HCAP WEEKLY January 12, 2026

Head Start Keiki Immerse in Field Trips and Real-World Experiences

Head Start classrooms began exploring beyond their campus through the adventure of field trips. Field trips bridge classroom learning to real-world experiences through immersing children in engaging activities that develop their social-emotional skills, promote parent and family engagement, builds confidence and independence and reveals that learning occurs in a variety of modalities while being creative and fun! Some classrooms discovered the wonders of nature while visiting Waimanalo Country Farms and the Ko’olau Farmers Market. Tractor rides, petting zoos and gardening scavenger hunts were a few of the ways everyone learned about the plants and animals grown on a farm. They also learned about life on the farm and made direct connections to their study on “Things that Grow”.

Other classrooms engaged in STEM based experiences. In celebration of the end of their Job and Career study, some Head Start classrooms visited Windward Community College’s Imaginarium and Science Lab. There, they engaged in hands-on activities like exploring magnets and gravity. While back in the classroom, their learning was extended through additional experiments that included color blending while wearing lab coats and safety goggles. These experiences not only deepened children’s understanding of science and nature but also strengthened family connections and highlighted the joy of learning together. These first adventures truly planted the seed for curiosity, discovery, and community engagement.

Click here to learn more about Head Start.

Tuition Assistance Allows Father to Gain CDL and Provide a Better Future for His Family

Humble is a father to five children and came to HCAP’s Kalihi-Palama District Service Center while unemployed. He experienced struggles with maintaining employment in the past, and it was difficult to support his family with his level of income. He knew that he had to make a change in his life to create a better living situation for him and his family. With a dream career of becoming a truck driver in mind, Humble sought HCAP services with courage to pursue this. He shared “I’ve always wanted to go into the trucking industry because of the competitive pay and its strong job security, but because of financial barriers, I need tuition assistance to enroll in the CDL [Certified Driver’s License] classes.” 

Through HCAP’s Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services, Humble was eligible to receive the program’s tuition assistance. After the tuition assistance allowed him to afford CDL classes, he began his courses in September of 2025 and successfully obtained his certificate of completion two months later. With his CDL under his belt, Humble is now a full-time driver for a delivery company. 

Humble expressed his excitement and gratitude to start fresh, gain new experiences and opportunities for him and his family to grow. 

Click here to learn more about Nā Lima Hana.

Researching Endangered Animals on World Wildlife Conservation Day at Honolulu STEM

Last month, the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program students at the Honolulu STEM Exploration Center honored World Wildlife Conservation Day by learning about endangered animals and about actions they can take to maintain Earth’s biodiversity. Students recognized this day by working together in groups to research an endangered animal. 

While many of the older students had worked in groups and completed research projects before, most of the younger students with limited experience got a chance to practice these skills. Students used books and the internet to research their animals, habitats, and causes that led to them becoming endangered. Some of the animals the students chose to present included the nēnē goose, axolotls, sunda tigers, cheetahs, and spinner dolphins.

The class spent several days researching facts, drawing animals, creating posters, and practicing their presentations in front of each other. Impressively, every student was able to speak in front of the entire class about their group’s animals. The presentations showcased courage, teamwork, and communication in a way that lays the foundation for group STEM projects.

Click here to learn more about Hā Initiative.