Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 5, 1 May 2005 — OHA vocational scholarships aid in construction industry training [ARTICLE]

OHA vocational scholarships aid in construction industry training

By Sterling Kini Wong OHA is offering $250,000 in scholarships to Native Hawaiians over the next two years to enroll in a training program that would help them acquire construction skills in such fields as steel framing, plumbing, electrical and carpentry. The Project Aloha Scholarship Program provides students with funding to attend a nationally certified pre-apprenticeship training program administered by the Construction Training Center of the Paeihe (CTCP). The program's goal is to teach students basic skills that will give them a competitive edge over others applying for entry-level jobs in the construction industry. "Our students are drug tested and trained in basic construction safety," said Karen Nakamura, chief

executive officer of the Building Industry Association of Hawai'i, whieh established the CTCP. "For employers, that addresses their number-one eoneem: will this worker be a liability at the construction site? That automatically gives our graduates an advantage over other workers." OHA's contribution will provide 38 Hawaiians with full scholarships to attend the program, whieh normally costs $6,580 per student. The funding is offered through OHA's vocational program, called Ka Liu 'Oihana (employment preparation), whieh includes an additional $1 million in scholarships to two other career training organizations: the Wai'anae Maritime Academy and the Hawai'i Technology Institute. Trustee John Waihe'e IV, who initiated the program, said that Ka Liu 'Oihana is OHA's attempt to address the state's employment fallout following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, whieh he said hit Hawaiians particularly hard. "We wanted to develop programs to help Hawaiians acquire job skills that will enable them to support their families," Waihe'e said. With more than $2 hillion in civilian and military construction commitments in the state over the next decade, the building industry is a promising source of jobs for Hawai'i's loeal people. It has been estimated that about 25,000 additional construction workers will be needed over the next five to seven years, bringing the total number of positions in the industry to a level

not seen in Hawai'i since the development boom of the 1980s. "The industry is already feeling the emneh," Nakamura said. "Companies are already having a hard time finding contractors and workers." The pre-apprenticeship program, whieh is available to anyone with a high school diploma or an equivalent, fits the nontraditional school model that OHA has wanted to help provide for its beneficiaries. "We wanted to target Hawaiians who for whatever reason would not be able to attend the typical two- or four-year colleges," Waihe'e said. "Many of these people have family obligations and other jobs. We wanted to offer them programs that would accommodate their schedules." The program's classes are offered weekday evenings and on Saturdays at locations around the state, and the course ean generally be completed in two to three months. CTCP Director Wendy Nakano said that the program doesn't directly plaee students in positions, but that the Building Industry Association, whieh is affiliated with 800 professional trade organizations, ean help direct students to job openings. "We cannot promise people jobs," she said. "It's up to the students if they want to work for it." For more information or applications, visit info@constructiontraing.org or eall 847-4666, ext. 208. U

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