High-skill, high-wage and in-demand jobs are the goal of Native Hawaiian serving programs at multiple University of Hawaiʻi Community College campuses. Each year, U.S. Congress appropriates roughly $3.2 million under the Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program (NHCTEP) to community-based organizations primarily serving and representing Native Hawaiians to plan, conduct and administer career and technical education (CTE) programs for Native Hawaiian students.
In FY2021, the U.S. Department of Education awarded nine grants to Hawaiʻi recipients under the NHCTEP program, including six grants to ALU LIKE Inc. (of which four UH Community Colleges are subrecipients).
“We’re looking at students that need extra help and working in different areas at different CCs, mainly it’s to get the students into the community colleges and this program,” said Al Moreno, director of ALU LIKE’s Ka Ipu Kāʻeo department. “Outcomes would be to get a credential, degree, industry certificates, anything to help them out. It’s a lot of work by the CCs and for us to make sure that we are on target for the grants.”
Funding amounts represent the first year of proposed five years of funding for the projects.
ALU LIKE/UH recipients FY2021
ALU LIKE, Inc.; Kauaʻi Community College ($160,000)
The Kaʻikaʻi Aʻo Internship and Workforce Service Program will provide students with targeted support, internships and relevant hands-on projects that are specific to the following programs at Kauaʻi CC that represent high-skill, high-wage, in-demand occupations:
- Automotive technology
- Carpentry technology
- Electrical installation and maintenance technology
- Electronics technology
- Facilities engineering technology
The project will further develop CTE student supports, which reflect an improved and ongoing dedication to workforce investment. Through this alignment of educational and business opportunities, the project will work to build stronger communities and live up to the Kaʻikaʻi Aʻo name to raise its students up through teaching, advising and learning together. The project will:
- Increase enrollment, retention and completion of students in CTE and STEM courses.
- Integrate Hawaiian culture and trade-specific instruction to increase relevant knowledge and skills through participatory experiences.
- Improve employability through completion of industry recognized certifications, licenses and/or degrees.
ALU LIKE, Inc.; Kapiʻolani Community College ($250,000)
The Kūlia ma Kapiʻolani project will support Native Hawaiian students to be competitive in high-skill, high-wage and in-demand occupations through rigorous CTE and STEM programs, while maintaining their identity as a native person.
The project will provide introductory college success classes and bootcamps to support college readiness and retention. The project will provide career planning tools, information sessions and orientations to help participants find purpose, pursue their passion and attain professional success. The project will support 75 students to successfully complete CTE and STEM programs, and receive training toward industry certifications, certificates or degrees. It will also support them in gaining employment within three to six months after graduation.
ALU LIKE, Inc.; Leeward Community College ($262,500)
The Kūlia Mau project will improve Leeward CC’s CTE programs by piloting three activities that will design, implement, expand, evaluate and improve the career pathways program. The project activities will promote personalized career planning, skill building and personal/financial supports to increase Native Hawaiians’ readiness to enter STEM, computer science and in-demand and high-wage careers, including:
- Cybersecurity
- Digital media
- Information and computer sciences
- Natural sciences
- Plant biology and tropical agriculture
- Pre-engineering
- Business
The project will deliver industry-linked professional development activities to program instructors and staff supporting STEM courses aligned to in-demand CTE careers, to weave industry needs and employability skills into lessons and advising sessions that increase readiness for in-demand and living-wage careers, and help participants earn academic and industry credentials while providing opportunities to develop valuable employability skills.
ALU LIKE, Inc.; Windward Community College ($290,000)
The Aʻo Kahi Project will expand opportunities for Windward CC students to obtain recognized CTE and STEM postsecondary credentials and hands-on learning for employment in high-skill, in-demand and high-wage careers, specifically in computer science and sustainable agriculture. The project will ensure students have equitable access to high-quality CTE programming to improve educational and workforce outcomes; and increase student program support to more than 20 existing CTE and STEM courses, in addition to the current four cybersecurity courses. The project will:
- Include an annual summer bootcamp, focused course offerings, enhanced learning environment, career readiness training, industry internships and creation of a larger pathway from certificate to bachelor’s degree.
- Increase STEM and CTE course passing rates to above 80%.
- Double the rate of internship opportunities over the course of five years.
- Achieve a 90% success rate for continuation in higher education, military service or gainful employment.
