HCAP WEEKLY JUNE 8, 2020

District Service Centers Prepare for High-Volume of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Applications
STEM Students Learn About Dolphins and Conservation While Taking a Virtual Tour of Dolphin Quest
HCAP Awarded Grant from Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc.
HCAP Selects New Executive Assistant
Head Start Staff Learn about Self-Care

District Service Centers Prepare for High-Volume of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Applications

HCAP’s District Service Centers are preparing for a high-volume of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) applications this year due to job losses associated with COVID-19.

In preparation for this year’s program, HCAP Community Workers and LIHEAP temporary staff attended a training at the Central District Service Center The training focused on the new LIHEAP processing procedures, which follow the City & County and state guidelines in response to COVID-19. This year, staff are processing LIHEAP applications at the Central District Service Center and applications are being submitted online, via mail or fax.

All staff who attended the training were required to wear masks at all times, maintained a 6 feet distance between workers and workstations, and sanitized areas and equipment both before and after use. The training was conducted by HCAP’s Community Services Manager Katy Perry and LIHEAP Coordinator Elisa Furtado-Fischer, from the Department of Human Services. The training was conducted through Zoom and provided important information to ensure that the program will run smoothly this year, despite the changes in processes. HCAP staff are dedicated to providing much needed services to our communities during this challenging time. Our teams are continuing to adapt to the new normal and working together to make sure sure that services are delivered safely.

For more information about the LIHEAP Program and to access the application, please visit our website

STEM Students Learn About Dolphins and Conservation While Taking a Virtual Tour of Dolphin Quest

This past week the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program students took a virtual tour of Dolphin Quest on Zoom. Alexa, Dolphin Quest’s Marine Mammal Specialist, introduced the two dolphins with her, Nai Noa and Liho. Alexa would make signals and in response Nai Noa and Liho would hide under water, swim away, and then jump out of the water at the other end of the pool! After the demonstration, Alexa showed the students the different parts of the dolphin and taught the students how to identify a dolphin by it’s fin shape. She also explained that a dolphin’s coloring, grey on their dorsal and a pinkish belly, helps them hide from their predators. But most importantly, the students learned about conservation and what we all can do to help wild animals. Now it was time for the fun! The students watched as Nai Noa and Liho performed tricks with a basketball. It was such a treat to watch!

At the end of the tour, Alexa answered the student’s questions. The students had lots of questions about dolphins and learned a lot about this fascinating marine mammal. After they said goodbye to Alexa, the students talked about their favorite parts of the tour. Many of the students loved when the dolphins jumped out of the water. It was a great virtual tour and the kids really enjoyed themselves, learned a lot about dolphins, and are excited to someday see the dolphins in real-life! Mahalo to Dolphin Quest for teaching our next generation of young conservationists!

HCAP Awarded Grant from Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc.

HCAP recently received a grant award from the Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc. to support HCAP’s Kupuna Independent Life Series. Friends of Hawaii Charities generates grant funding primarily through corporate sponsorship sales for its fundraising community events. Its flagship fundraising event is the Sony Open in Hawaii PGA TOUR golf tournament held each January at Waialae Country Club. Additional funding sources include charity donations and funds raised through The Friends Club.

This grant will provide resources for the Kupuna Independent Life Series which assists seniors with health education, support for living productive, independent lives, and proactive engagement with the community. All of our District Service Centers continue to remotely provide much needed services to our clients such as job readiness training, job placement, support services, housing referrals, individual tax preparation, and utilities assistance. Mahalo Friends of Hawaii Charities for supporting HCAP’s Mission of “Providing Opportunities and Inspiration to enable low-income individuals to achieve self-reliance.”

HCAP Selects New Executive Assistant

The Honolulu Community Action Program, Inc. is pleased to announce that James “Jojo” Upega has been selected as Executive Assistant for the agency. He will be responsible for providing administrative assistance to the Executive Director, coordinating activities of the Board of Directors, and attending to the needs of the agency.

Jojo has been with HCAP since 2010, starting as a Community Worker at the Kalihi-Palama District Service Center. In 2014, he became the Na Lima Hana Employment Core Services Program Coordinator, responsible for implementation and oversight of employment preparation training, case management, and job placement for unemployed and underemployed individuals. In 2017, Jojo was hired as HCAP’s Technical Projects Coordinator. Most recently, Jojo has been serving as Acting Executive Assistant.

Robert Piper, HCAP Executive Director, states “Jojo represents community action at its finest. He is the ultimate team player and brings a positive energy to everyone around him. He also provides a wide range of program and administrative knowledge and support. I cannot thank him enough for all of his dedication and support. ”

Head Start Staff Learn about Self-Care

HCAP Head Start Cluster 1 staff participated in a hat making activity. The purpose of the activity was to recognize the many hats we wear in life and the challenges of balancing all those roles. Program Manager, Erin shared the importance of maintaining self-care and recommended activities such as yoga, guided meditation and deep breathing. Staff learned how these self-care activities can help them to recharge and gain focus. HCAP Head Start staff recognize the importance of maintaining their mental health and taking care of their own needs so they can better serve our HCAP Head Start families.