OUR SCHOOLS | HAWAI'I JOB CORPS CENTER
Students, ages 16-24, train for careers

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

WAIMANALO — Hawai'i Job Corps Center isn't your typical school.

For their training in health occupation skills, Mailo Komonta practices changing bedsheets, hospital-style, with classmate Dawn Kaious playing the patient. The students at Hawai'i Job Corps Center in Waimanalo are both from the Marshall Islands. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

The federally financed program for people between 16 and 24 years old is free to low-income students, who on completion of their course work are eligible for further training and even college. The center spends about $27,000 for each student annually, providing room and board, clothing and stipend, and medical and dental care.

"We're a top-notch career training program for motivated young people from low-income (backgrounds)," said Julie Dugan, Job Corps spokeswoman. "We're continually having to dispel the myth about the program being for troubled youths or it's a last chance."

Situated on the back streets of Waimanalo, the state-of-the-art center looks more like a private school with a beautifully landscaped campus, which is cared for by the students, and a panoramic view of the Ko'olau Range.

Students can earn a competency-based high school diploma or General Educational Development certificate and receive training in culinary arts, facility maintenance, horticulture, pre-apprentice painting, auto mechanics, health occupations and business. Job Corps services also include career counseling, recreational activities, physical training room, a drivers education course and free childcare for students with young children.

Students say they are happy to have the chance for the training and recognize the high quality of instructors, equipment and facilities.

Charles Lum, 23, said the automotive program was just what he was looking for, plus he has an opportunity to become certified at a Mainland school, also at no cost. The program helped him focus on his goal and become more disciplined, Lum said.

Dan Letal, left, and Slaughter Graham learn house-painting skills at the Hawai'i Job Corps Center. Letal, 23, and Graham, 19, both from the Marshall Islands, are among 250 students enrolled in Waimanalo. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

• What are you most proud of? The school's record. Out of 118 centers in the United States, Hawai'i Job Corps ranks No. 2 and has a 90 percent employment placement record. On a rating scale of 1 to 9, the U.S. Department of Labor rates the school's quality of service at 8.

• Everybody at our school knows: Aubie Breenan, career preparation instructor, who was voted Mentor of the Year in 2003.

• Our biggest challenge: To increase local student enrollment.

• What we need: Exposure to let people know this program is available.

• Projects: Job Corps students contributed more than 6,000 hours of volunteer services last year using the skills they learned on 42 projects at such places as Windward Senior Day Care Center, Mission Houses Museum, Salvation Army and Kalama Beach Park.

• Special events: Job Corps will celebrate its 40th anniversary Monday, with Sen. Dan Inouye giving the keynote speech and pupu served by students in the culinary arts.