An evening of culinary excellence and community connection marked the launch of Hawaiʻi Community College鈥檚 inaugural E ʻImi Pono fundraiser, drawing more than 100 supporters to the Manono campus on April 18.

Held at the I Ola N艒 Ke Kino Dining Room, the event highlighted the college鈥檚 role in preparing Hawaiʻi Island鈥檚 workforce, bringing together alumni, community leaders, donors and industry partners. The evening centered on student learning and real-world training, with Hawaiʻi CC culinary students and faculty collaborating alongside featured chef Ryan Brannigan, executive chef of Hilo Benioff Medical Center.

Guests enjoyed a menu blending innovation and local flavors, including A5 Kagoshima Wagyu, fresh seafood and student-prepared dishes such as hamachi with ponzu, Korean pork lettuce wraps and lilikoi butter tarts.

“It鈥檚 an honor to be part of the very first E ʻImi Pono,” said Chef Ryan Brannigan. “Food brings people together, but what makes this event special is the impact Hawaiʻi Community College has across the island. From workforce training to career pathways, the college is shaping our community in ways many people don鈥檛 always see—and it鈥檚 meaningful to be part of that.”

The event also showcased collaboration across programs, with contributions from culinary arts, agriculture, welding, electrical installation and maintenance, and carpentry—demonstrating the college鈥檚 hands-on, interdisciplinary approach.

“E ʻImi Pono represents the spirit of Hawaiʻi Community College—collaboration, innovation and commitment to our students,” says Hawaiʻi CC Chancellor Susan S. Kazama. “We are deeply grateful for the support that helps us continue building pathways to meaningful careers and stronger communities.”

Proceeds will support scholarships, equipment and expanded training opportunities for students, helping strengthen career pathways and meet Hawaiʻi Island鈥檚 workforce needs.

Read more about the fundraiser on the .

As higher education evolves, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is actively adapting to the rising demand for skill-based learning and flexible academic pathways. In fall 2026, 糖心视频 Mānoa will officially launch its to support modern learners. Offered through 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 , micro-credentials provide a vital alternative and complement for degree and non-degree seeking students.

“The expansion of our micro-credentials reflects our deep commitment to meeting learners where they are,” said 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel. “By providing flexible, skill-based pathways, we are empowering current students to gain the in-demand competencies they need to thrive in Hawaiʻi’s dynamic workforce.”

Building skills, advancing careers

Designed to bridge the gap between academic theory and workforce demands, 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 micro-credentials are short, career-focused programs. Each credential consists of two to four courses specifically tailored to build immediate, in-demand skills aligned with workforce needs. These micro-credentials will be offered both online and in-person.

Current 糖心视频 Mānoa micro-credentials include: AI for business, innovative problem solving, applied economics & statistics, remote sensing, criminology and criminal justice, mixed-methods educational research and philosophy for children Hawaiʻi. Up to 10 additional micro-credentials are planned for release by fall 2026, with more to come.

Upon completing a micro-credential, students receive a shareable digital badge. This tool can be added to r茅sum茅s, online professional profiles and shared directly with prospective employers to verify specialized competencies. The initiative reflects a growing national trend, as institutions across the U.S. are increasingly adopting these verified credentials to meet employer preference for skill-based certifications.

These programs are built on a flexible, “stackable” framework. This means that while each micro-credential provides standalone value to help professionals advance their careers, they can also count toward achievement of a higher certificate or degree. Students can start small, earning individual micro-credentials, and use their earned credits toward higher credentials or larger goals over time.

.

A new report from the (糖心视频ERO) emphasizes the crucial role of the 糖心视频 Community Colleges鈥� Good Jobs Hawaiʻi (GJH) program in successfully placing residents into high-demand, higher-paying careers. The preliminary analysis by Rachel Inafuku provides more evidence that these targeted training programs are helping families combat Hawaiʻi’s persistent, high cost of living.

“Consistent with the , average real quarterly wages for [Good Jobs Hawaiʻi] completers were more than $2,000 higher two quarters after program completion than two quarters prior,” the report said. This increase demonstrates how these short-term programs are creating essential earning power.

Higher healthcare earnings

The most dramatic gains were found among those who transitioned into a new field after training. In healthcare, the largest GJH pathway, participants who switched from non-healthcare industries—such as retail or food services—saw their average quarterly earnings rise by more than $5,500 two quarters after completion. This amounts to an annualized earnings increase of $22,000 for workers entering a sector with sustained high demand due to Hawaiʻi’s aging population.

Significant gains for skilled trades

Similarly, skilled trades completers realized significant wage gains, earning roughly $2,600 more per quarter post-program. Employment patterns for this group also shifted away from lower-wage sectors and toward construction, manufacturing and public administration, aligning with the state’s thriving construction industry and its well-above-average wages.

Smaller increases for tech

Outcomes varied by sector. Technology students—many of whom were mid-career workers with pre-program earnings higher than the average GJH student—experienced smaller wage increases and more modest changes in industry placement.

Read more 糖心视频 News Good Jobs Hawaiʻi stories

Overall, these findings highlight how post-training earnings trajectories reflect both the specific skills acquired and the broader structure of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 labor market.

Inafuku said, “As Hawaiʻi continues to face a high demand for workers in critical sectors alongside persistent cost-of-living pressures, workforce programs that align training with industry needs can address both challenges—placing workers in more stable, higher-paying jobs while helping employers meet demand.”

糖心视频ERO is housed in 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

The Culinary Institute of the Pacific (CIP) at Kapiʻolani Community College has opened applications for two new cohorts of its Workforce Development Program, an advanced culinary training partnership with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA).

The five-day, hands-on training sessions give culinary professionals access to advanced baking and pastry instruction without leaving the state. Full tuition scholarships are available to help upskill 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 existing workforce and build clear pathways for career growth.

“Our collaboration with the Culinary Institute of America brings world-class training right here to our islands, empowering 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 chefs to elevate their craft and push the boundaries of culinary innovation,” said Chef Roy Yamaguchi, director of the Culinary Institute of the Pacific.

Cohort 19: Fundamentals of Baking and Pastry Arts

• April 6–10, 2026: this course allows partiCIPants to build a solid foundation in the art and science of baking. Training covers essential skills in classic baking techniques, pastry production, doughs, custards and introductory chocolate work.

Cohort 20: Dessert Design in the Hot Kitchen

• April 13–17, 2026: this course focuses on crafting show-stopping desserts without a traditional bakery setup. PartiCIPants will learn to adapt to the challenges of a hot kitchen, creatively utilizing heat-based equipment to deliver exquisite fine-dining sweets.

Both cohorts are led by Chef , a CIA associate professor, alumna, and Certified Master Baker who has worked in acclaimed kitchens including L鈥橝telier de Jo毛l Robuchon and The Modern.

Eligibility and scholarships

Applicants must be 18 or older, a Hawaiʻi resident or active military personnel stationed in Hawaiʻi, and have a minimum of three years of professional culinary experience. Full tuition scholarships for Cohort 19 and 20, valued at $1,500 per student, are made possible through the Hawai鈥檌 Ag & Culinary Alliance CIP x CIA Workforce Development Scholarship Fund with support from the State of Hawaiʻi. Scholarships for Native Hawaiian applicants are provided by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Since its launch in September 2024, the CIP x CIA program has provided advanced training to more than 160 culinary professionals across 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 foodservice sector.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo will lead a new $1.2 million, three-year grant funded by NASA to better understand how 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 coastlines can withstand climate change while expanding hands-on research and workforce development opportunities for students across the 10-campus 糖心视频 System.

John Burns, an associate professor of will co-lead the project with Haunani Kane, assistant professor of at the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 .

“We are very excited to connect students from across the 糖心视频 system through applied research experiences that help build educational pathways into careers in science and conservation,” said Burns.

The team will study how sea level rise and warming oceans are affecting coral reefs and nearshore areas. Students will learn satellite mapping, drone surveys, reef modeling and data analysis. They will also work with faculty, community partners and NASA scientists.

Burns directs 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 , where he creates detailed three-dimensional maps of reefs. Those maps show how storms, bleaching and human activity change reef structure and health over time.

—By Susan Enright

Many aspiring mental health practitioners in Hawaiʻi begin their career journey thinking they are embarking on a straightforward path toward helping their community, only to find themselves walking into many regulations and bureaucratic red tape.

John Souza, Jr., an assistant professor in the at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, is working to change that with his “Do You Know the Way to Licensure?” project. The goal is to fix the critical disconnects in the state’s mental health workforce pipeline, leading to more fully licensed providers for local families.

Hidden hurdles

Souza’s preliminary research reveals that the transition from graduation to full licensure is where many practitioners get lost, often because of administrative and financial burden of accruing post-graduate supervised hours.

“Instead of being sure that people are ready to sit with individuals, couples and families and help them heal, we’re seeing that the licensure process is testing people’s ability to withstand financial hardship,” said Souza.

The initiative, part of the Marriage and Family Therapy Lab at the , is collecting data from four different routes—undergraduates, current graduate students, pre-licensed graduates and licensed providers. Souza wants to advocate for policy changes that will streamline the path to practice.

For more information or to participate in the study, contact Souza at john.souza@hawaii.edu.

Honolulu Community College鈥檚 Continuing Education Department is launching a comprehensive slate of spring 2026 non-credit courses designed to strengthen Hawaiʻi鈥檚 workforce, support lifelong learning and create clearer pathways to credit academic programs. The courses are in answer to the demands that various industries in Hawaiʻi see in the workforce. These are short-term training programs geared specifically to the needs in those industries. Courses are open to the public and offered primarily during evenings and weekends.

Aligned pathways in the skilled trades

The college is addressing critical workforce needs in construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure with aligned training in the skilled trades. The Welding Fundamentals course, starting April 9, 2026, builds foundational skills that support entry into Honolulu CC鈥檚 credit welding program. Electrical and plumbing recertification courses are also offered.

• Registration for Welding Fundamentals closes April 2, 2026.

Foundational safety training

A new joint initiative with the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and industry partners is launching Foundational Safety Training Levels 1 and 2. This initiative aims to expand the talent pipeline for Hawaiʻi鈥檚 entertainment and creative industries.

Training includes industry-recognized certifications such as CPR/First Aid/AED, OSHA 10, Aerial Lifts, Forklift Certification, Fall Protection, and Scaffolding Competent Person.

• Registration for all Foundational Safety courses closes February 17, 2026.

Creative industries and fashion

This spring marks the launch of a new Fashion and Sublimation Printing series, a three-course, hands-on pathway aligned with the college鈥檚 credit Fashion Program. Participants will learn design fundamentals, digital production, and portfolio development.

• Fashion and Sublimation 1 registration closes March 10, 2026.
• Fashion and Sublimation 2 registration closes April 1, 2026.
• Fashion and Sublimation 3 registration closes April 28, 2026.

Language access and workforce readiness

The Honolulu CC English Language Learner Options (HELLO) program offers non-credit English instruction at multiple levels, supporting listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary development. HELLO helps participants gain confidence for success in college, the workplace, and daily life. HELLO runs March 2 through April 9, 2026.

• Registration closes February 24, 2026.

By intentionally aligning non-credit courses with credit programs and partnering with industry leaders, Honolulu CC Continuing Education is strengthening pathways that support workforce development, career mobility, and lifelong learning for Hawaiʻi鈥檚 working learners.

The University of Hawaiʻi plays a pivotal role within a new statewide coalition dedicated to securing Hawaiʻi鈥檚 economic future. As a founding member of the “Generational Workforce Commitment,” 糖心视频 is uniting with government, business and philanthropic sectors to ensure that by 2045, every resident has a clear path to a living-wage career.

“Building on the State Unified Plan, the Commitment takes a comprehensive, data-driven approach to ensure our keiki can build careers right here at home,” said Gov. Josh Green. “This isn鈥檛 about quick fixes. It鈥檚 about generational change. When we align our schools, our university system, our employers and our state agencies around a common goal, we create real pathways for Hawaiʻi‘s families to earn living wages and thrive in our state.”

Learn, work, thrive

The initiative is driven by the Learn, Work, Thrive Hui鈥攁 coalition co-facilitated by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and the Hawaiʻi Workforce Funders Collaborative (HWFC). HWFC acts as a catalyst organization, bringing philanthropic partners together to support a unified workforce strategy.

Matt Stevens, executive director of HWFC, noted that this shared governance is essential for solving entrenched economic issues.

“We know Hawaiʻi鈥檚 workforce challenges aren鈥檛 simple, and they can鈥檛 be solved alone by any one organization or stakeholder,” said Stevens. “This Commitment is about choosing to work differently over the long term: staying focused on shared outcomes, making tough decisions, and investing in what actually changes people鈥檚 lives”.

Strengthening educational pathways

Education systems are a critical part of ensuring that pathways to these outcomes are accessible, seamless and durable over time. Through the Commitment, alignment between the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education and 糖心视频 is strengthened, building the shared infrastructure needed to efficiently connect learners across the state to existing, unfilled good jobs today, while increasing the system鈥檚 ability to adapt as new industries and opportunities emerge over the coming decades.

“Expanding on sector partnerships and increasing work-based learning opportunities like internships are explicit goals of the Commitment, and aligned closely with 糖心视频鈥檚 strategic plan,” said Christine Beaule, 糖心视频 director of workforce development.

“Our responsibility to the next generation is twofold: we must provide the rigorous academic preparation all students deserve and need, while creating the conditions that allow them to build a life in the islands,” added Stephen Schatz, executive director of Hawaii P–20 Partnerships for Education.

Honolulu Community College welcomed Michael Cadenazzi, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for industrial base policy, for a tour of its state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Facility, underscoring the college鈥檚 expanding role in strengthening the nation鈥檚 industrial base and Hawaiʻi鈥檚 defense-aligned workforce pipeline. Cadenazzi was in Honolulu to attend the Honolulu Defense Forum in January.

The visit highlighted Honolulu CC鈥檚 Advanced Manufacturing Training Program, launched in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense鈥檚 Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Military Affairs Council through the Kuʻi Hao Initiative, and BG Workforce. The program provides hands-on training in precision machining, fabrication and industrial manufacturing (skills essential to Hawaiʻi鈥檚 maritime, defense and industrial sectors).

“We were incredibly honored by Assistant Secretary Cadenazzi鈥檚 visit,” said Honolulu CC Chancellor, Karen C. Lee. “It reflects the true partnership that brought our Advanced Manufacturing Training Suite to life as we prepare Hawaiʻi鈥檚 future machining and manufacturing workforce.”

Hawaiʻi鈥檚 first dedicated training hub for advanced manufacturing

During the tour, Cadenazzi visited the college鈥檚 cutting-edge machine shop, instructional labs and hands-on training suites, where faculty and students showcased class projects, industry-aligned equipment, and the program鈥檚 growing capacity to meet regional and national workforce needs. The facility, which opened in 2025, serves as Hawaiʻi鈥檚 first dedicated training hub for advanced manufacturing and supports a diverse cohort of trainees, including active-duty military personnel, shipyard workers and local students.

“Assistant Secretary Cadenazzi鈥檚 visit affirmed the importance of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 role in strengthening the nation鈥檚 defense industrial base,” said Pono Chong, program director for Kuʻi Hao. “Through partnerships like this with Honolulu Community College and IBAS, we are building real, job-ready pathways in advanced manufacturing that support military readiness, supply-chain resilience and long-term economic opportunity Hawaiʻi.”

Honolulu CC鈥檚 Advanced Manufacturing programs continue to evolve in response to industry demand, offering students hands-on experience with advanced tools and technologies while supporting regional and national efforts to strengthen industrial capabilities.

Hawaiʻi faces a significant public health workforce shortage that far exceeds the national average, leaving rural communities especially affected by limited public health resources and academic pathways into the field.

To help fill this gap, a three-course public health certificate offered by was developed and launched in fall 2020 in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 (DPHS) and the Department of Health鈥檚 Kauaʻi District Health Office (KDHO). Nearly six years later, 72 students—including high school early college participants—have completed the program, gaining foundational knowledge and credits transferable to a at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

Early college credits, pathway to a degree

The certificate introduces foundational concepts through PH201: Introduction to Public Health, PH202: Public Health in Hawaiʻi, and PH203: Introduction to Global Public Health. Kauaʻi CC students who complete the program get a head start on a four-year degree and strengthen a seamless 糖心视频 System pipeline.

The program is also offered to students at Waimea High School and Kapaāa High School through early college partnerships, allowing them to earn college credits that count toward both Kauaʻi CC and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

“It鈥檚 so awesome to see high school students grapple with college material and make those important connections to public health,” said Yuka Polovina, a DPHS faculty member who currently teaches PH201. “This certificate and partnership with Kauaʻi CC is a fantastic model for other community colleges across our state and other campuses to follow.”

This program is a wonderful showcase of the collaborative academic pathway across the university system…
—Tetine Sentell

KDHO staff serve as guest lecturers, covering topics such as epidemiology, public health emergency preparedness, public health communications and outbreak control.

“We love the opportunity for our staff to share real-world local examples and make the work of public health come alive for Kauaʻi CC students,” said Janet Berreman, KDHO officer. “We get to see their excitement as they learn about the field.”

By introducing students to the field earlier, the program aims to increase local capacity and cultivate a future public health workforce drawn from the communities it serves. The initiative also supports 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel鈥檚 efforts to strengthen connections across the 糖心视频 System.

The certificate by DPHS faculty Denise Nelson-Hurwitz, Lisa Kehl and Michelle Tagorda-Kama, with Tammie Napoleon and others at Kauaʻi CC. Yvette Amshoff, a DPHS master’s of public health graduate, taught the first cohorts and helped develop the program.

“This program is a wonderful showcase of the collaborative academic pathway across the university system, including our KDHO partners and DOE as well,” said Tetine Sentell, public health professor and DPHS department chair. “We are working to build more pathways like this to support public health across our islands and beyond.”

.