in keeping communities safe. The Kaneohe Fire Department visited classrooms to educate children on fire safety. Children engaged their sense of touch, sight, hearing and smell as they explored the fire truck. They had an opportunity to combat a pretend fire while spraying water from the hose and witnessed a Firefighter climb the tall ladder that is attached to the fire truck. Police Officers from the Honolulu Police Department also visited our Nanakuli classrooms and shared about the importance of safety while at school and at home. 

Children explored police tools, vehicles, played relay races with officers, and even met a friendly K‑9 who demonstrated the vital role animals can play as a member of the team. These real-life experiences strengthened trust, reduced fears about safety protocol during emergencies and showed children that Community Helpers have essential roles in the community to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being. Together, these visits gave children real‑world safety knowledge, encouraged teamwork, and deepened their connection to the community. A big mahalo to the Kaneohe Fire Department and Honolulu Police Department for taking the time to share their experiences with the keiki!

Click here to learn more about Head Start.

Central Single Mom Furthers Education in Medical Field Through ECS

Theane was referred to HCAP’s Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services (ECS) Program from Professional Healthcare Educators for assistance with tuition to obtain her Phlebotomy certificate. After completing her intake forms at HCAP’s Central District Service Center, she was able to apply for tuition assistance and successfully completed Job Readiness Training within the ECS program.

Theane believes that people should enjoy what they do for work, and she enjoys helping people in need. She has been passionate about the medical field since before she graduated high school. As a hardworking single mom of three young children, she has three years of experience as a Medical Assistant and is extremely motivated to go back to school to further her education in the medical field and expand her knowledge. Pursuing her certificate in Phlebotomy would help her to be a more skilled Medical Assistant, as well as open up more career opportunities for her. 

Theane has had a desire to go back to school for a while now, but sacrificed that goal in order to care for her children first. She believes that now is the perfect time for her to invest in herself and her future by pursuing this certificate with the help of HCAP, so that she can obtain a higher paying job and to better support her family. Theane’s biggest barriers to accomplishing her goals are transportation, financial funding, and childcare. To assist her, she has been provided with a HOLO card and her program tuition will be fully covered. She was also referred to HCAP’s Head Start program and provided with job referrals, so that she can find childcare for her youngest daughter while she goes to school, as well as possibly work part time while she attends school.

Theane’s program started on December 1, 2025, and it is set to be completed on January 9, 2026. Theane’s plan after completing the program is to find employment as a Phlebotomy Technician, either at a Hospital or a clinic. She is very ambitious and dedicated to strengthening her skills in Phlebotomy and wishes to join a team of healthcare workers that also want to make a difference in the world.

Click here to learn more about Nā Lima Hana.

Windward STEM Learn About South Korean Culture and Circuit Their Own Light Sticks

This month at the Windward Hā Initiative STEM Exploration Center, students excitingly immersed themselves in exploring South Korean culture. They began by learning to read and write in Hangul, the Korean alphabet, known for its scientific and logical structure. Through guided practice, students discovered how vowels and consonants combine to form syllable blocks, giving them a meaningful introduction to the language. This foundational skill set the tone for a month filled with cultural discovery, creativity, and hands-on learning.

For one of their hands-on activities, students crafted their own light sticks, inspired by the glowing fan lights used at Korean Pop (K-Pop) concerts. By building circuits and experimenting with materials, students deepened both their STEM understanding and their appreciation for Korean pop culture. This project allowed them to integrate artistic expression with scientific principles, resulting in unique, student-made creations. 

To conclude this month’s lessons before Winter Break, students also learned about the differences among chopsticks across East Asia. They discovered that Japanese and Chinese chopsticks are typically wooden, while Korean chopsticks are usually made of stainless steel. Historically, metal chopsticks evolved from the use of silver utensils in Korean royal courts and have remained a cultural standard ever since. 

This month, students walked away with new cultural insights, practical STEM skills, and a broader appreciation for global learning that combined language, food, creativity, and science into one enriching experience.

Click here to learn more about Hā Initiative.