HCAP Weekly February 23, 2015

In this week’s issue:

HCAP Featured in Midweek’s Proof Positive Column
Celebrating Fifty Years of Community Action
HCAP Board of Directors’ Program Orientation and Tour
Hā Initiative Hosts A Series of Family Nights at Exploration Centers
Head Start Kuhio Pre Plus Celebrates Chinese New Year
Na Lima Hana Program Participant Utilizes HCAP Services for Self-Sufficiency

HCAP Featured in Midweek’s Proof Positive Column

HCAP is proudly featured in Midweek’s Proof Positive column in the February 25th issue. Mahalo nui loa to ‪MidWeekHawaii‬ for allowing us to share our quality programs and much needed services with our communities.

Click here to view the article on MidWeekHawaii.

Celebrating Fifty Years of Community Action

2015 is a notable year for the Honolulu Community Action Program as we proudly celebrate our 50th Anniversary. For 50 years, HCAP has provided much needed services and opportunities to thousands upon thousands of low-income individuals and families throughout Honolulu. We’ve helped improve lives and communities by providing Head Start, job training, housing assistance, education, economic development, financial relief and recovery, energy assistance, and much more.

We trace our noble roots to the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson that created a variety of programs – including Community Action Agencies – as part of his War on Poverty. The legacies of President Johnson, the Kennedys, Sargent “Sarge” Shriver and countless others whose shoulders we stand on today live on in HCAP’s tireless and dedicated efforts in addressing local poverty problems in Honolulu.

Please follow HCAP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn @HCAPhi to keep up with the latest news and stories.

HCAP Board of Directors’ Program Orientation and Tour

On Friday, February 27, HCAP board members toured several program sites across the island. The first stop was at the Kumuhonua Transitional Living Center, where Board Members were given a tour of the facility, met with staff and residents, and got to see the garden makeover received from Home Depot volunteers in November 2014.

Next, the board members visited the Halawa Head Start classroom, where they observed the Head Start teachers, volunteers and children in action.

Then it was on to Kalihi-Palama District Service Center located in the Kamehameha Homes Housing Project, followed by a visit to the Hā Initiative STEM Exploration Center at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Kalihi. The board members were impressed with the facility, as well as the curriculum and resources available to the students. While at the STEM Exploration Center, HCAP staff also gave short presentations about the various programs and services HCAP offers to residents island-wide.

Everyone seemed to enjoy and benefit from the tour, particularly new board members who may have been visiting these sites for the first time. HCAP is very fortunate to have a passionate and engaged Board of Directors, and thanks each one of them for taking time out of their busy schedules to experience HCAP’s facilities, programs, staff, and the people we serve in person.

Hā Initiative Hosts A Series of Family Nights at Exploration Centers

Throughout the week, the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program hosted a series of Family Nights at their STEM Exploration Centers.

Beginning on Tuesday, February 24th, the Hā Initiative Waianae STEM Exploration Center students and families gathered around a Lego Rubik’s Cube solver. The average number of moves to solve the cube was around 40, with an average time of about 2.5 to 3 minutes. From this project, students learned the difference between firmware and software and gained an understanding of the different types of programming. Throughout the night, the students also talked about their new project, which will determine effect that trash and waste has on our environment.

On Wednesday, February 25th, the Hā Initiative Central STEM Exploration Center chose to focus on water in its solid form, for Family Night. Students studied the Earth’s poles and the wildlife that inhabits them. The children also built their own “snowmen” with the “snow” that they created as a class from baking soda and hair conditioner. Their creations were imaginative and the process was both educational and enjoyable. Students were then encouraged to melt their snowmen by spritzing them with a water bottle filled with a “mysterious liquid”. The children were able to identify said liquid as being vinegar. Family night was very successful and concluded with a viewing of the movie “Frozen.”

On Thursday, February 26th, the Hā Initiative Windward STEM Exploration Center held its Family Night. The theme for the night was “Volcanoes.” Students narrated a PowerPoint presentation that they created, showing the engineering projects they’ve been working on. Students and families built mini-Volcanoes together and experimented with the chemical reaction of baking soda and vinegar. The highlight of the night was when the big volcano (powered by Diet Coke and Mentos) spewed over 6 feet high!

The Hā Initiative’s Kalihi STEM Exploration Center Family Night will take place on Friday, February 27th.

Head Start Kuhio Pre Plus Celebrates Chinese New Year

In celebration of Chinese New Year, Mrs. Ho, one of HCAP Head Start’s Kuhio Pre Plus parent’s friends, came to talk about Chinese New Year in their classroom. She told a story about Chinese New Year animals and showed different Chinese opera masks, Chinese paintings, Tanggu (Chinese Drum), a miniature Chinese lion dance costume, and Chinese calligraphy. The children also watched a short video of a Chinese Lion Dance held in Chinatown Honolulu and participated in painting Chinese calligraphy. The celebration was full of fun and learning and was great way to start the Chinese New Year!

Na Lima Hana Program Participant Utilizes HCAP Services for Self-Sufficiency

Kenneth became a client of HCAP’s Central District Services Center in June 2014. To search for and secure employment, he requested assistance with obtaining reliable transportation and hygiene products.

To help Kenneth with his job search, he enrolled in the Na Lima Hana-Employment Core Services Program (ECS) and completed Pre-Employment Training. The training provided Kenneth with employment preparation and job development skills. In addition, the Central District Service Center provided him with hygiene products and arranged for an assessment provided by HCAP’s partner Action with Aloha. With additional help from ECS, Kenneth was able to purchase a two-month bus pass and begin searching for employment.

In August 2014, Kenneth secured work with Romano’s Macaroni Grill as a steward, and later with D. Otani Produce, Inc. as a maintenance worker. Although Kenneth enjoyed his work, he continued to seek out further opportunities and obtained a job as a driver for Courier Corporation.

Congratulations to Kenneth, and mahalo to these companies for providing Kenneth with employment opportunities.