HCAP Weekly March 28, 2016

In this week’s issue:

2014-2015 Annual Report
HCAP’s Free Tax Assistance/Earned Income Tax Credit Program Closes Next Week
The Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program Hosts Family Nights
Kumuhonua Residents Find Permanent Housing in Wakea
Ohana Produce Volunteer Serves the Windward Community

2014-2015 Annual Report

We are pleased to present our annual report for the 2014-2015 Program Year. Each year, we provide program highlights and other information that showcases who we are and what we have accomplished during the course of the program year. In 2015 HCAP celebrated its 50th Anniversary, and we continue to provide a wide range of services to alleviate the conditions of poverty, assist in revitalizing low-income communities, and provide opportunities and inspiration to enable low-income individuals or families to achieve self-reliance.

View the 2014-2015 Annual Report here.

View past Annual Reports here.

HCAP’s Free Tax Assistance/Earned Income Tax Credit Program Closes Next Week

HCAP’s Free Tax Assistance/Earned Income Tax Credit Program offered at the 5 district service centers and the main office will come to a close next week. So far this season, HCAP has assisted more than 700 families or individuals file their federal tax returns electronically, saving these filers an average of $200 in tax preparation fees. The completed returns have brought more than $1,300,000 in federal tax refunds back into our local communities. Of the completed returns, 331 have qualified for the earned income credit, accounting for $629,000 of the federal tax refunds.

Some districts are booked through the end of the season, but anyone that still needs to file their taxes is encouraged to call any of the following locations to see if we can assist them: HCAP Main Office (Phone: 521-4531); Central District Service Center (Phone: 488-6834); Kalihi-Palama District Service Center (Phone: 847-0804); Leahi District Service Center (Phone: 732-7755); Leeward District Service Center (Phone: 696-4261); Windward District Service Center (Phone: 239-5754).

New this year- Anyone who has received a 1095-A Form from the Health Connector or Healthcare.gov MUST file a federal tax return in order to continue to receive assistance with their medical premium coverage. There will be FREE tax clinic at the Hawaii State Capitol on Saturday, April 2 from 9:00am-1:45pm specifically to assist these filers. Please help spread the word.

The Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program Hosts Family Nights

Over the past two weeks, the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program’s STEM Exploration Centers hosted Family Nights. Parents, siblings, family members, and the community were invited to attend the quarterly Family Nights to see what the STEM students have been learning in the program. In addition, James Upega, Program Coordinator of the Na Lima Hana Employment Core Services Program, and other HCAP staff shared information with parents and adult family members about other programs and services offered by HCAP.

The Pālolo STEM Exploration Center displayed many of their past and present student projects, reports and illustrations. Students and parents enjoyed viewing class projects such as the human body and the life cycle of a butterfly. In total, the STEM students have released more than 24 butterflies!

The Windward STEM Exploration Center has been learning about self-sustaining aquaponics systems, chemical elements, and how these systems were sustained in many cultures throughout the world. Parents and participants were excited to create their own aquaponics project using a 2-liter plastic bottle, a live plant, gravel and fish. While putting together their project, the students proudly shared their knowledge with their parents.

The Leeward STEM Exploration Center proudly shared their outdoor garden. The students are growing green beans, eggplant, cucumbers, tomatoes and pineapple. The students harvested 15 cucumbers, 10 eggplants and 5 tomatoes for their families to take home and use in creating healthy meals. Participants also discussed charts and logs used to monitor the growth of the garden plants, and how natural compost helps to provide nutrients to the soil.

The Central STEM Exploration Center prepared projects in hydroponics using 2-liter plastic bottles, cotton cloth, soil, water, and marigold seeds. Parents and participants filled the bottom half of the plastic bottle with water, threaded the cloth through the inverted cut bottle top and placed it on the on the bottom half. Filling the inverted top with soil, the students planted the seeds. The students explained that once the seeds sprouted, they would need to be kept in the sunlight in order to grow. The water would then be soaked upwards by the cloth to the soil. Parents were proud to see how much the students had learned in the STEM classroom.

Kalihi-Palama STEM Exploration Center revisited their introduction to civics, public speaking and computer engineering. Students shared problems that affected them or their communities and how they would address the problems. Participants presented their “Voting App” and explained how it helped to conduct a mock election. On display was a refrigerator box, which served as the voting booth, and the Smart board, which served as the voting machine. Everyone in attendance was able to cast his or her ballot and vote!

The Family Nights at all the STEM Exploration Centers were lots of fun and a great success. Both the parents and students can’t wait to attend future Family Nights!

Kumuhonua Residents Find Permanent Housing in Wakea

Estelle, David and Bryant became a household of three at Kumuhonua Transitional Living Center. While at Kumuhonua, they all helped to maintain the grounds, set up for workshops, and assist other residents. While in the program, Estelle, David, and Bryant utilized many different resources. They qualified for and utilized Punawai Program’s Renter Match through Helping Hands Hawaii and the Credit Builder Program through Hawaiian Community Assets. Due to all their hard work, Estelle, David and Bryant secured permanent housing at Wakea in Kapolei. Kumuhonua staff will miss this family and wish them all the best!

Ohana Produce Volunteer Serves the Windward Community

Ethel has been an Ohana Produce volunteer for the Windward District Service Center since the program started over 10 years ago. She is a committed volunteer, who has rarely missed an Ohana Produce distribution. “Aunty Ethel makes our job so much easier here at the Windward District Service Center,” said Community Worker Sonny Jean Preston. “She has helped us handle the entire produce section and she also oversees our volunteers. We are so blessed to have her.” The Windward District Service Center staff also enjoys listening to Ethel’s stories of the “old Ohana Produce distribution days.” Ethel would share memories of having to put up a tent directly across Windward District Service Center every month. The Ohana Produce program now runs out of the KEY Project, located at 47-200 Waihee Road and is held every third Monday of the month (except for June). The Windward District Service Center staff would like to extend a big mahalo to Aunty Ethel for her 10+ years of service.