HCAP Weekly November 30, 2015

In this week’s issue:

Mahalo to Everyone who Participated in #GivingTuesday!
Windward District Service Center Hosts Outreach Event at Waimanalo Beach Park
HCAP’s AmeriCorps VISTA’s Volunteer at the Hakipu’u Stream Restoration Project
Na Lima Hana Participant Finds Job as a Preschool Program Director’s Assistant
Kalihi STEM Students Showcase Projects at Family Night
HCAP Fall 2015 Quarterly Newsletter

Mahalo to Everyone who Participated in #GivingTuesday!

Once again HCAP encouraged the act of selflessness through our #GivingTuesday 2015 campaign. Thank you again to all those who supported HCAP during this wonderful season of giving! Below is a list of all HCAP’s #GivingTuesday events.

• Youth Services students wrote ‘Thank You’ Cards to military soldiers and veterans.
• Head Start Family Advocates and Leeward District Service Center staff passed out plate lunches, water bottles and blankets to the houseless community at the Waianae Boat Harbor and helped at the Ohana Produce food distribution later in the afternoon.
• HCAP’s AmeriCorps VISTAs volunteered at the Hakipu’u Stream Restoration Project in Kaneohe. The project goal was to remove invasive plants and the replant of native species.
• Windward District Service Center organized an outreach event at Waimanalo Beach Park in which staff served bentos, gave out blankets, food, and hygiene products.
• Head Start delivered 157 pounds of can goods to the Hawaii Foodbank.
• Central District Service Center staff donated blood to the Hawaii Blood Bank.

Windward District Service Center Hosts Outreach Event at Waimanalo Beach Park

On November 30th, Windward District Service Center staff participated in the #GivingTuesday campaign by organizing an outreach event to meet, talk story, and provide a variety of items to families living at Waimanalo Beach Park.

Community partners donated many of the items that were distributed. Turtle Bay donated 100 blankets, Keneke’s donated 100 bentos, Hope Chapel Kahalu’u donated boxes of clothes and footwear, Ohana of the Living God donated 100 12-packs of soda, HCAP’s Kumuhounua Transitional Living Center donated 100 individual hygiene packets, and Reiko Su’a and family donated additional hygiene products. Also, mahalo to all those who volunteered their time and support on this day: Davi, Rado, Kainani, and Tina from Kumuhounua Transitional Living Center; Jess, Doris, DeAdria, and Mary from Head Start; Nicole from Helping Hands Hawaii; and Pastor Virgil and Ewalani from Ohana of the Living God’s Pu`u Honua Initial Contact Shelter (PHICS).

Without these amazing partnerships we would not have been able to provide and distribute the items to all of the grateful recipients. Through this initial contact we hope to continue to build rapport with and offer services to the community. Mahalo to everyone involved who made this event such a success. We look forward to working together again in the near future and to host other events along the Windward coast.

HCAP’s AmeriCorps VISTA’s Volunteer at the Hakipu’u Stream Restoration Project

In the spirit of #GivingTuesday and in an effort to malama the aina (take care of the land), HCAP’s AmeriCorps VISTA’s Terah and Marie volunteered at Hui o Koʻolaupoko’s Hakipu’u Stream Restoration Project.

Dinosaur-sized trees, jigsaw shaped mountaintops, dangling vines, and gurgling streams. The natural beauty of the Ko’olaupoko region of Windward Oahu, which lies near Kualoa Ranch and overlooks Kaneohe bay, is undeniable. It is a special place that has inspired movie directors and attracts visitors from around the world. But unlike fake props and green screens, the tropical rainforests of Oahu need to be cared for or they will cease to exist for future generations.

HCAP’s AmeriCorps VISTAs met with the other volunteers at Hui o Ko’olaupoko’s Education Center. Everyone learned about land-based pollution and about invasive and native plant species. They also learned that the goal of the Hakipu’u Stream Restoration Project is to reduce sediment entering Hakipuʻu Stream and Kaneohe Bay by removing invasive plant species and increasing habitat for native aquatic species such as ʻōpae kalaʻole and ʻoʻopu.

After the introduction, Hui o Koʻolaupoko’s Community Coordinator took the volunteers on a fifteen minute walk through the valley to the project site. The project site was nestled below a little hill and next to the Hakipu’u Stream. The soothing sound of running water and leaves rustling in the wind, made the project site seem even more magical. There were already taro patches, native banana trees, and hibiscus plants, but surrounding that were mini forests of invasive plants. The volunteers grabbed gloves and got to work pulling the invasive plants with their hands and tossing them into buckets. After an hour or so, everyone was given a plant and taught proper planting techniques. Terah and Marie planted their own hibiscuses near the waterside.

Once the workday was over, the volunteers were led out of the jungle up a path that had sweeping views of Kaneohe Bay. It was a great day to give back and take care of one of the island’s natural treasures.

Na Lima Hana Participant Finds Job as a Preschool Program Director’s Assistant

Raynell approached Central District Service Center in May 2014 for assistance. She was living in transitional housing, unemployed and in need of transportation to search for work. Most of all, Raynell needed someone to believe in her. She had great potential and just needed some support and confidence. The Central District Service Center staff helped Raynell obtain reliable transportation and provided her with hygiene products. With hard work and dedication, she created a strong resume.

Raynell overcame many struggles, but after months of job searching, she was hired at Keiki O Ka Aina Preschool in January 2015. Keiki O Ka Aina has helped to nurture Raynell and she loves working in such a caring environment. She has found a meaningful job, which she loves and has now been employed at Keiki O Ka Aina Preschool for almost a year. On her days off, Raynell still goes to the preschool early in the morning to create beautiful flower arrangements from the foliage on the property. The flower arrangements Raynell creates each week exemplifies the joy and love she feels in her heart for Keiki O Ka Aina for believing in her. Raynell feels very fortunate to have so many people in her life who have given her so much love and support and it shows in every flower arrangement she creates.

Kalihi STEM Students Showcase Projects at Family Night

Kids, parents, and friends in the community came out to celebrate the holiday season and STEM education at the HCAP Kalihi-Palama STEM Exploration Center this past Monday. On display were the FIRST LEGO League and Jr. FIRST LEGO League projects, which the Kalihi-Palama kids had created, along with their robots. The students shared with their parents and community how they’d been helping to malama the aina as well as their community by performing regular community cleanups as well as educating the community about proper waste management and recycling. The Palamatrons’ (Jr. FLL team) tournament is this Saturday at the Neil Blaisdell Center, where they will be competing — graciously and professionally — with teams from all across the island. Everyone is invited to come and check them out as the event will be open to the public at 9:30 AM. GO PALAMATRONS!

HCAP Fall 2015 Quarterly Newsletter

We’re excited to share the Fall 2015 issue of Ku`I Na Lono: Spread the News.
This edition features these stories and more:

• GO! READ Ohana 100 Continues to Promote Literacy at HCAP Head Start
• Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Visits HCAP Head Start
• Fifth STEM Exploration Center Opens in Palolo.

View the Fall 2015 Quarterly here

View past Quarterly reports here