Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 6, 1 Iune 1988 — Native Hawaiian Fills Void in Professional Life [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Native Hawaiian Fills Void in Professional Life

Kupuna Beqins Life at 60 in the Computer Lane

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA A 60-year-old grandmother of nine (soon to be 10), who has held a number of executive and administrative secretarial positions, suddenly realized not too long ago she was lacking in one important area — computer training. Apolei Kahai Bargamento, a 100 percent native Hawaiian who admits to understanding more than speaking the language, found out about the Hawaii Computer Training Center by Alu Like ine. through a friend. She subsequently enrolled in Class IV whieh held its graduation exercises Saturday, Apr. 23. So life in the computer lane begins at 60 for this livewire and talented kupuna who thought she had all the necessary tools in her field until the realization she had no computer background. That is to say, nothing like the total picture she found at HCTC. She had been exposed to computers in her previous employment but nothing like she just went through. "Today's business is heavy into automation. This is why you need computers and you need to be prepared because computers, too, are always changing. My knowledge of computers was limited before 1 eame to this school (HCTC)," said Bargamento who is the mother of four daughters, including a set of twins, and a son living on Maui. "Our Hawaiians should look into this program. It's fantastic. IBM (International Business Machines) provides us with the latest up-to-date equipment. And the fee for Hawaiians unable to pay is the best thing. I learned that this kind of training runs around $4,500 elsewhere. The staff and the sponsoring businesses here are all supportive," she continued. Bargamento, who is the oldest student to graduate from HCTC, possesses strong credentials in the secretarial field. She types 85 to 100 words per minute and has worked as administrative secretary for Orange County, the State of California and for the University of California at Irvine. She was executive secretary for eight years to the area director of the church educational system of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) until the office was moved to Australia, a transfer she did not want to make. Bargamento was also secretary to the admissions director at Brigham Young University of Hawaii and served five years as office manager at Newtown Recreation Center. ! 1

As for her HCTC experience, she said she had a few hangups in the beginning of the 16-week training but soon overcame them to graduate with honors, one of seven in this largest class of 19 to be cited. The previous high was 18. Bargamento, who is originally from Kalihi but now resides in Pearl City, graduated from Roose-

velt High School when it was an English standard school. Coincidentally, Bargamento began work May 2 at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as secretary to Government Affairs Officer Jalna Keala, replacing Brian Doty who currently serves as secretary to Land Officer Linda Kawai'ono Delaney.

w «h. wmmmm Apolei Kahai Bargamento