HCAP WEEKLY February 17, 2025

Community Volunteer Receives a Home Audit Through Weatherization

Rowena has been a long-time volunteer at HCAP’s Central District Service Center. The Central staff have fostered a relationship with Rowena throughout the years of volunteering for the Hawai’i Home Energy Assistance Program (H-HEAP), formerly known as LIHEAP, with outreach, temporary data inputting, as well as assisting with tax preparation for the Central community.

Through her work with HCAP Central District, Rowena learned about HCAP’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Central District staff worked with WAP staff to determine Rowena’s eligibility and to complete her WAP application.

Weatherization staff were able to visit her home and conduct a home energy audit and learned that her household needed a water heater after hers broke down a few years ago. Along with a new 120 gallon Solar Water Heater, she was able to receive LED light bulbs, showerheads, sink aerators, power strips, smoke alarm, and even a new refrigerator. Energy saving education was conducted as well.

Katy Perry, Central District’s Manager, has expressed how helpful Rowena is to the community, and she is now able to receive the same help back. HCAP Programs aim to offer and provide wrap-around services to anyone that may need it.

Click here to learn more about HCAP’s Programs and Services.

Windward ECS Client Begins Medical Assistant Career

Emma first reached out to the Windward District Service Center after learning about HCAP services through staff’s outreach efforts. Emma explained that she was seeking employment, to which HCAP staff shared the opportunities of HCAP’s Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services program. Eager to get started, Emma completed an HCAP centralized intake. On the same day, Emma was able to complete the Nā Lima Hana ECS Job Readiness Training that included interview skills, resume building, job referrals and basic computer skills.

Quickly, Emma obtained employment as a medical assistant at Hina Mauka. When she shared the exciting news, she also expressed her need for a uniform to begin employment. A request was made through Nā Lima Hana, and a full medical scrub set was provided, making her first day of work a success.

Since then, Emma has held her job for over 90 days, reaching a major milestone in her employment goals. The Windward District Center continues to monitor Emma’s employment journey as staff offer their ongoing support!

Click here to learn more about Nā Lima Hana.

Bottles4College Founder Speaks to STEM Students

Hā Initiative students at Kaʻaʻawa were recently visited by Genshu Price, the founder of the nonprofit, Bottles4College, and learned some valuable insights about recycling. During his guest speaking session, Genshu educated students about the critical role recycling plays in sustainability and environmental preservation. He highlighted how materials like plastic bottles can be repurposed into creative projects, offering a unique way to both reduce waste and stimulate imagination.

His engaging presentation inspired students to think differently about everyday items and encouraged them to be more mindful of their environmental impact. Genshu is a senior in high school and founded Bottles4College when he was 13 years old. His goal was to recycle bottles and cans in order to fund college tuition scholarships for Hawaiʻi students across the state.  

Thank you, Genshu, for speaking with HCAP’s STEM students and for all the efforts Bottles4College does to protect the environment and to provide more opportunities for students in Hawaiʻi.

Click here to learn more about the Hā Initiative.