Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 9, 1 September 1992 — ALU LIKE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ALU LIKE

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

Entrepreneurship training graduates 51 students The Alu Like Entrepreneurship Training Program, conducted three start-up business classes May 23 thru July 31 and graduated 14 students in Waimea, Hawai'i, and 37 students in Honolulu, O'ahu. To enroll in the next Entrepreneurship Training Class, whieh begins on October 26, apply by September 30. Call Wailani Bell or Kehaulani Coleman at 524-1225 for an applieation and interview.

Summer Employment/Training Program attracts Big Island youth It's the Hawai'i lsland Center's busiest year ever working with 480 young people in a variety of training programs. More than 400 are participating in work experience either in the public sector with private nonprofit agencies. Training areas include: clerical, recreation, medical, child care, rehabilitation, farming, computer, aquatics and more.

About 50 youth from Kamuela to Kohala received training and certificates in CPR and First Aid. The classes were coordinated by Alu Like and taught by the Amenean Red Cross. Alu Like substance abuse projects move forward Alu Like through the federallyfunded Substance Abuse System Development Project (SASDP) has been assisting grass roots efforts on Maui and Moloka'i to fight against drug and aleohol abuse in their eommunities.

The efforts start with helping these communities organize to identify some of the problems caused by drug and aleohol abuse and devise meaningful ways to treat the individuals and families involved. The next step is to tell government agencies how they ean help communities implement their plans for dealing with aleohol and drug abuse. It is a kind of eom-munity-based substance abuse prevention. In July, the Hana Substance Abuse

Council and Alu Like's SASDP helped the community forge a closer working relationship with the loeal school to empower the entire eommunity and galvanize for future action. It is hoped that by increasing a eommunity's self esteem that a reduction in the use of abusive substances will result.

On Moloka'i, the advisory eouneil on substance abuse has been working on two pilot projects with high risk youth. One project centers around

boat building and repair activities along with substance abuse education and support groups. The other is an agricultural project and prevention education incorporaing na kupuna as a support group.

Hawai'i Island Center helps aspiring nurses Laura Marcum received assistance from Alu Like's Classroom Training Program. Since than she has earned her associates degree in nursing from Hawai'i Community College having graduated with honors. She obtained a license as a practical nurse and became eligible for the state board exam for registered nurses in July.

Alvin Mercer is another nursing student who participated in the training program and graduated with an associates degree. He writes: "It is with heartfelt gratitude that I thank you and all those who work at the Alu Like office in Hilo. The education support program is a genuine godsend to those of us who qualify for its benefits. The value of the support I received firom having my tuition and books paid for was immeasurable. Without question, it was a major eon-

tributor toward the successful educational experience." Ted Stradtmann-Carvalho is pursuing his career in nursing having received assistance from Alu Like. "Nursing excites me because there is continued growth in the field." He plans to eonhnue his nursing education at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

stories by Joy Reyes, employment specialist Moloka'i Island Center Noeole Lee found some career direction when she eame to Alu Like's Summer Youth Program looking for a summer job. Being a single-

parent, she felt overwhelmed by financial pressures and parental eoncerns. She accepted a clerk job at Moloka'i General Hospital. The experience helped her discover her interest in management. She plans to enroll in business management classes at Maui Community College on Moloka'i and fiansfer to Hawai'i Pacific College or Chaminade University to complete her educafion. by Kalani Lee, counselor

Allin Dudoit is enrolled in Alu Like's Employment & Training Program as a work exp»erience acUvity participant. He is gaining valuable work experience in building maintenanee repair, something he already was very skilled at having learned from his father. Assigned to the County of Maui/Department of Parks & RecreaUon, Dudoit is proving to be a valuable employee. "After a year of unsuccessful job hunting, I finally took my Dad's advice and gave Alu

Like a try. I'm really happy to be receiving on the job training in the field that I plan to make my career. I thought the training I received from my dad and others would be enough to find employment after high school. But I was wrong. I didn't make any 'big bucks' over the past year; instead, I learned some valuable lessons." He has also been accepted in Maui Community College's Building Maintenance Program this fall semester. by Ruth L. Poaipuni, employment specialist.

O'ahu Island Center Henee Martinez was referred to the Alu Like Employment & Training Program by the Offender/Ex-Offender Project. Despite some personal setbacks, she was determined to eomplete her last phase of classroom training at Hawai'i Institute of Hair Design whieh she did July 29. MarUnez is seeking full-Ume employment while she prepares herself to take the state board exam Sept. 8. by Lorie Hagedorn, employment specialist

On O'ahu, 650 youth participated in the Summer Employment/Training Program. Eaeh received tote bags filled with useful school items.