Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 3, 1 March 1993 — Ka nūhou mai Alu Like [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ka nūhou mai Alu Like

Newsfrom Alu Like

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

Business classes for O'ahu and Maui Thinking about starting a businessof your own? The Alu Like Entrepreneurship Training Program will conduct its next two "How to Starī a Business" classes on O'ahu and Maui. Subjects covered include business attitude, marketing, organization, financial management and business planning. On O'ahu, classes begin on March 15. The two hour evening classes will run three times a week for six weeks. Call 5241225 for applications and interviews.

On Maui, classes begin May 15. Classes will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for six consecutive Saturdays. Call Rose Marie Duey at 242-9774 for applications or further information. Lifelong learning Many think of formal school and education as something exclusively for the young. At the

Alu Like Hawai'i Computer Training Center, school is for the young an the young at heart. Coming back to school are three women a generation older than most of the class. > Colleen Garrett, Barbara Ray, and Margaret Naeole are all "non-traditional" students at the Hawai'i Computer Training Center and eaeh one faced her own doubts about returning to school. Garrett, a mother of four, has spent the last 10 years raising her family. Ray is coming out of 10 years of retirement. Naeole, recognizing the increasing importance of computers, wants to leam more about them. Entering a new school is a ehallenge for anyone, but for people who have been away from school for more than 30 years the ehallenges seem even greater. Garrett, Ray, and Naeole worried they were out of touch with the business world, that the subjects they had to take were their least favorite in school, and that they would have trouble keeping up.

Yet eaeh feels that she is leaming more about business, keeping up

just fine, and beginning to love subjects such as math and business English. Not that study is easy: they say it's hard work, but that it's worth it. Their families and friends have been both surprised and enthusiastic. Daughters say, "Alright Mom! Go for it!" Others say, "Auntie Margaret, you going back to school?" These women are role models for their family and friends and are inspiring their

peers to return to school. Eaeh one also gives credit to very sup-

portive husbands. Without exception eaeh of the three enjoys the business eunieulum. They appreciate the caring and time of their teachers. As one woman remarked, "I'm getting the attention that I've been looking for all these years." They are discovering new ideas, not only through the curriculum, but also about the lifelong learning process. As Ray says, "I'm sure there are a lot of Hawaiians that

would love to take this [course], because when I was in school we were too poor to study. ... we were trying to survive. ... coming back to school has been great." To others their age who have thought about retuming they say: "I'm 55 years old, and I feel like I'm 30."

"Do it for yourself." "First of all, you've got to be serious! This is hard work ... but the things you get out of it!" "Even though it's hard, there is the reward of knowing the young kids ... they love you. You're like their grandmother." "Age doesn't matter." "Education is neverending." "At our age we were ashamed to be Hawaiian...but now the kids are smart; they're intelligent; they're helping us to get through this program, and it's great to be young again." The next class at the Hawai'i Computer Training Center will begin in April. Call 532-3655 for information.

Having a blast: Colleen Garrett and Barbara Ray