{"id":101193,"date":"2019-08-12T16:10:53","date_gmt":"2019-08-13T02:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=101193"},"modified":"2020-08-07T13:44:00","modified_gmt":"2020-08-07T23:44:00","slug":"waialeale-project-celebrates-10-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2019\/08\/12\/waialeale-project-celebrates-10-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Wai\u02bbale\u02bbale Project celebrates 10 years of transforming lives at Kaua\u02bbi CC<\/abbr>"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"Waialeale<\/p>\n

The black and white letters dangling from the ceiling that spelled “Waiʻaleʻale<\/span> Celebration“ contained a surprise. At the end of a joyful gathering in July to mark the pioneering project\u2019s 10-year milestone, the words expanded into pastel paper chains featuring the faces of hundreds of Kauaʻi<\/span> Community College<\/a> students whose lives have been forever changed by the Waiʻaleʻale<\/span> Project.<\/p>\n

Since 2010, the transformational project has served 786 students, ages 18–66, who would not otherwise have gone to college due to financial, personal or academic obstacles. The project seeks out non-college-bound students through community partners and referrers. In addition to scholarships and academic support, Waiʻaleʻale<\/span> provides a supportive learning environment with peer mentors to help participants succeed, creating a multi-generational movement.<\/p>\n

\"Waialeale<\/a>
Lisa Rapozo, second from left<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lisa Rapozo<\/strong> lost her government job in 2008 through a reduction in force. She joined the Waiʻaleʻale<\/span> Project\u2019s first cohort in 2010 and earned her associate\u2019s degree in liberal arts from Kauaʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> in 2013. Rapozo said she had been out of school for many years and feared she would not be able to balance everything out. The project put her fears to rest.<\/p>\n

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  • See more about Rapozo:<\/strong> Students in college thanks to Waialeale<\/a>, October 9, 2012<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    “It just gives us a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose, a sense of ʻohana. It\u2019s like my second family,” Rapozo said. “Without the project, I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today.”<\/p>\n

    She is currently working on a master\u2019s degree in social work from the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at M\u0101noa and expects to graduate in May 2020. Her son, Jaimie Kaimi Gonzalez<\/strong>, is a member of the Waiʻaleʻale<\/span> Project\u2019s Cohort 8 and is also on track to graduate from Kauaʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> in 2020 with his associate\u2019s degree in liberal arts.<\/p>\n

    “This project has actually brought us closer,” Rapozo said. “I have a younger son, he\u02bbs 10 and he\u2019s already talking about college. I bring him to campus. He knows what school is. He\u2019s so excited that Kaimi is in school.”<\/p>\n

    \"Waialeale<\/a><\/p>\n

    Waiʻaleʻale<\/span> students persist to their second year of college at a higher rate than their non-Waiʻaleʻale<\/span> peers. Almost 300 Waiʻaleʻale<\/span> Project students have earned a bachelor\u2019s or an associate\u2019s degree and\/or a certificate. Thirty one are currently pursuing baccalaureate degrees, and Rapozo and another student are pursuing master\u2019s degrees.<\/p>\n

    More about the Waiʻaleʻale<\/span> Project<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    —By Kelli Trifonovitch<\/em><\/p>\n