Apprenticeship has a long, and deep-rooted history in Hawaiʻi. The apprenticeship law was enacted during a special session of the Territorial Legislature in 1941 and celebrates its 75 anniversary this year. The Hawaiʻi State Apprenticeship Council, under the direction of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR), announced the inaugural Apprenticeship Hawaiʻi Week, October 24–29, 2016. The celebration is co-sponsored by Honolulu Community College, Apprenticeship and Training Coordinators Association of Hawaiʻi and apprenticeship sponsors.
On October 14, Governor David Ige signed a proclamation acknowledging the week-long celebration that will include on Oʻahu a Pathways to Apprenticeship day on October 25 for high school and employment counselors to learn about a wide-variety of apprenticeship disciplines. Participants will tour Honolulu Community College’s apprenticeship programs, learn about new programs and enjoy guided tours of plumbing, pipe-fitting, refrigeration and the air-conditioning and electricians apprenticeship program.
Then on October 27 and 28, the week will conclude with the 10th anniversary of Construction and Career Days at the Aloha Stadium.
For more information about Apprenticeship Hawaiʻi Week visit the event website.
More on apprenticeship programs
The State Apprenticeship Council is comprised of members that are familiar with apprenticeable occupations who serve in an advisory capacity to the DLIR director on matters within the jurisdiction of the department relating to apprenticeship programs
Apprenticeship programs are long-proven successful models for training skilled workers that are being applied to new occupations and industries. Information technology and healthcare apprenticeships are being promoted in Hawaiʻi to develop a skilled workforce in these expanding areas.
Apprenticeship programs are composed of hands-on, on-the-job training and related classroom instruction. In this system, job skills are developed through a combination of theoretical and practical experiences to produce the skills needed by businesses. For some apprenticeships, the classroom hours completed in an approved apprenticeship program may be applied to an associate degree.
—By Billie Lueder
