Po‘i Nā Nalu

Established in 1995, Po‘i Nā Nalu is Honolulu Community College’s oldest Native Hawaiian-serving program. Its goal is to prepare Native Hawaiian students for employment into high-demand occupations with family-sustaining wages by providing vigorous and culturally appropriate opportunities for academic and professional success.

Funding for Po‘i Nā Nalu is provided by the Native Hawaiian Education (NHE) program of the U.S. Department of Education, as part of an award totaling $1,333,828, with 0 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by NHE, the U.S. Department of Education, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit www.ed.gov.

Eligibility

To participate in Po‘i Nā Nalu, students must be:

• Native Hawaiian ancestry
• Honolulu Community College must be your home campus
• Enrolled in a Career & Technical Education or STEM program
• In good academic standing (minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0)

How to Apply

Applications for Poʻi Nā Nalu are accepted year-round based upon your eligibility and availability of space. To apply, please complete and submit the Poʻi Nā Nalu application.

Services We Offer

Po‘i Nā Nalu supports the academic and professional goals of our participants through a variety of services.

Loan Out Program

Eligible students may borrow the following items through our loan-out program:

• Laptops (48 hours)
• Textbooks (one semester)
• Tools (one semester)
• Electronics: calculators, cameras, headphones, projectors (48 hours)
• Resource books and DVDs (in-house use only)

Protective Wear/Uniform assistance is also available.

Workshops & Huaka‘i

Poʻi Nā Nalu offers workshops and field trips focused on College and Career Development, Cultural Enrichment, Financial Literacy, Community Service and four-year college campus visits.

Past workshops and field trips:

• Lomilomi and Lā‘au Lapa‘au
• Building Math Skills
• Personal Statement and Resume Writing
• Financial Aid and Scholarship Assistance
• Hawaiʻi News Now Station
• Iolani Palace and Bishop Museum
• The Honolulu Symphony
• Kewalo Marine Lab
• Kawaiahaʻo Church and Preschool

iKEA Workshop Series

Honolulu Community College’s Student Success Center, along with its collaborators, offer an array of study and life skills workshops that are designed to improve your learning skills and help you achieve your academic and career goals. Attendance at these workshops count towards your minimum 2 event per semester requirement to remain in good standing with Po‘i Nā Nalu. For access to the Zoom links for all workshops visit the iKea Workshop page.

Makawalu College Transfer

The Makawalu College Transfer program prepares students for careers in current or emerging professions by offering exposure to various four-year degree programs.

Participating students will:

• Engage in information sessions conducted by professionals on relevant career paths
• Engage in discussions with University transfer students
• Visit student support programs throughout the University system
• Learn about baccalaureate and graduate educational opportunities at other campuses
• Interact with university faculty, staff and students
• Acclimate to a university setting

Tutoring & Mentoring

Po‘i Nā Nalu offers Peer Mentoring and Academic Tutoring to support participating students. Peer mentors help students understand and acquire strategies aimed at strengthening academic performance.

Tutoring subjects vary each semester.

Career Readiness & Internships

Poʻi Nā Nalu’s Ke Ala Noelo Career Readiness Program is designed to offer Poʻi Nā Nalu participants an invaluable opportunity to prepare for and network within their future professional community.

Through hands-on training and professional mentoring, student interns receive relevant and rigorous educational experiences in preparation for their aspiring careers. Eligible students receive a stipend upon internship completion.

Past internship sites:

• HonCC Cosmetology Department
• Malama Honua Public Charter School
• iHeartRadio
• Amano Construction Company
• Honolulu Community Action Program
• World Class Auto Body & Paint
• Kumuola Foundation
• O‘ahu Performance Marine
• UH Mānoa’s Children Center at Kūhiō

Participants of the Ke Ala Noelo Internship Program also gain specialized training vital to building career and technical knowledge and skills through:

• Personal Statement Writing
• Resumé Building
• Mock Interviews
• Professional Skills Workshops
• Presentations

Entrepreneurship Training

The Ka Ihu Waʻa Entrepreneurship Training Program provides the basic knowledge needed to start your own business, be it an online or brick-and-mortar business, a service or product, a profit or non-profit organization.

We will help you to:

• Develop your business idea
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis
• Calculate startup costs
• Identify funding opportunities
• Write a business plan
• Pitch your business to mock investors

Upon completion of the program, you will know whether you want to pursue your business idea now or in the future. You may even decide to change your business idea, but with the knowledge gained by participating in Ka Ihu Waʻa, you will know how to turn your idea into a reality.

Conferences

Poʻi Nā Nalu supports attendance at local and national conferences applicable to participants’ career paths. Eligibility is based upon your active participation in Poʻi Nā Nalu and relevance of each conference to your major. Support can include airfare, lodging, ground transportation, meals, and conference fees.

Past conferences:

• Phi Theta Kappa Honors Institute
• National Association of Home Builders Student Competition
• SEMA Show
• Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference
• Annual Native Hawaiian Education Association Convention

Certifications, Licensures, and Memberships Support

Po‘i Nā Nalu students may also receive financial assistance in obtaining:

• Certifications (i.e. First Aid, Automotive Service Excellence)
• Licensures (i.e. Hawai‘i State Cosmetology license)
• Memberships in academic and professional associations (i.e. Phi Theta Kappa)
• Study materials for professional certifications and licensures

Scholarships

There is free money out there waiting for you! Many organizations and donors are looking to help students like you alleviate educational costs. You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for most need-based scholarships.

• OHA Scholarships
• ALU LIKE Inc., Hana Lima Scholarship: DEADLINE ongoing
• Kamehameha Schools Na Hookama Scholarship: DEADLINE 1/15
• Pauahi Foundation Scholarship: DEADLINE 1/29
• Hawaii Community Foundation: DEADLINE 2/1
• UH Common Scholarship: DEADLINE 3/1