LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Community College Office of Continuing Education and Training has been awarded a two-year $250,000 grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The KCC’s OCET grant is for the Ho‘owaiwai Project which will start on July 1,
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Community College Office of Continuing Education and Training has been awarded a two-year $250,000 grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
The KCC’s OCET grant is for the Ho‘owaiwai Project which will start on July 1, according to a release from the KCC.
“We are honored to be selected by the Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to receive the grant and look forward to working with the community to identify, recruit, train and place our Native Hawaiian constituents in emerging jobs on Kaua‘i,” said Bruce Getzan, the OCET director.
The objective of the Ho‘owaiwai, or “Prosperity” Project, is to provide industry-driven, customized training packages to help disadvantaged Native Hawaiians qualify for jobs on Kaua‘i and persist in these jobs, especially in the high-demand areas of agriculture, energy and health.
Some of the training programs at the KCC include food production and preparation, including aquaponics, natural farming, and the culinary arts. Other training programs include alternative energy programs such as photovoltaic installation and maintenance, micro-hydro solar thermal, renewable energy, electronics, facilities engineering and maintenance, electrical installation and maintenance and automotive. Health-related programs include certified nurse aid, certified fitness instructor, medical assisting, adult residential care home operator, massage and medical coding.
Other possible training in development include CDL driving, security guard training, and wastewater treatment technology.
The Ho‘owaiwai Project will provide recruitment and assessment leading to an individualized career path plan, job preparation and readiness training which will include topics such as time management, workplace ethics, resume and interview skills, adult basic skills training in reading, math, and locating information.
Another facet of the Ho‘owaiwai Project includes training scholarships for KCC non-credit and credit programs for those who choose to pursue additional training, monthly monitoring of students to help them succeed in their programs, job placement assistance and job monitoring to help new workers make a successful transition into the workforce.
In addition to offering the program on the KCC campus, the Ho‘owaiwai Project intends to offer adult basic skills training in Kekaha and Anahola.
The KCC OCET is on the KCC campus next to the bookstore.
Call Getzan or Mary Alexander at 245-8318 for more information.
