HCAP WEEKLY March 24, 2025

Leeward Client Receives Hybrid Water Heater through Weatherization Assistance

Gloria, a retired kupuna from the Waiʻanae community, scheduled an appointment with HCAP’s Leeward District Service Center to learn about the services HCAP has to offer. After completing her centralized intake forms, Community Service Specialists were able to help her complete a Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) application.

Upon approval of her application, the WAP team scheduled a home energy audit of Gloria’s home to assess the measures she would be eligible for. They found that Gloria was eligible to receive free, brand new replacements and upgrades in her home for LED light bulbs, a showerhead, aerators, a smoke detector and a hybrid water heater.

WAP Specialist, Shawn, provided Gloria with energy savings education, which involves ways to make her home more energy efficient and eventually save more money on her utility bills.

Shawn shared, “I’m happy to assist Gloria with obtaining energy efficient appliances so that she and her family may save money on utilities.” Pleased with her new appliances, Gloria has expressed her mahalo to HCAP.

Click here to learn more about Weatherization Assistance.

Windward Staff Conduct Outreach at Ka Malu Ko’olau Kauhale

The community specialists of the Windward District Service Center had the amazing opportunity to visit the Ka Malu Ko’olau Kauhale homeless shelter/tiny home project in Kāneʻohe and to share HCAP’s programs with its residents. Having celebrated its one-year anniversary in February, housing director Bob Wardlaw shared information about the day-to-day operations that take place in this community hub. Composed of 32 tiny homes, individuals who have been experiencing homelessness in the Kāneʻohe and surrounding Windward areas, now have a space that they can call home.

In addition to the residential units, there are bathrooms, a nurse’s station, kitchenette prep area, laundry facilities and spaces for residents to conduct meetings with their case managers. In the middle of the compound, the residents are able to enjoy a community living area consisting of a gym area, television set, games and picnic tables for everyone to gather and talk story or eat. Bob also shared hopes and plans for the near future of Ka Malu Ko’olau and was confident that this village would be self-sufficient and self-sustaining in a few years.

The residents are currently working, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Kāneʻohe, on a garden to create an area full of fruits, veggies and herbs that would help reduce the costs of shopping at a grocery store. There will also be a full kitchen for residents to utilize in the next few months.

Following the tour, HCAP’s Windward District staff were able to share information with residents about HCAP programs and services in hopes to work alongside the families toward their self-sufficiency goals.

HCAP staff look forward to the progress of Ka Malu Ko’olau Kauhale and can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Click here to learn more about HCAP’s programs and services.

Hā Initiative STEM Student Wins “Aloha Spirit” Artwork Contest

Congratulations to Hā Initiative STEM Student, Calum! His artwork was chosen from more than 500 entries and is currently on display at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

Calum expressed, “I got inspired by my grandpa to make art about Hawai’i and its people.”

Students were asked to create artwork based on the “Aloha Spirit.”  This included the culture of Hawaiʻi, the beauty of the islands, ocean life, warm hospitality, and ōlelo Hawaiʻi. The contest was hosted by the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation – Airports Division and the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

Please pay a visit to view Calum’s artwork at Concourse E in the Honolulu Airport.

Click here to learn more about Hā Initiative.