Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 1990 — ALU LIKE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ALU LIKE

(presented by Ka Wai Ola O OHA and Alu Like as a puhlie service)

Alu Like trainees help open homework center

Wanda Aki is a classroom training participant of Alu Like's Employment and Training Program. She is pursuing social work studies at Kaua'i Community College. Desiring to make a mid-life career change, Aki sought Alu Like's assistance. For most of her working life, Aki was an entertainer in the visitor industry. Now that her children had moved on and started families of their own, she wanted to enter the social service field. Through the Alu Like Employment and Training Program, Aki was placed as a work experience participant with the Department of Human Services, Social Service and Child Protective Service Units. During her training period as a case aide, Aki reached a level of proficiency where she was able to provide direct-services to clients. After concluding this training period, she continues her studies. Recently, Aki applied for and was selected from among the many applicants, to be the Anahola Homework Center clerk. A resident of the Anahola Community, Aki is eager to use the skills she leamed at school and at the Department of Human Services in providing direct services to the students and members of her community. In the process of opening this Homework Center, Ululani Thomas, outreach librarian for the books-by-mail and the homework center projects of the Native Hawaiian Library Project; and Wanda Aki, homework center clerk, worked on preparing the building and library materials to be used in the center. Obtaining all of the necessary equipment was somewhat challenging. In a brainstorming session with Kaua'i Employment and

Training Coordinator Annette Creamer, the idea of having some of the equipment custom-made was explored, in particular, a storage cabinet to house the center's materials. Enter Vance Juarez. Like Aki, Juarez is a current participant of the Employment and T raining Program. A student pursuing a career in carpentry, Juarez is also a loeal Anahola resident. A young man who earlier pursued a dream of playing all-star football on a scholarship at Eastern Arizona College, Juarez found that not everyone

could be an all-star player. After marrying and returning to Kaua'i to make his home, Juarez pursued a career in carpentry. A student at Kaua'i Community College since January 1989, with plans to graduate this May, Juarez has made the best of his time in school. He currently hoids a plaee on the college's Dean's List, and the national Who's Who Honor Roll listing. When the need for carpentry skiils arose, Juarez's help was sought. He eagerly accepted and began immediately to plan, order materials, and start to build. Without any hesitation, even with studies, family and part-time work, Juarez was ready to assist, wholeheartedly! His reasons? The satisfaction of being able to "give back" to Alu Like, and those who assisted him; the gratification in being able to share his skills and talents with a community in whieh he lives; and the pride of being a part of someone else's education. Additionally, after visiting the center, Juarez saw there were other needs and donated a beautiful, wooden, desk he made. For Aki, her storage needs have been met and she is ready to provide the center's services to the children and members of her community. The Anahola Homework Center held a blessing on Monday, March 5. Appropriately, in the sense of working together, the blessing was conducted by Herman Paleka, High-Priest Leader of the LDS Church, Kapa'a. Paleka is also a member of the Anahola Homestead Community and currently serves as secretary of Alu Like's Kaua'i Island Center Advisory Council. continued on page 19

Wanda Aki and Vance Juarez

from page 10

Youth program explores careers

Junior high school students on O'ahu may be interested in exploring careers in business management this summer through a special Department of Education program funded by Alu Like. The deadline for nominations is May 4. The Alu Like Senior Career Intern Program will select 12 Native Hawaiian high school students and plaee them in paid jobs with some of Hawaii's top businesses. Students will also be given career exploration and career planning assistance through weekly professional seminars and field trips. The program will be conducted in Honolulu from June 14 through Aug. 7. Students may be nominated by a teacher, counselor or other school staff member. Students are encouraged to nominate themselves. Minimum qualifications include a 2.0 grade point average; Native Hawaiian ancestry (no quantum restriction); age 16 no later than June 15, 1990. Other desirable qualities for participation in the program are: potential to become successful when interested in a subject (even though grades may not reflect academic ability); demonstrated willingness to participate in schoo! activities/volunteer work/community activities; and ability to read, wrife, speak and think clearly. Businesses participating last summer were

Hawaiian Tel, Hawaiian Electric, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Pacific Resources, ine., Sheraton Waikiki Hotel and First Hawaiian Bank. For further information, eheek with high schol counselors or eall Joanne Swearingen at 548-6080.

LIKE

(presented by Ka Wai Ola O OHA and Alu Like as a puhlie seruice)