HCAP WEEKLY July 10, 2023

Kumuhonua Participant on the Road to Success

Kumuhonua Transitional Living Center participant Megan entered the program in November of 2022. She had two set goals that she wanted to accomplish during her time as a participant at Kumuhonua. Her first goal was to secure employment, so she enrolled in HCAP’s Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services Program. Megan began her search for employment and after submitting several job applications, achieved her goal of obtaining employment. In April of 2023, Megan was thrilled to be hired as a Resident Aide at Kumuhonua. She was excited to come on board as an HCAP employee and to contribute to her temporary place of residency.

The second goal Megan had set for herself was to find housing. Although this goal is ongoing, Megan has once again received amazing news. In February 2023, the City and County of Honolulu’s Section 8 Program opened up applications for their waitlist. This application was a lottery meaning out of the tens of thousands of applicants, the City and County would only pull and accept a few thousand. Megan was one of the applicants chosen, and is now on the housing waitlist for The City and County of Honolulu’s Section 8 Program. Kumuhonua staff is proud of Megan for continuing to work hard to achieve her goals!

Click Here to learn more about the Kumuhonua Transitional Living Center. 

Leahi District Service Center Staff Attends the 2023 Celebrate Micronesia Festival

HCAP Leahi District Service Center specialists participated in the 2023 Celebrate Micronesia Festival held at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum.

Bishop Museum collaborated with partners such as the Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center Arts Program, Center for Pacific Islands Studies at UH Mānoa, and Micronesian Community Leaders, for a day full of celebrating traditional and contemporary art, dance, fashion, stories, poetry, food, and music of the people and cultures of the Republic of Palau, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Guåhan (Guam), Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Kiribati and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

This year’s theme was Resilience. As a non-profit organization, HCAP strives to help individuals and families achieve self-reliance as well as a sense of belonging in Oʻahu Communities. A day of fellowship allowed HCAP staff to create partnerships with like minded organizations such as: Seams Wonderful, Comprehensive Family Services, TIDES (UH Mānoa), and Hawaiʻi Language World Map. Many festival attendees were interested in HCAP Programs including: the Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services Program, Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program, Head Start & Early Head Start Programs, and more. HCAP Leahi Staff was grateful to attend the Celebrate Micronesia Festival!

Click Here to learn more about HCAPs Programs and Services. 

Professional Development with Head Start

HCAP’s Head Start & Early Head Start programs support the personal and professional development of its staff through tuition assistance with acquiring certifications and degrees, providing year-round training and attending regional and national Head Start conferences. Formal and informal professional development opportunities empower and equip Head Start & Early Head Start staff with new knowledge and skills that promote growth and expertise within their career. Several Education staff were able to attend the NHSA conference in Phoenix, Arizona where they learned positive, age-appropriate strategies to increase children’s engagement within the classroom and redirect challenging behaviors. This new knowledge will benefit their work moving forward by promoting positive social interactions and engaging classroom environments.

Click Here to learn more about Head Start & Early Head Start Programs.