The is offering a series of free, week-long training classes in essential carpentry skills to support Lahaina recovery efforts.

The training courses will be led by professional instructors, and participants will receive hands-on experience with carpentry equipment, tools, roofing, siding, quality control and more.

The courses include sessions specifically for high school students.

“High school students can learn the basics of carpentry while helping our community recover from the 2023 wildfires,” said Chancellor Lui Hokoana.

During the training, participants will help build sheds that will be donated to Lahaina wildfire victims to aid in their recovery.

Course schedule:

• Courses open to all: start May 19 and June 9
• Courses for 东精影业 Maui College employees only: start June 2
• Courses for high school students only: start June 16, June 23, July 7, and July 14

Classes will be held at the 东精影业 Maui College carpentry shop, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No prior experience is necessary, and space is limited.

Register for all trainings here:

This semester, first- and second-year carpentry students at Kauaʻi Community College were able to help improve the campus apiary as part of their semester project learning to pour cement. Kauaʻi CC鈥檚 hives are one of the few disease-free honeybee sites left in the state.

The carpentry class poured a new cement foundation for the apiary which will allow bee production and queen bee breeding to double in size. Kauaʻi CC will also be able to begin exporting queen bees.

“This project allowed us to give back to our campus,” said Duke Lang, an assistant professor of carpentry. “Pouring the cement is a very small part of the learning process. Much of this project required planning in the classroom. This semester we are learning that proper planning is required for success in this field.”

Student Landon Bukoski has been in the carpenters union for a year and a half. He said he came to Kauaʻi CC to understand the industry holistically, in order to excel.

“Carpentry is like a puzzle,” Bukoski said. “This program has really helped me understand the full process—the math, the formulas, the building, and there鈥檚 a lot of hands-on instruction. I really like that Mr. Lang helps turn our weaknesses into strengths.”

Student Crystal Santos has been in construction her whole life, as her family owns a civil engineering company in Honolulu.

“I only knew the old school way, not the new school way,” Santos said. “I want to get my contractor鈥檚 license and need to know the math and the formulas. My brother is doing the same thing by apprenticeship, but I wanted to get an education.”

Lang, who was awarded a Board of Regents鈥� Medal for Excellence in Teaching in 2022, added that he is always looking for ways for his students to give back to the community with service projects, such as working with the Habitat for Humanity.

Seats are available in a free eight-week carpentry pre-apprenticeship training program offered by for residents interested in pursuing career pathways in the skilled trades as carpenters, drywallers and millwrights starting October 10, 2022.

The successful completion of this intensive, hands-on course serves as a direct pathway to becoming a registered apprentice with the Hawaii Carpenters apprenticeship program. Training starts with carpentry fundamentals and basic tool use, construction math, basic print reading and applied carpentry skills. It culminates with a two-week paid internship at an active construction site.

Tuition for Oʻahu residents will be sponsored by , a statewide program offering short-term trainings that lead to industry credentials and registered apprenticeship programs.

Students will also be offered paid internship and employment opportunities.

Classes are held at the Hawaii Carpenters and Drywall Training Fund Center in Kapolei from October 10 to November 21, Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Required internship placements will be scheduled for November 28–December 9.

Visit to learn more and .

Financial support is provided by U.S. Department of Education federal grant #V425G200038, Reimagining Workforce Preparation: Hana Career Pathways, in the amount of $13,370,383.58 for the period of October 1, 2020–September 29, 2023.

Free short-term training classes leading to industry credentials in the resilient sectors of healthcare, technology and the skilled trades are being offered this summer at through the program. Hundreds of people will be eligible for these trainings, but those interested should apply now through the .

Trainings being offered this summer include certified nurse aide in the healthcare sector, CompTIA industry certifications for IT-related jobs, and carpentry pre-apprenticeship, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and commercial driver license prep in the skilled trades—all leading to employment and apprenticeship pathways.

“While our state continues to revitalize its economy, we must focus on educating our own residents to fill the high-demand jobs in our communities,” said 东精影业 President David Lassner. “These fast-track trainings being offered by our 东精影业 Community Colleges are an opportunity to build a quality workforce pipeline for our local employers and to help our communities return back to work.”

Employment and a better future

The Hana Career Pathways program prepares students to apply for registered apprenticeships and related degree programs, and connects students with work-based learning opportunities such as paid internships and guaranteed interviews with local employers.

“I was a stay-at-home mom and thought this program would be perfect for me,” said Sammilyn Pule-Kaahanui, of Moloka驶i, a recent graduate from the pharmacy technician training program at 东精影业 Maui College. “I completed the course and I am now a certified pharmacy technician. I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to learn and increase their employment paths and overall better their future.”

$2 million for tuition

More than $2 million in Hana Career Pathways funding from the U.S. Department of Education is available for tuition this year. Eligible applicants receive tuition assistance for courses and other training costs such as books and industry certification exam fees. The program is free for most eligible participants, since many of the trainings provide a 100% tuition subsidy to cover all costs. Wrap-around services are also offered to students including college and career advising, referrals to community partners with supportive services, and other financial assistance.

“This free summer program provides a new opportunity for graduating high school students to be trained for the world of work, and to earn industry certifications that will help them succeed both in the workforce and in their educational pursuits,” said Stephen Schatz, executive director, Hawaiʻi P–20 Partnerships for Education. Graduating high school seniors are encouraged to .

Financial support for the Hana Career Pathways was provided by the U.S. Department of Education federal grant #V425G200038, Reimagining Workforce Preparation: Hana Career Pathways, in the amount of $13,370,383.58 for the period of October 1, 2020–September 29, 2023. Grants from the Ascendium Education Group, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation support the 东精影业 Community Colleges鈥� coordination with industry partners in targeted sectors identified as recession-resilient in , issued by the Hawaiʻi Executive Collaborative.

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鈥檚 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.

The built several solar-powered charging stations over the summer complete with seating, USB ports, wi-fi access and a unique roof and gutter system to keep students dry during 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 rainy weather.

The projects were completed through a collaboration between the carpentry program and the 东精影业 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 administrative affairs team.

Cost efficiency was key for the project to fit within the allocated summer project budget. Hawaiʻi CC carpentry students prepared and installed the concrete pads for the shelters and then constructed the 10 picnic tables. 东精影业 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 information technology specialists designed the solar infrastructure to charge electronic devices and installed wi-fi access points at each of the stations.

The team, which included 东精影业 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 Dave Baptiste and Shannon Asejo and Hawaiʻi CC鈥檚 Gene Harada and Darryl Vierra and the Hawaiʻi CC carpentry students, built and installed the tables at a fraction of the cost of purchasing and shipping tables with solar-powered charging stations to Hawaiʻi. The estimate to ship a 4-seat solar powered charging station table to Hawaiʻi was $17,946 per table. The material and supply cost to construct the 8-seat (or wheelchair accessible 6-seat) wood picnic table with a metal roof and gutter was $2,592 per table and extra solar panels from a previous project were used to keep costs down. The projects were initiated by Interim Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs Kalei Rapoza and Interim Chancellor Marcia Sakai.

The design of the stations includes solar panels mounted on the roofs to produce efficient renewable solar energy stored in a battery until students access the USB ports and outlets to charge electronic devices. A timing mechanism conserves the stored solar energy when the ports and outlets are not in use. The timer activates the USB ports and 110V outlets in 30-minute intervals to charge electronic devices and can be reactivated for subsequent 30-minute intervals.

The stations are in response to student requests for more covered outdoor spaces to sit, eat, talk story and study.

.

—By Susan Enright

10×12 foot tiny house rests in lush greenery just above a flume of clean flowing water built by Grove Farm and the campus鈥� loʻi.

“The house framing is up, the side panels are up and most of the roof is up as well,” said Carpentry Instructor Justin Carvalho, who has been working with students in the carpentry and facilities engineering, and electrical installation and maintenance programs to build a house based on renewable energy and sustainability using alternative materials.

Carvalho and his students are striving to build a home that would be affordable to construct and would promote healthy green living in communities. They applied basic construction skills to reuse local and abundant materials and integrate compactness with multi-functional living.

Carvalho said he wanted to “challenge the public to to think about how we can live with more sustainability in the future.“ He assembled sustainability-minded members from the County of Kauaʻi, Kauaʻi CC and construction industry professionals to design the unique project. “Kauaʻi is our home and we are committed to protecting and nourishing it for now and the future,” he said.

Tiny and efficient

The roof of the tiny house will be a green garden and the house will have a pond to grow local plants. It will be a “no maintenance garden,” said Carvalho. It will also have a compost toilet system with a full bath, shower and kitchen, and the top floor will contain beds and storage.

The Kauaʻi CC tiny house will be powered by the campus hydro-electric station that produces DC energy, which will charge the battery bank to use an inverter to convert DC to AC energy. Leading this phase is Daniel Erickson, the instructor who teaches the sustainable science management course in basic energy production, wastewater management and culinary sustainability. “I am very excitied about what we are doing,” Erickson said. “We are making one micro self-contained grid.”

James Andrews, Kauaʻi CC instructor and his electrical installation and maintenance technician program students will be installing the electrical utility and house wiring. “The best thing our students are learning is to work together with other trades to successfully complete a project,” Andrews said.

The tiny house project is supported by generous donations to the college to promote a healthy Kauaʻi. Construction is slated to be completed fall 2017.

“Anything we can do to enhance a healthy and robust lifestyle on Kauaʻi is part of our mission,“ said Kauaʻi CC Chancellor Helen Cox. “Our tiny house project is a perfect fit,“ she said.

—By Camilla Matsumoto

Impromptu hula generated sunny smiles, as dedicated the college鈥檚 50th built by students and handed the keys to the new homeowner, Luana Dang and her family.

鈥�贬补飞补颈驶颈 Community College is n艒 ka 驶oi,鈥� said Dang. 鈥淚 hope my grandchildren come here.鈥�

Students in five 贬补飞补颈驶颈 CC programs built the home. More than 4,000 students have participated since the Model Home project was established in 1965, to give students in construction trade programs a hands-on learning experience.

• Related: 贬补飞补颈驶颈 CC reunion celebrates 50 years of model homes, April 13, 2017

鈥淵ou just learn so many world experiences,鈥� said student Keoki Baily. 鈥淎fter this you can go outside and build your own house.鈥�

鈥淭his project has meant a lot to me because it helps us to get ready for the outside field of work,鈥� said student Tyson Ah Puck.

The acts as the developer, while 贬补飞补颈驶颈 CC provides the skilled labor at no cost, resulting in an affordable home for a local family.

Carpentry Professor Gene Harada, who built model homes as a student and graduated from 贬补飞补颈驶颈 CC in 1975, is a shining example of how the program continues to give back to the community.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been very fortunate that so far I have 15 past graduates since 1991 that have gotten their contractors license and they are coming back to hire our students,鈥� said Harada.

Here鈥檚 to the next 50 years, 贬补飞补颈驶颈 Community College!

See at the 贬补飞补颈驶颈 CC flickr.

鈥擝y Kelli Trifonovitch

Alumni and Friends will be celebrating with a reunion on April 28, 5:30–9 p.m. at the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo Campus Center Dining Room. The reunion is a chance for alumni and friends to reconnect with classmates, instructors and others in the construction industry.

The was established in 1965, and the first home was completed in 1966. Nearly every year since, students in construction trade programs have designed and built a custom home for a local family. Since the program’s inception, the Model Home Project has provided more than 4,000 Hawaiʻi CC students with valuable hands-on experience.

, or contact Lori Medeiros at lmedeiro@hawaii.edu or (808) 934-2518 for tickets and sponsorship options.