WCC Program Helps Native Hawaiians Reach Goals

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A pilot internship program through Windward Community College is placing Native Hawaiian students in high-demand areas in the work force to help them “to use their skills and to build toward something they’ll do in their future,” the program’s coordinator said.

But even more than that, the Native Hawaiian Internship Project, Kahua Ho’omau Ola (“a foundation from which to persevere and thrive”) offers an original twist.

“Lots of people do co-ops and internships with general industry in mind - but we have culture in mind, and the backdrop is industry,” said coordinator Aulii Ross.

“The majority of our students either have some disability or have had some at-risk symptoms,” she explained. “They’ve come through some challenges ... After they finish the coursework with us, we expose them to a six-week internship out in the community. We screen employers who can provide valuable experience and mentorship. We do prioritize those who are hiring.”

The program is part of the Employment Training Center based at Honolulu Community College. Since starting in February it has placed five out of 14 students in internships at sites including the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for construction, Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. for office/administration and chef Donato’s new restaurant at Restaurant Row, Pasta & Basta, for culinary arts.

The internships are unpaid, but students receive a stipend and supplies provided by Alu Like Inc., which funds the program through a U.S. Education Department grant, which comes up for renewal Aug. 1. Students also receive one credit toward their professional development certificate as well as help with resumes, preparing for interviews and establishing work hours with supervisors.

Applications are continuously being accepted. Students must be Native Hawaiian, complete an orientation and evaluation, enroll in the ETC’s Internship Experience course and be able to work at least 20 hours a week.

The training center, which emphasizes areas of need based on state Labor Department statistics, will be adding health-sector internships at the end of summer.

“Office/administration, construction, culinary arts and health - those are huge double-digit percentages of needing to fill in the next 10 years,” Ross said, adding that anecdotal feedback has been positive.

“Students have been very diligent about turning in materials. I think part of it is being comfortable around us. My whole staff is Hawaiian, we have areas of Hawaiian materials in our office, so we’re just trying to create a place that’s very welcoming and stimulating a real pathway to work.”

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