Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 1, 1 January 2006 — Ready, set ... build! [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ready, set ... build!

The first students of the Aloha Project Scholarship funded by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs have completed more than 160 hours of training in the Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training Program (PACT). These job-ready students recently had the opportunity to present their portfolios and resumes to members of the Building Industry Association of Hawai'i armed with newly acquired construction skills and know-how. "Our participants have strong values and commitment," said PACT coordinator Barbara Ann Leinani Nishikawa. "They are prepared for entry-level apprenticeships in the construction industry, and have gained valuable eommunieahon skills and applied math, whieh are very important in eonstruction." Last month, PACT scholarship students Shirley Ka'aikala, Shawna Widemann and Alric Kūhaulua, along with Nishikawa, visited OHA trustees at a board meeting and thanked them for their support. OHA funds this construction apprenticeship program as a part of its Ka Liu 'Oihana job preparedness initiative Applications are now being accepted for classes beginning in January and February for those

interested in a career in the eonstruction industry. Full scholarships are available for qualifying Native Hawaiian adults. Classes are held on evenings and weekends. For information or to request a Project Aloha Scholarship applieation, eall Barbara Nishikawa, PACT coordinator, at 808-847-4666 x212, or e-mail pact@constructiontrainin g.org. Download application forms and view course schedules at www. ConstructionTraining.org.

NŪ HOU • NEWSBRIEFS

Earning their hard hats: Front (L-R) : Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program students Cory Soriano, Travis Manabat, Jocelyn Lima-Po, Kahanu Ah Puek, Shawna Widemann. AAiddle: Barbara Nishikawa, PACT Coordinator; Shirley Ka'aikala, student. Back: Students Rose Kamai, Aung Tun, Edward Carvalho, Alric Kūhaulua and instructor Jesse Halsey. Photo: Courtesy of Hawai'i Building lndustry ksociation