HCAP Weekly October 31, 2016

In this week’s issue:

HCAP “IT Guy” Teaches Windward STEM Students About Computers
Kupuna Independent Life Series Demonstrates Healthy Eating and Exercise
Windward District to Hold Job Fair
Head Start Family Engagement Activity Creates a Creature
HCAP’s Weatherization Program Shares Refrigerator Energy Conservation Tips
The Hā Initiative Celebrates Halloween and Prepares For This Weekend’s Zoo Field Trip

HCAP “IT Guy” Teaches Windward STEM Students About Computers

This week at the Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program’s Windward STEM Exploration Center, Mr. Brandon, HCAP’s IT Manager visited as a guest speaker. Mr. Brandon gave a presentation about the components of a computer’s “hardware,” or the physical parts of a computer. The students learned about the basic parts of a tower case and the external wiring. Mr. Brandon explained what the internal hard drive is, and how it is the computer’s “brain.” He explained the internal components work collaboratively within the tower, like a calculator, but smarter. He also discussed that basic assembly is usually comprised of a motherboard, processor, central memory, hard disc drive, connections, the monitor, as well as the keyboard, mouse or some kind of a touch pad. These parts make up a computer’s skeleton, through which its binary code can calculate through each internal component like a human body’s circulatory system. Because these parts are usually fragile and hidden inside the case, the students were excited to touch and hold the computer’s hidden parts.

Kupuna Independent Life Series Demonstrates Healthy Eating and Exercise

On November 1st, HCAP’s Windward District Service Center held its eighth Kupuna Independent Life Series Program session. A special team from Hawai’i Pacific Health, including Holly Yamachika, Doreen Braz, and Jason Jones, Exercise Physiologist at the Straub Medical Center assisted the kupuna by testing their blood pressure, blood sugar (glucose), and cholesterol levels. Dr. John Kao, Director of Cardiovascular Services, of Pali Momi Medical Center discussed the results with each person and spoke generally about heart health. Pali Momi Medical Center Executive Chef, Daniel Kahaloumi and Marissa Ono, Dietetic Intern, conducted a cooking demonstration of a healthy salad using vegetables that Waimanalo kupuna are able to get at their local community farmer’s market. After consuming the delicious salad, Jason continued the day with band exercises demonstrating stretching movements that keep our bodies limber. All seventeen kupuna went home with a gift basket that contained a salad kit, recipes, and health scorecards to take to their doctors if they choose.

Windward District to Hold Job Fair

HCAP’s Windward District Service Center will be holding a job fair from 9am to 12pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Kaneohe. Over 25 employers will be in attendance, promoting job opportunities in Windward Oahu. HCAP staff will also be in attendance to help attendees with employment support and providing information about HCAP’s programs and services.

For more information, please call 808-239-5754

Head Start Family Engagement Activity Creates a Creature

Waialua Head Start held a family engagement activity themed “Create a Creature.” As part of the Second Step curriculum, children learn about feelings and friendship. In this activity, children created their own creature and parents asked about the characteristics of their child’s creature. Shown in the photo above is Mana Kaila. She is feeling hungry and needs a hamburger to energize herself before she plays with her monster friends.

HCAP’s Weatherization Program Shares Refrigerator Energy Conservation Tips

The average household refrigerator uses approximately 90w-100w of electrical energy per hour. The amount of energy used can be greatly reduced by practicing good energy conservation techniques.

Techniques that are free:
• Adjust the refrigerator temperature settings. Optimum refrigerator range is 37 to 40°F and freezer range is 0 to 5°F. Avoid placing your refrigerator on unreasonably low temperature settings. If the temperature control system does not specify degrees, check the manual for corresponding settings.
• Minimize door openings as much as possible. Cool air escapes every time the refrigerator door is opened. The unit then works harder to replace the air. Keep the door open no longer than necessary and be sure to close the door completely.
• Allow hot foods to cool before placing them in the refrigerator. Hot food increases the temperature in the refrigerator temporarily forcing the refrigerator to work harder to keep the air cool.
• Keep the refrigerator full. A full refrigerator retains cold better than an empty one. If the refrigerator is nearly empty, store water-filled containers inside. The mass of cold items will enable the refrigerator to recover more quickly after the door has been opened.
• Do not overfill your refrigerator or freezer since that will interfere with the circulation of cold air inside.
• Turn on your refrigerator’s “energy saver” switch. In damp environments make sure that excess condensation does not form on the inside of the unit. If condensation forms, turn the energy saver switch off.
• Keep your refrigerator away from heat sources, such as an oven, a dishwasher and direct sunlight from a window. A 10°F increase in surrounding temperature can result in 20% higher energy consumption.
• Check door seals (also called the gasket) on the refrigerator. A broken seal is the same as leaving the door open. Replace seals that are torn or partially missing. To test it, close the door on a single sheet of paper and try to pull it out. If it slides out easily, the gasket needs to be replaced to prevent cold air from leaking out, or consider buying a new unit.
• Avoid blocking the air flow passages to and from the condenser coils. Cleaning the condenser coils will save energy and help the refrigerator run better and more efficiently. The condenser coils ( hot coils ) should be cleaned once a year. If you have a pet with long hair, it is a good idea to clean coils every 6 months.
• Regularly defrost manual-defrost models. Frost buildup increases the amount of energy needed to keep the motor running. Avoid excessive ice build-up on the interior surfaces of the evaporator.
• Turn off and recycle your second refrigerator. Many of these secondary units (usually older and less energy efficient) use as much as 40% more energy than a new model.

Techniques at a Low To Medium Cost:
• Refrigerators with anti-sweat heaters (which prevent condensation) consume 5 to 10% more energy. Buy models with an “energy saver” switch that lets you turn the heaters down or off.
• Refrigerators under 25 cubic feet will meet the needs of most households. The models over 25 cubic feet use significantly more energy. If you are thinking about purchasing such a large unit, you may want to reconsider.
• Buy ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models only. They use high efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms to improve energy efficiency.
• ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use at least 15 percent less energy than required by current federal standards and 40 percent less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001.

The Hā Initiative Celebrates Halloween and Prepares For This Weekend’s Zoo Field Trip

The Hā Initiative: Creative STEM After-School Program Kalihi-Palama STEM Exploration Center celebrated Halloween with a big party! Kids and adults had a great time decorating the classroom, and showcasing their awesome costumes in their annual costume contest. Categories included, ‘scariest’, ‘funniest’, ‘most creative’, and ‘best overall.’ Movie characters were a popular theme. The kids were challenged to coordinate a short (1 minute or less) to compete for the category winner of ‘best skit.’

Additionally, the students continued to prepare for their zoo field trip by focusing lessons on zoology, biology, and researching the animals that the students will see at the Honolulu Zoo this Sunday. Everyone is very excited and the students are busy coming up with questions to ask animal experts at the zoo