HCAP WEEKLY JUNE 15, 2020

STEM Kits Delivered to Families Across Hawaiʻi
Kumuhonua Resident Achieves Sobriety and Finds Permanent Housing After Experiencing Homelessness
Struggling to Pay Bills, Mother of Six Receives Help from HCAP’s Weatherization Assistance Program and Applies for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
HCAP Head Start Children Gear Up for a Summer of Learning and Fun

STEM Kits Delivered to Families Across Hawaiʻi

To kick off the first week of summer, the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program developed and distributed the 4th round of STEM kits to 35 families across Hawaiʻi. Our staff even mailed one STEM kit to Maui!

This week’s STEM kit focused on crystal formation. Teachers and students took a closer look at crystal formation as a review of the Mixtures and Solution Unit. The topic might seem rather mundane at first, but upon deeper inspection it raises truly amazing questions. What is a fractal? Why do crystals form these intricate patterns? How does 1 cup of water manage to disappear three times the amount of table sugar? Students tackled all these questions and more with three home lab experiments: the Salt Crystal Garden, the DIY Rock Candy, and a fascinating and instantaneous crystallization of “Hot Ice.” All the materials for the experiments were included in the students STEM kits. The last experiment of “Hot Ice”, also known as sodium acetate, demonstrated how a seed crystal can freeze liquid solution in seconds and can surprisingly feel warm to the touch. It was amazing to watch the liquid freeze before everyone’s eyes. The students had a blast seeing the magic of science and can’t wait for their next science experiment!

If you are interested in getting your keiki involved in the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program, please email hcapstem@hcapweb.org.

Kumuhonua Resident Achieves Sobriety and Finds Permanent Housing After Experiencing Homelessness

Kamahele was employed at a moving company for 10 years until he suffered an injury and could no longer work. Unable to pay for his apartment, Kamahele found himself on the streets in the Kalihi, too ashamed to ask for help from family and friends. As he continued to live on the streets, Kamahele searched for employment online and applied for his social security benefits. Fortunately, the Institute of Human Services (IHS) found Kamahele and helped him enter the Sumner Men’s Emergency Shelter. A few weeks later, Kamahele was transferred to HCAP’s Kumuhonua Transitional Living Center where he attended all the classes provided through Kumuhonua and it’s providers. Kamahele kept his twice a month appointments with his Case Manager and attended monthly house meetings. With the help of his case manager, Kamahele was able to increase his income by obtaining his social security benefits and he began to save money as part of his housing plan. Kamahele had also relapsed on meth and was encouraged to seek substance abuse treatment. He was accepted into Hina Makua’s Outpatient Program and with dedication he successfully completed the program. Kamahele has been clean and sober for a year now and continues to attend his AA meetings daily. Kumuhonua staff is proud to announce that with the assistance of HCAP’s Rapid Re-Housing Program, Kamahele is moving out and into his own place. Kumuhonua staff are proud of Kamahele’s hard work and dedication and wish him the best in this new chapter of his life.

HCAP’s Kumuhonua Transitional Living Center remains open through the statewide COVID-19 shelter-in-place order. We continue to provide housing and services for Kumuhonua residents, striving to maintain the safest environment possible for this vulnerable population.

Struggling to Pay Bills, Mother of Six Receives Help from HCAP’s Weatherization Assistance Program Applies for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

With six children and two grandchildren, Raylene lives a very fast paced life. Life got even more stressful after COVID-19 and her family’s financial situation has become the number one stressor in their lives. “With six children and two grandchildren to care for, basic needs can spiral downhill real fast,” Raylene said.

When Raylene first heard of HCAP, she couldn’t believe that there were services available to help families pay for their electric bills. But despite her disbelief, she reached out to HCAP’s Leahi District Service Center and learned about the Weatherization Assistance Program. Prior to receiving HCAP services, Raylene’s family had no idea how much electricity they consumed and wasted on a daily basis. They learned how to conserve energy through the Weatherization Assistance Program as well as applied for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program’s Emergency Crisis Intervention (ECI). Raylene and her family were very happy to find HCAP’s services and hope to continue lowering their electricity bills and conserving energy through their weatherization education.

HCAP Head Start Children Gear Up for a Summer of Learning and Fun

Our HCAP Head Start & Early Head Start students miss seeing their teachers in-person. But luckily for them, our Head Start Program is continuing during the summer so the children can have fun virtually with their teachers all summer long!

Teachers from Aiea I provided each child with cutouts of themselves and performed learning activities with the students using these cutouts. The children can take these cutouts with them on whatever adventures they have during their time away from the classroom. This activity derives from the “Flat Stanley Project”. The Flat Stanley Project was designed to improve the reading and writing skills of elementary aged children. The project helps children learn about different people and places.

Dain from 442 II Head Start used STEM concepts to create his own bubble blowing instrument from recyclables and items found around his home.