When the Lahaina wildfires devastated West Maui, Michael Young, apprenticeship and trades coordinator at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, not only lost his home but also saw the urgent community need for basic rebuilding skills.

“I grew up in Lahaina and saw how many homes were lost or badly damaged,” Young said. “People wanted to know if there were programs that taught carpentry, framing, roofing, painting—anything that would help them start restoring their homes.”

From that need, the Hale ±ÊÄå±è²¹ʻ¾± program—meaning “small shelter”—emerged. The hands-on initiative, based at ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Maui College, builds 8-by-10-foot portable sheds that are small enough to be delivered to landowners without construction permits.

Real relief

These sheds, which double as teaching tools for participants, provide essential storage and, for some, temporary shelter. To date, 58 sheds have been delivered, with 220 households still on a waiting list.

“This is a way for people to feel safe and regain a sense of stability,” said Moani Whittle-Wagner, an academic support specialist who named the project. “Drivers are often greeted with hugs and tears. They’re small structures, but the relief is real.”

An helps ensure Lahaina residents and displaced families have the skills and materials they need to regain a sense of stability. To make a gift, click .

Providing hope

The program offers more than just physical relief; it provides hope for long-term recovery. Lahaina resident Gene Castillo, whose family lost multiple homes, found both skills and a forward focus in the program, recalling the evacuation with his then-pregnant wife and young daughter.

Read more ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ Giving Day stories

“Without her,” he said gesturing toward his now two-year-old daughter Zanel, “I think we would have been lost. She gave us something to look forward to.”

Hale ±ÊÄå±è²¹ʻ¾± is also rebuilding lives by offering pathways into the trades, bringing together credit courses, union apprenticeships and free community classes. A pre-apprenticeship program with the Carpenters Union reports a 100% placement rate, providing displaced residents with career opportunities.

“These sheds are more than wood and nails,” said Whittle-Wagner. “They’re hope in a time of loss.”

Read more about and more Giving Day opportunities.

and are collaborating on a new for kamaʻāina (Hawaiʻi residents). The three-year pilot program provides highly specialized technical training and commercial work experience to students enrolled in Hawaiʻi CC’s (EIMT) program.

The Keck Observatory electrician apprenticeship program is the first of its kind; Hawaiʻi CC EIMT alumnus Jerez Tehero of Hilo came up with the idea after being inspired by the Kamaʻāina Connections Program (KCP)—a leadership development initiative centered in Hawaiʻi values and cultural perspectives that supports kamaʻāina Maunakea Observatories staff. Tehero, a KCP member, developed the vision and framework for the apprenticeship to create more workforce development opportunities for the local community.

“Living in Hawaiʻi, on the Big Island especially, we don’t have a lot of opportunities to gain electrical experience on commercial industrial installations,” said Tehero, who is currently the Keck Observatory lead electrician/infrastructure technician.

“When I was working my way up the trade, I struggled to figure out how to get my requisite licensing hours done,” he said. “Fortunately, I was able to earn my commercial industrial hours working for the Hawaiʻi County Traffic Division. But not everyone has that opportunity, so I wanted to create a career pathway designed to give students an opportunity they may not otherwise get.”

Valuable hours of experience

Evan Ida, a Hilo High School alum, was the very first Hawaiʻi CC student selected. He began the apprenticeship in July 2022 and will shadow Tehero, a supervising electrician, for about 600 hours until he graduates in May 2023 to develop a firm understanding of commercial and industrial electrical automation systems. These valuable hours will count toward the required 10,000 electrical work hours needed to become a licensed journeyman electrician in the State of Hawaiʻi, part of which includes commercial and industrial hours that are difficult to fulfill with the limited number of companies that perform this type of work on Hawaiʻi Island.

“The work experience at Keck Observatory is amazing,” Ida said. “I spent the summer working with a residential electrical company in Hilo and that was great, I learned a lot. What I’ve been learning at Keck allows me to level up—it’s a whole different ballgame.”

With safety a foremost priority, Ida received fall prevention and arc flash safety training before beginning on-site work at Keck Observatory’s telescope facility on Maunakea. Once he completes the required hours, Ida will be eligible for the program’s tuition reimbursement to cover his second year in the Hawaiʻi CC EIMT program.

Modern skills for a modern industry

“This apprenticeship is exciting,” said Hawaiʻi CC Electricity Instructor Patrick Pajo, who also works as an electrical contractor. “During my 40-plus year career, I’ve seen the industry change from using analog to digital controllers to automate electro-mechanical systems. The electrician apprenticeship allows my students to learn basic but important principles using the analog equipment at Hawaiʻi CC, then advance their knowledge working with the newest, most modern digital technology at Keck Observatory.”

Pajo added his career has come full circle. In the early 1990s, he worked on the construction of the Keck II telescope, installing electrical controllers. Three decades later, four of his students are now working at the observatory: Hawaiʻi CC EIMT graduates Tehero, Electrician/Infrastructure Technician Hamza Elwir, and Facilities Maintenance and Support Technician Shawn Tapang, as well as current student Ida.

“I’m really grateful for this opportunity. It’s been so much more than I had expected it to be,” Ida said. “One of the things I really enjoy about working on the mountain is that everyone up there at Keck is so willing to share their knowledge and expertise and help each other out.”

Learn more about the .

A construction-related scholarship at has been seeded with a $35,000 gift to the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation. In November, , the Howard Hughes Corp.’s 60-acre master-planned community, celebrated the topping off of Kōʻula, the neighborhood’s sixth residential building, with a check presentation to Honolulu CC Interim Chancellor Karen C. Lee.

The final steel beam was lifted into place after being signed by representatives from Ward Village, the project’s construction team, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co., Honolulu CC, the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters and Studio Gang. In recognition of the construction trades and the individuals on the job site who made achieving the development milestone possible, Ward Village donated $25,000 and Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. gifted $10,000 to establish the scholarship for students enrolled in program.

“We are grateful to Ward Village and Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. for their generous gift that will support students as they pursue education, training and career opportunities,” said Lee. “Construction has remained one of the economic bright spots during the pandemic, and we appreciate the investment in developing our local workforce and job pipeline.”

The Apprenticeship and Journey Worker Training program at Honolulu CC provides related instruction and training in various construction and mechanical trades. In addition, the program offers learning opportunities to journey workers to upgrade their skills and obtain job-related certifications.

“The construction industry provides thousands of jobs for Hawaiʻi’s economy, and we’re excited to contribute to the development of our workforce,” said Gerry Majkut, president, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. “It’s rewarding to reach this project milestone and give back to the programs that help train the professionals who make building a project like Kōʻula possible.”

Kōʻula will feature 565 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom condominium units and was designed by architecture and urban design practice Studio Gang with interiors by design firm Yabu Pushelberg. Kōʻula’s name, which means “red sugar cane” in Hawaiian, was bestowed by Sig Zane Designs.

“We believe in working together with partners—private and public—to drive positive impact in our community and build a resilient future for our state,” said Doug Johnstone, president, Hawaiʻi at The Howard Hughes Corp. “With the topping off of Kōʻula, we’re pleased to help further the revitalization of Honolulu’s urban core and strengthen our community in partnership with Hawaiian Dredging Co. and Honolulu Community College.”

Construction workers in Hawaiʻi have been working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, having been deemed “essential workers.” is offering unemployed Oʻahu residents a chance to get their foot into this industry with a free Carpenter Pre-Apprenticeship course that starts on October 4.

Training will start with instruction in carpentry fundamentals and basic tool use, construction math, basic blueprint reading and culminate with a two-week paid internship at an active construction site. Tuition and textbooks are free and in-person training at the Hawaii Carpenters and Drywall Training Fund Center in Kapolei will run Monday–Friday from 7 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

“We encourage prospective students who enjoy working with their hands to explore this opportunity to have a career in the construction industry, which has historically been an important contributor to economic growth in our state,” said April Acquavella, training coordinator for the . “The deadline to apply is Wednesday, September 29, so interested candidates should go to register at as soon as possible.”

Pay for a carpenter apprentice in the Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship Program starts at $20.50 an hour. Apprentices earn raises every 1,000 hours reported as they work towards their journeyworker’s certificate.

The Carpenter Pre-Apprenticeship class is one of about 50 in the fields of business and technology, healthcare, human services and trades being offered at through Oʻahu Back to Work, a rapid response employment training program that runs through December 17. About 400 training seats have already been filled. The free classes for Oʻahu residents struggling to find employment are sponsored by the City and County of Honolulu.

With key support from two anonymous donors, matching gifts from Ritchie Mudd and the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters (HRCC), and many dedicated faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the campus, raised $168,000 in a few months, surpassing its goal of $100,000 by December 31, in honor of the campus’s 100th year anniversary.

“We are so grateful that our 100-year milestone energized our community and resulted in significant new support for our students and faculty,” said Honolulu CC Interim Chancellor Karen C. Lee. “Together, we are building a lasting foundation for innovative projects that will enrich our students’ learning experience and allow them to thrive after graduation.”

$50K for computing, networking

An anonymous friend of the college donated $50,000 to support the , which is in high demand due to the constant changes in technology and cybersecurity. The program’s hands-on learning approach and dedicated faculty prepare students for careers in cyber defense, computing, security, telecommunications and networking. This gift will ensure that the program remains on the cutting-edge and graduates are well-prepared for the workforce.

Founded in 1920, Honolulu CC is the oldest community college in Hawaiʻi with a strong liberal arts program enabling students to seamlessly transfer to a four-year university, plus more than 20 career and technical education programs in a wide-range of in-demand fields. The college also offers a number of non-credit programs, including the , and hosts the largest program in the state.

Construction industry support

Ritchie Mudd, a local construction industry veteran and long-time supporter of Honolulu CC, established a new Honolulu CC Building and Construction Trades Fund.

“I’m honored to support Honolulu CC faculty and staff with access to state-of-the-art equipment, innovative projects, scholarship and professional development opportunities in the building and construction trade programs,” said Mudd. “We need to support our local students so they can get educated here and stay in Hawaiʻi.”

HRCC generously supported , which was created in honor of the campus’s centennial anniversary.

“The construction industry is one of the state’s top economic drivers, and the community college system is critical to providing the continuous pipeline of skilled craftsmen and women needed to meet the challenges of this essential and ever-changing industry. It is important for us to fully support Honolulu CC and the educators of the future construction workforce,” said Ronald Taketa, HRCC executive secretary-treasurer.

Over the past 100 years, Honolulu CC has transformed thousands of lives by awarding tens of thousands of degrees and certificates, and offering a vast array of non-credit and apprenticeship courses. Through it all, its mission to provide accessible and high-quality educational and training opportunities to current and future generations of Hawaiʻi is unwavering.

Hawaiʻi hosted the at the end of June, when more than 220 mayors gathered to discuss ideas to improve their cities and the lives of people in their communities. Topics discussed at the conference included homelessness and housing, challenges in immigration, the recycling crisis, renewable energy, cyber security and more.

The delegates participated in breakout sessions to learn, exchange and borrow ideas to help remedy their shared concerns. was the only campus in higher education that was invited to present a Best Practices session on its apprenticeship program and how it could address employee shortages.

Stan Fichtman, program manager for Kapiʻolani CC’s Apprenticeship USA State Expansion Grant, and Sally Pestana, Kapiʻolani CC’s health apprenticeship director, showcased the college’s growth of health and culinary apprenticeship programs.

The Kapiʻolani CC apprenticeship programs have gained tremendous traction through industry partnerships. Apprenticeships are a viable solution given current workforce challenges such as worker shortages, increasing demand for services and training, and recruiting and retaining qualified staff.

Pestana shared insights in working with government and industry. “Apprenticeship is a winning workforce development business strategy for employers with a strong return on investment: $1.50 for every $1 invested with a range of benefits from reduced turnover to greater productivity from apprentices,” said Pestana.

She added that relating technical instruction with on-the-job training is what apprenticeships are all about. Understanding the needs of the real world is knowing how to make inroads for training and solutions possible.

Bill Bruhl, Duke’s Waikiki executive chef, and Ashley Shearer, clinical operations manager of Queen’s Care Coalition of Queen’s Medical Center, told delegates how the partnerships have been a win-win relationship for the employer, the employee and the state.

The moderator for the breakout session was Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards, who said that mayors are known to return to their cities with ideas that work and she is sure apprenticeship programs and opportunities will be seriously explored.

Added Conference President Steve Benjamin, mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, “Mayors are tackling issues of national importance because our voices are needed more than ever. We can’t just sit on the sidelines. We have to be the drivers of the change that our constituents expect and deserve.”

Read more about other ¶«¾«Ó°Òµ apprenticeship programs.

—By Louise Yamamoto

Free tuition is available to 26 Hawaiʻi residents entering Kapiʻolani Community College’s through a partnership with . Recipients will gain valuable work experience at The Queen’s Medical Center, while going to school. Those who complete the 12-month program will be eligible to earn a University of Hawaiʻi certificate of achievement in medical assisting.

“Man, I wish they had this paid tuition program when I was going to KCC!” said Alayna Jansson, a certified medical assistant working at The Queen Emma Clinic.

Prospective students must apply for the at Queen’s–Punchbowl, job number 123500. The deadline to apply is June 10, 2019. Queen’s will nominate candidates from the pool of job applications received. The Queen’s contact person for the program is Kim Trujillo at (808) 691-8049.

Applicants who meet Kapiʻolani CC’s admissions criteria and qualifications will enter the medical assisting program and receive free tuition. Students are responsible for their own books and student activity fees. During the year-long program that starts on August 26, 2019, they will take classes at Kapiʻolani CC and earn while they learn by working 16 hours per week at Queen’s in a modified physician practice assistant role.

“We are excited to be working with Queen’s in this new partnership that will increase the number of well trained certified medical assistants in the workforce. said Lynn Hamada, Kapiʻolani CC’s medical assisting program director. “At the end of this one-year program, students will earn college credits and a certificate of achievement, qualify to take the gold-standard national certification exam for the certified medical assistant (American Association of Medical Assistants) credential and be able to transition seamlessly into the associate in science degree program should they decide to continue their education at .”

Medical assistants in demand

Medical assistants work with physicians in private medical offices and clinics, and hospital outpatient clinics. They assist with patient care, routine lab and diagnostic tests, and administrative and business procedures.

“There is a growing need for medical assistants and physician practice assistants in the community,” said Jason Chang, COO of The Queen’s Health Systems. “Queen’s is committed to developing the talent and providing the financial assistance, training and experience to help them succeed.”

Kapiʻolani CC’s Health Apprenticeship Director Sally Pestana added, “KCC has a long and strong collaboration history with Queen’s in over a dozen healthcare education programs. We are looking forward to this new partnership for our medical assisting program that will provide highly skilled new medical assistants for Queen’s healthcare teams.”

Jansson graduated from the Kapiʻolani CC medical assisting program in 2016. “Being a part of the program is like having a full-time job,” she said. “It was a lot of hard work—reading, studying, medical terminology—but it was an amazing experience. It takes quite a bit of dedication, but that’s important because you’re going to be taking care of people someday.”

is offering two apprenticeship programs for food service employees to raise their level of skills, productivity and retention.

Hawaiʻi Cook Apprenticeship Program

The first program, , will begin its fourth round of classes on April 26. This culinary apprenticeship program has successfully graduated 200 apprentices during its first three sessions. Participants should be currently working in a food-service position or be willing to be placed into a position in the industry to take part in the program.

Employees of food-service establishments may be referred by their employers to receive 210 hours of quality culinary instruction, at no cost to the employer or apprentice. Participants receive the equivalent of $1,638 worth of instruction (13 credits at $126 a credit for local tuition at Kapiʻolani CC) for free. This opportunity is ideal for anyone in the culinary industry who has never had the opportunity to attend a college-level culinary class.

Cook apprentices will participate in 30 weeks of training. They will attend a six-hour,in-person, hands-on culinary instruction lab class each week at the Kapiʻolani campus on Basics of Cooking (either Fridays or Sundays) and take classes on ServSafe food safety, culinary nutrition, menu planning and overall food service.

Hawaiʻi Restaurant Manager Apprentice Program

The second program, the new , offers its first round of classes starting April 22. This program offers anyone who is either currently working as a restaurant manager, or would like to be elevated into that position, five (5) free online classes: manager level ServSafe food safety, hospitality human resources, restaurant management, restaurant marketing and controlling food service costs.

This program is available to anyone statewide. Classes are taken online, and testing can be done at University of Hawaiʻi testing centers on any island. This program offers an incredible opportunity for anyone in restaurant management or someone who would like to move up the career ladder.

Both programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship USA State Expansion Grant, issued to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Workforce Development Division Office.

To qualify, applicants must be at least 17 years of age, have a high school diploma or GED, possess a speaking and reading ability essential for personal and coworker safety on the job, be physically capable of performing the essential functions of a professional kitchen (for cooks) and have current TB clearance and MMR inoculations.

Space is limited for both programs, which are filling up quickly. Employers are encouraged to contact Program Coordinator Marcus Fikse as soon as possible via email at marcusjt@hawaii.edu or by calling (808) 734-9477.

More than 15 soon-to-be released or furloughed inmates incarcerated at the Maui County Correctional Center recently completed approximately 56 hours of workforce industry training from the at the .

Through a partnership with the state Department of Public Safety, participants completed prep cook, building maintenance and construction classes, as they showcased their skills at a luncheon on February 21 to mark the culmination of the program.

“The classes provided an opportunity to learn industry-standard procedures, as well as practical application of math, such as measuring ingredients for recipes, which are crucial skills expected in the workplace,” said Dean Louie, chef instructor for his seventh prep cook cohort. “More importantly, the classes instill the value of professionalism, ethics and reliability in careers.”

Prep cook students earned a certificate of professional development and the ServSafe Food Handler Certification. They now have the fundamental skills to work as service prep workers or pantry cooks in the hospitality or food industry.

Meanwhile, students from the building maintenance and construction class trained in using standard hardware tools, while applying safety skills they learned to carpentry, electrical, plumbing and blueprint reading. The class provided essential skills training should they want to apply for a construction apprenticeship.

“The students now have more confidence because of their experience in the program, and can better assimilate back in the workforce, giving them a second shot to be successful in life,” said Mike Young, apprenticeship coordinator and instructor for the class. “We feel fortunate to have this opportunity to make a positive influence, and wish our students all the best as they begin a new life in the workforce.”

To support these programs and for more information, email Edvmaui@hawaii.edu or call (808) 984-3231.

—By Kit Furukawa

is gearing up for round two of its successful , which will begin November 13.

Employees of food service establishments can be referred by their employer to receive 210 hours of quality culinary instruction, at no cost to the employer. The employer will also receive a $500 bonus when the apprentice successfully completes all the courses of the program.

The college will be hosting two orientation sessions during the first week of November. Employers can contact Marcus Fikse, the program coordinator, at marcusjt@hawaii.edu or (808) 734-9477 to send their employees to enroll and attend.

• November 3, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Tamarind room in the Ohelo Building
• November 6, 12–2 p.m. in the Tamarind room in the Ohelo Building

“We received a very enthusiastic response from the food industry during our first intake. With over one hundred apprentices enrolled, it has been a huge success,” said Fikse

“We know that it takes perseverance and effort to attend and successfully complete the hands-on culinary skills lab training and online courses,” said Chef Instructor Grant Sato. “For those who continue on to completion, they will have attained the basic professional training in principles and processes of cookery that allow them to take their craft to another level. They are getting the equivalent of $1,638 of instruction (13 credits at $126 a credit for local tuition at Kapiʻolani CC) for free. What an unbelievable opportunity for anyone in the culinary industry who never had the opportunity to attend a college level culinary class or couldn’t afford to!”

The program is funded by a grant provided by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship USA State Expansion Grant, issued to the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Workforce Development Division office.

About the training

The apprentice will attend 1 six-hour in-person, hands-on culinary instruction lab class each week at the Kapiʻolani CC campus on the basics of cooking on either a Monday, Friday or Sunday. In addition, the apprentice will be enrolled in a series of 4 distance education (on-line) lecture courses each lasting 5 weeks. Topics will include introduction to the food service industry, sanitation, menu planning and culinary nutrition.

For additional information please visit the .

—By Louise Yamamoto