Page 7 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - Nov 3, 2021

NOVEMBER 3, 2021
HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK 7
Kāpili Like Works With ‘At-promise’ People
FROM PAGE 6
industries were in-demand. Then, Kāpili Like developed programs to provide training for those fields.
lation she noted when she first founded Kāpili Like. Some are referred through schools or community organizations. Others are referred through the court system. Still others apply to the program on their own. All are welcome and she points out that while others may consider them at-risk, the Kāpili Like team believes everyone deserves a second chance.
“Our participants for the most part are the underserved, the at-promise population. They do include those that needed second chances from addiction or incarceration, those type of things. And now, with COVID, there’s ‘ohana that need a second chance,” she says. “They need job placement because they lost their jobs, etc. That’s even how CDL came in, too. We were like ʻOK,’ because people took the time now, to kind of reevaluate themselves and their goals and so forth. I mean even us as an organi- zation, (we thought) ʻwhat do wewanttodoandhowdowe service the community more?’ So it wasn’t just those that had those issues. It’s now those that face COVID restrictions or COVID layoffs and termi- nations. Now, they’re stuck, too. So, we all needed to come together as community.”
eating,” Fonoti explains. Once in the program, the team at Kāpili Like is there with its participants for the long-haul. This includes any
“We picked things that pro- vided a livable wage, things they can maintain their fami- lies on (and) build careers on,” explains Fonoti.
setbacks they may have.
“We ask that our partici- pants be 100% honest with us, and transparent. Even if it’s negative. Say, they used over the weekend or they’ re in- volved in something that they shouldn’t have been, we ask them to be completely honest so we can support them to a resolution so we can move on and help remedy the situation and help them keep moving
Kāpili Like’s academy provides training in construc- tion, sustainable agriculture, transportation (CDL, driver’s education and forklift certifi- cation) and auto repair.
“We say at-promise, instead of at-risk,” she asserts.
Kāpili Like’s trade academy participants labor together at a worksite in Nānākuli. The organization takes requests for community projects and applies those service hours toward apprenticeships that help fulfill certification requirements. In addition to carpentry, there are ag, auto repair and transportation programs.
PHOTO COURTESY KĀPILI LIKE
The organization sees ev- eryone’s potential, and while they are admitted in cohorts, Fonoti stresses that every- one’s path is individualized. There is no set deadline and help is always there to support participants, she notes.
forward,” Fonoti stresses. “There are going to be is- sues, concerns and slip-ups. There’s always room for improvement, growth and redemption. And that’s what we teach them,” she says. “We want them to be sustainable. We want them to move for-
uted more than 100,000 com- munity service hours for the participants.
Kāpili Like’s first cohort and, as an example of how the program caters to each indi- vidual, he was able to help and share his life experiences with the younger members and provide his own guidance.
Kāpili Like’s entire pro- gram — whether it’s job training or obtaining a GED — is culturally based and built upon four pillars: Pilina, Ku- leana, Kūpono and Mālama.
ward.”
Kāpili Like’s programs are
“For us, (the four pillars are) a daily implementation. So for instance, everything that we do for our trades academy is related to com- munity. So, for our carpentry for example, we build homes to gain apprenticeship hours,” she says.
The 16-year-old who came to Kāpili Like through the drug courts was able to ob- tain his GED and is now in the military and living in Nevada. He’s married and has a baby on the way.
“Pilina is the relationship that you have with yourself and others and community. Kuleana, which is the respon- sibility you have for yourself, your family and community, and thinking of all what all those three encompass ... and making decisions and doing everything with intention,” she explains. “Kupono is to do things in a righteous way, and Mālama is the act of tak- ing care or protecting.
open to youth and adult par- ticipants.
“These are the outcomes that we can talk story about,” Fonoti says, her voice beam- ing with pride in the individ- uals’ accomplishments.
“So, how do you do all those things? You start within, which extends to your family, which extends to community and you’ re a member of all those three things.”
In addition to the training people may have signed up for, the organization provides life skills guidance, counsel- ing, and sometimes even food.
And it’s been very success- ful. Since the nonprofit’s in- ception, 600 participants have gone through the programs. All have retained their em- ployment and more than 80% have continued their educa- tion while being employed. The programs have contrib-
The mom of four was placed in a job at Home De- pot after completing her fork- lift certification. Her daughter did the same and was placed at Costco. Both have since been promoted and Mom is looking to get her CDL certification through Kāpili Like.
Despite those successes, Fonoti says that there’s al- ways more that they can do to help. “We’re thankful to be supported through com- munity partnerships
Fonoti says that everyone who comes to the program is part of that underserved popu-
“We make sure you have food ... we realize that suste- nance is a big thing and some of our participants weren’t
The man who was laid off from his job after 21 years completed his CDL certifica- tion and now has a new career. He was the oldest member of
and various grants. We hope that we’re around
for a while.”
When she looks back on what her initial vision has grown into, she says she is overwhelmed, but she’s quick to credit her team and commu- nity partners (Hawaiian Elec- tric, Kamehameha Schools, A‘ali‘i, Goodwill Hawai‘i and the Castle Foundation) that were and continue to be instrumental in keeping Kāpili Like going.
People may apply for a project by visiting kapililike. org.
It’s those service hours that help with the hands-on train- ing the academy provides.
The fruit of all that work continues to go out into the community and lead fulfill- ing lives.
“From all ages — a mother with an addiction background to Uncle Daniel, who needed a second career because of COVID, and Cody who was in our group and who is now living in Nevada.”