HCAP WEEKLY February 14, 2022

Central District Service Center Teams Up with Holomua Elementary School on Kokua E Hanai Keiki Program

The Kokua E Hanai Keiki Program has returned to HCAP’s Central District Service Center, with the help of caring students and staff at Holomua Elementary School.

The Kokua E Hanai Keiki (Help Feed the Children) Program provides food and hygiene products to those in need, including seniors and homeless families. The Central District Service Center has been running the program for several years, but it was put on hold when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Nearly two years later, the staff and students at Holomua Elementary School, a longtime partner of HCAP’s Central District Service Center, pitched in to revive the Kokua E Hanai Keiki Program through their annual Canned Food & Hygiene Drive. Families at Holomua Elementary School generously contributed over 4,800 canned goods and hygiene products. In the coming weeks, the donations will be distributed to many community members in need.

By participating in this effort, Holomua Elementary School students also learned valuable lessons about helping others, and developed their organizational, leadership, and teamwork skills.

“The Central District Service Center would like to give a big ‘Mahalo’ to the wonderful staff and students at Holomua Elementary School for believing in HCAP’s programs and caring about their community,” says Katy Perry, Community Services Manager of the Central District Service Center.

Rhyme Time with HCAP Head Start

This week, Mrs. Jayme and Ms. Chiyo from Ala Wai Head Start reviewed rhyming words with their students. The children learned a few language principles: Sentence structure, word sounds and rhyming.

They also practiced recalling and rhyming predictions, while reviewing their favorite nursery rhymes and stories.

HCAP Head Start & Early Head Start applications for the 2022-2023 school year are open now! Click Here for more information and how to enroll your keiki.

Windward District Service Center Brings HCAP’s Services to Waimānalo and Hauʻula Homeless Communities

Windward District Service Center staff are going directly to homeless communities in Waimānalo and Hauʻula bringing masks and safety supplies, and ensuring that HCAP’s services are accessible to those who may be unable to call or visit a District Service Center.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has certainly made outreach to homeless communities more challenging, but staff at the Windward District Service Center remain dedicated to serving Oʻahu’s most vulnerable populations. Outreach efforts are a key form of “in-depth engagement” between staff and homeless individuals, according to Sonny-Jean Preston, Community Services Manager of the Windward District Service Center.

Windward District Service Center staff are continually building upon their outreach, and are currently preparing food boxes and hygiene kits to deliver to homeless individuals living on the Windward coast of Oʻahu. They plan to conduct intakes and assessments on-site, and offer Job Readiness Training for those seeking employment. By bringing much-needed supplies and services to homeless communities, staff are able to maintain meaningful connections with those who lack access to transportation and technology.

Hā Initiative Students Mix It Up with Playdough

Students in the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program had fun with homemade playdough. At Kaʻiulani Elementary School, Hā Initiative students followed a recipe to create their own playdough, combining flour, water, salt, cream of tartar, vegetable oil, and food coloring in a bowl.

Once the mixture was ready, students transferred it into a pot on a classroom hot plate, stirring the mixture until it started to firm up and take on a dough-like texture. After the dough cooled down, students kneaded out any lumps before sculpting their playdough creations.