HCAP WEEKLY May 26, 2025

Recap of Head Start’s 2024-2025 School Year!

HCAP Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms across the island have wrapped up another successful school year. From August 2024 to the end of May 2025, the program served 1,384 children and families throughout O’ahu. The stories below are just some of the activities and lessons that the keiki participated in this past year!

At Waimalu Head Start, the children participated in a “Love Bug” project with Ms. Tammy, the school’s counselor, as an extension of their insect study. They created their own ladybug wings using stamps, pieces of colored construction paper and yarn. Antennae were also created using paper head bands to finalize their ladybug costumes. The children then paraded around campus pretending to be beautiful ladybugs.

With many of the Head Start classrooms being located on DOE campuses, the Head Start children and families have firsthand experiences with DOE staff and become acclimated with their future elementary schools.

As part of their Water Study, Head Start children at Kaneohe explored the fascinating world of marine life by observing and interacting with an octopus. Teachers led their students in discussions about the unique features of the amazing animal.

The children expressed their learning through art, drawing detailed pictures of the octopus based on their firsthand experience. This immersive activity sparked curiosity and excitement, deepening students’ understanding of ocean life while fostering creativity and scientific inquiry.

Head Start children at 442 and Kaala Pre-Plus delved into their Garden Study with hands-on activities like planting seeds, using gardening tools, and caring for plants. They learned about plant growth and the life cycle while seeing the steps to growing plants. Students were able to foster curiosity, teamwork, and a love for nature through this engaging exploration. Collaboration is an essential aspect of promoting school readiness and social skills in Head Start & Early Head Start children.

Click here to learn more about Head Start and Early Head Start.

Weatherization Team Outreach at the Celebrate Micronesia Festival 2025

The 11th annual Celebrate Micronesia Festival took place last month at the Bishop Museum. It was a day full of traditional and contemporary art, dance, fashion, stories, poetry, food, and music in honor of the 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 “Navigating Forward.” As a non-profit organization, HCAP strives to help individuals and families hone the tools to achieve self-reliance and navigate forward. Many festival goers were very interested in HCAP’s programs and services including: the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services Program (ECS), Hawai’i Home Energy Assistance Program (H-HEAP), Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After School Program, and more.

Amber Keaulana, HCAP’s WAP Program Coordinator shared, “It was great to connect with those in attendance, sharing information about our agency and programs. It was a wholesome, fun-filled day with presentations from the different islands, cultures, exhibits, and food.”

Excitedly, HCAP staff were also able to meet with former WAP Specialist, Lissette Yamase, who now showcases her Micronesian roots through her charcoal art.

Gracia Marsono of HCAP’s Kalihi-Palama District Service Center expressed a personal connection to this event as she is of Chuukese descent. “[Seeing] so many of our people out there and so involved. I, myself, learned so much about our culture and about myself, too. It motivated me to dream big.”

HCAP staff extend their gratitude to the Celebrate Micronesia Festival and its partners for allowing them to take part in this amazing event.

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

STEM Students Learn About Environmental Conservation and Mental Health

This week at Honolulu and Kalihi STEM Exploration Centers, the student explorers were treated to two exciting and meaningful visits from Sanna and Arisa, representatives from the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) Outreach Team, and Daphnée, a mental health coordinator and counselor.

Sanna and Arisa taught the keiki about the vital mission of protecting Hawai‘i’s communities, industries, economy, and natural environment from the serious threat of damaged coconut palms posed by CRB boring into the palm crowns to feed on sap. Through hands-on learning and engaging conversations, the Hā Initiative students gained insight into how education, awareness, detection, prevention, and treatment all work together to defend Hawai‘i’s islands from CRB and how each of us plays a role in keeping Hawai‘i thriving.

Students also had the opportunity to focus on their mental health and well-being when Mrs. Daphnée gave a guest talk and conducted a wellness and safety plan exercise with the STEM classes. Each student wrote down what makes them feel distressed, things that make them feel better and safer, people they can trust and rely on, where their safe space is, and what matters the most to them. This lesson concluded with the discussion of local mental health resources for keiki in Hawai‘i.

Click here to learn more about Hā Initiative.