HCAP Weekly October 14, 2019

Na Lima Hana Participant Transitions Back into Community
Leeward Kūpuna Wear Pink to Raise Breast Cancer Awareness
SCSEP’s Kūpuna Quality of Life Workshops Begins
Lincoln STEM Students Make Strides in First LEGO League Innovation Project
HCAP Assists KEY Project at 38th Annual Century Ride

Na Lima Hana Participant Transitions Back into Community

Amy was a self-employed business owner for many years before going through hardships that resulted in her incarceration. As she was transitioning back into the community, Amy was introduced to HCAP. A community worker at HCAP’s Windward District Service Center was doing a presentation at Po’ailani Inc., a treatment center Amy had been receiving services from. Shortly after expressing interest in HCAP’s services, Amy enrolled in the Na Lima Hana Employment Core Services (ECS) Program, attended Job Readiness Training (JRT) classes at the center, and received a variety of services including, interview skills training and resume development.

Upon completing the ECS Program, Amy was hired at Big City Diner as a server. With ECS Program funds, HCAP was able to help Amy obtain work clothes and shoes.

Things are looking up for Amy. Amy is thriving as a server. Due to her leadership skills at Big City Diner, Amy was offered a management position that she politely declined. Amy still meets with her community worker and is currently being assisted with housing needs. Amy has been referred to the City’s Rent to Work program and will be attending an orientation for a housing voucher later this month. Windward District Service Center would like to congratulate Amy on all the progress she has made, and will continue to provide her with case management services.

Leeward Kūpuna Wear Pink to Raise Breast Cancer Awareness

Last Thursday, as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, some participants of the Kūpuna Independent Life Series at Leeward District Service Center all wore pink. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual health campaign every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research to ultimately find a cure. The kūpuna discussed the importance of breast cancer testing during their weekly focus group.

Keeping in the spirit of health and nutrition, the kūpuna had their first session of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) class with University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service’s Lori Matsuoka. In between healthy meals, the kūpuna did their stretches and had a fun time dancing to the “Cha Cha Slide”.

In anticipation for Halloween, the kūpuna also made little monsters out of Popsicle sticks. They were given the choice of making a Frankenstein, a Googly-eyed monster, a jack-o’-lantern, or a ghost.

SCSEP’s Kūpuna Quality of Life Workshops Begins

Last Monday, the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) held their first session of the Kūpuna Quality of Life Workshops. The SCSEP staff and its first 29 SCSEP participants attended a two-hour workshop during which they were provided water and snacks, and a presentation on Medicare by Kamaka Jingao of Financial Benefits Insurance. The SCSEP participants learned about the many advantages of Medicare and how to determine what each plan provides. SCSEP participants enjoyed the information and the presentation. SCSEP will be looking forward to the next session on October 21nd with an expected attendance of 28 SCSEP participants.

Lincoln STEM Students Make Strides in First LEGO League Innovation Project

This week at Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program’s Lincoln STEM Exploration Center, a 21st Century Community Learning Center, the students made great strides in their First LEGO League Innovation Project. This project is designed to get kids to think about engineering solutions to city-wide problems, and eventually provide solutions to real city planners in Honolulu. The problem they chose: Litter.

The team of six students first discussed what factors contribute to litter and what solutions would work the best in our city. They proposed putting more sidewalk trash bins in key locations around their neighborhood. One student put together a map print-out and used Google’s street view to decide where the bins should go.

One of the kids also came up with the idea to make a “smart bit” that would have a detector to alert the city if the rubbish bin needs to be emptied. From that initial spark, the team delved into the best way to make the detector, be it a scale to measure weight, or optical or ultrasonic sensor to measure fullness. The team has plans to make a prototype detector, as they also learned that this idea is being researched in cities around the world.

HCAP Assists KEY Project at 38th Annual Century Ride

On Sunday, September 29th, Windward District Service Center Community Worker Cory joined KEY Project in hosting the members of the Hawaii Bicycling League at the 38th Annual Honolulu Century Ride.

Every year, KEY Project offers their facilities and services as the 75 mile-marker rest stop to the riders of Hawaii Bicycling League.  Volunteers provide refreshments, shade, and a safe, friendly place to take a break. This year, Cory, her daughter, KEY Project, and community volunteers from B.R.A.V.E. Hawaii helped cheer on the riders and direct traffic to keep Windward’s roads and riders safe.

It was a fun community event. Serving the Windward community and representing HCAP is Windward District Service Center’s purpose!