HCAP WEEKLY January 6, 2025

Central Client Enrolls in ECS Through HCAP Wraparound Services
Honolulu STEM Show and Tell with Marine Life Guest Speaker
HCAP’s Windward District Mask Distribution and Community Outreach

Central Client Enrolls in ECS Through HCAP Wraparound Services

Mikinta is a single mom of four children and recently fell behind on her bills due to the rising cost of living. She contacted HCAP’s Central District Service Center to request assistance in restoring electricity in her home. The staff at Central District Center were able to assist Mikinta and her family in restoring their electricity services through the Hawai’i Home Energy Assistance Program (H-HEAP).

Through HCAP’s many wraparound services, the staff members were also able to enroll Mikinta in the Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services (ECS) Program. This allowed Mikinta to participate in the ECS Job Readiness Training (JRT) where staff helped her in updating her resume, searching for jobs, and preparing for interviews.

During the intake, Central staff also provided Mikinta assistance in re-submitting her SNAP application and in applying for the reduced fare HOLO Card, which she successfully obtained. Additionally, ECS provided hygiene products for Mikinta to prepare for her job search. HCAP provided food donations for Mikinta and her family as they experienced food insecurity given their electricity had been off for months. They were also able to provide Holiday gifts and hygiene products for her four children.

Mikinta updated Central staff that she was offered a job at Allied Universal and that before she could start, she needed to renew her Guard Card required to work in security. ECS program staff assisted Mikinta with obtaining her Guard Card in order to begin employment.

Mikinta shared that she is so grateful for the assistance she received from HCAP for herself and her family. “My children and I have been struggling with a lot, and HCAP really has come through for me and my babies. I am truly thankful for Sheree who helped us and took us in for intake. Truly blessed, HCAP has not only helped me with one thing but so much with my electricity, [while] we were in the dark for two months [and] with personal needs like soap, hygiene [products], and food. They also helped me with my Guard Card renewal. I just want to say thank you again, HCAP. You are truly a blessing to our family. Words can’t express how grateful we are.”

Central District Service Center will be following up with Mikinta and her family, and have great confidence in her obtaining and maintaining her employment. Not only becoming self reliant, but thriving for herself and her children.

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


Honolulu STEM Show and Tell with Marine Life Guest Speaker

Every Wednesday, students at the Honolulu Hā Initiative have a Show and Tell session where students can stand in the front of the classroom and share items of sentimental value, a story, or a special talent with their peers. This week, students shared magic tricks, their favorite toys, and one student decided to try something different by playing a game with the class.

This week’s Show and Tell also included a special guest. Matt McDole, a spear fisherman from Colorado and Hawai’i resident for the past 19 years, visited HCAP’s Honolulu STEM Center in Pauoa and shared his three week experience sailing through the Channel Islands. He talked about the geography, Chumash people, culture, language, and marine life in this archipelago.

Matt started his presentation off by showing students where the Channel Islands are located and the indigenous names of these places. Students then got to learn about the vast wildlife that can be found in the Channel Islands, which includes sharks, sunfish, stingrays, crabs, abalone, giant black sea bass, swordfish, and seals. Matt then spoke about the Chumash people, the craft of building Chumash plank canoes called tomol, and the cultural significance of these vessels.  

The students’ favorite part of the presentation was watching underwater camera footage of Matt’s encounters with different types of wildlife during his diving and fishing ventures. Some of the species were those that students had never seen before. Show and Tell concluded with students excitedly asking Matt more questions about his travels and sharing adventures of their own.

Click here to learn more about Hā Initiative


HCAP’s Windward District Mask Distribution and Community Outreach

The HCAP Windward District Service Center received a generous donation of masks from Ahuimanu Elementary School. In return, the HCAP Windward District Staff have been distributing them to low-income families in Waimanalo and kūpuna living at the Kahuku Elderly Hau’oli Hale. It is an affordable housing community for those of older age and/or with disabilities located in the North Shore O’ahu Enterprise Zone consisting of 64 apartments in single story duplexes. These units are rented out for 30% of residents’ income and are reserved for those who earn at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

During the exchange, staff took the opportunity to check on the community’s vulnerable population to see if there were any other services they could provide during this time. Through the process, staff were able to welcome two new Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services clients who are working diligently on job searching and Job Readiness Training (JRT), which includes resume building, basic computer skills, interview skills and mock applications.

HCAP’s Windward District Manager expressed, “Through generous donations from the community, we are able to have these opportunities to provide basic supplies to those that may not be able to afford it. In return, we can offer some of the amazing programs and referrals that HCAP offers, especially to those who may not have heard of our agency and programs.”

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