Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 6, 1 June 2016 — OHA GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT UH Maui GareerLink offers education, job preparation [ARTICLE]

OHA GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT UH Maui GareerLink offers education, job preparation

ByTreenaShapiro What's keeping you from meeting your career goals? If you need a high school diploma, vocational training, a college degree or professional development, a program at University of Hawai'i Maui College might be able to help. Maui County residents, including those on Moloka'i and Lāna'i, ean look into UH Maui's CareerLink program, whieh helps Native Hawaiians achieve eeonomie self-sufficiency. Supported by a $350,000 grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the program

offers GED preparation, tuition assistance and employment opportunities, as well as Ananeial literacy and employment readiness workshops. "Don't hold back because you don't have your high school diploma. It's not the end of the world. You ean continue," says CareerLink Director Hoku Hobbs. "I always believe that the sky is not the limit so anything's possible (including) being able to attain your degree or your vocational certification or attain your high school diploma and college diploma." CareerLink focuses on three eomponents: educational attainment, career development and Ananeial

literacy. "Some of us really don't take into consideration those eomponents and how important they are in going full circle as far as heeoming economically self-sufficient," Hobbs points out. In the area of educational attainment, CareerLink helps participants get their high school equivalency diplomas, pursue vocational training or certification or attain two-year degrees at UH-Maui College. In addition to bachelor's and associate degrees, Maui College offers training for those pursuing careers in automotive technology, nursing, sustainable construction or a variety of other professions. Financial assistance may also be available for

those who need training not offered at the college, such as commercial driver's license (CDL) courses. The career development eomponent aims at helping participants find and keep their jobs and advance in their careers. "In preparation to get a job you need professional development," Hobbs points out. "Resumes, cover letters, moek interviews, we assist with that." As for Ananeial literacy, "Most times we don't know how expensive school may be or we don't know how credit affects different things in our lives," says Hobbs. For those worried about paying for education, tuition assistance is available, with preference given to Native Hawaiians and those at or helow 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Hobbs says she's eager to help people understand exactly what CareerLink has to offer. She's available by phone or email, as well as in person at the office. "Or, if they are

really hesitant to eome on campus, we are more than willing to go out to them and be able to present the opportunities that lay ahead for them," she adds. "So it's not just limited to coming on campus but we are able to eome to you." The OHA grant will continue to fund the program through June 30, 2017. "We have Native Hawaiian community members who put school aside and because of this grant, they eame back to school and a few of them are graduating this semester with their degree," Hobbs says. "Because of their grant, that's how they were able to accomplish that goal." For more information about UH Maui College's CareerLink, eall (808) 984-3318, email careerLK@ hawaii.edu or visit http://maui. hawaii.edu/careerlink. Watch a video about UH Maui College's CareerLink at https:// vimeo.com/ohahawaii. ■

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