Oct 2013 

  

  

Workshops are free to attend

  

Attendees MUST  first submit a completed client intake packet before workshop registraion

• Nov 16th
• Dec 21st

Honolulu - HCA Office 

8:30a - 5p

• TBA 

Maui

For more information or to register for a workshop in your community, contact HCA at (toll-free) 1.866.400.1116.

New Board Members Join HCA 

At its September 2013 Board meeting, HCA announced the addition of 3 new volunteer members to join its Board.  The new Board members bring with them a wealth of knowledge in the fields of lending, community development, and natural, social, and cultural resource management.

HCA welcomes the following new Board members.

Malia Akutagawa, Member.  Ms. Akutagawa was born and raised on Molokai.  She is an attorney and Assistant Professor of Law with both the William S. Richardson School of Law Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law and the Hawaiinuikea School of Hawaiian Knowledge at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  She is part of Hui Aina Momona, a consortium of scholars throughout the university community charged with addressing compelling issues of indigenous Hawaiian knowledge and practices, including the legal regime and Native Hawaiian rights associated with malama aina, and with focus on cross-disciplinary solutions to natural and cultural resource management, sustainability, and food security.  Before joining the law school and Hawaiinuikea faculty, Malia was the Director of the Molokai Rural Development Project for nine years.  She led training and education initiatives through the University of Hawaii Maui College - Molokai and partnered with a number of community organizations to strengthen the capacity of the workforce and local economy.  She is President and Founder of Sustainable Molokai, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that focuses on maintaining Molokai's cultural legacy of aina momona (abundant land) while embracing modern pathways to a sustainable future.

Michelle Kauhane, Member. Ms. Kauhane is Native Hawaiian and a homesteader from Kapolei, Oahu.  She is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from Gonzaga University.  She has over 20 years of management experience in both the private and nonprofit sectors with extensive knowledge in affordable housing, lending, financial education and community development.  In her capacity as the Deputy Director at the Department of the Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), Ms. Kauhane was responsible for the management and oversight of the DHHL loan portfolio totaling more than $500 million in direct loans, federally insured mortgages and loans guaranteed by DHHL.  In July 2013, Ms. Kauhane was appointed the President and CEO of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement overseeing the entire organization, and with direct management of Lending and Investment Services and the Native Hawaiian Policy Center.

HCA Assists 249 Families Secure or Sustain Housing Since 2011

HCA has reported the organization assisted a total of 249 low- and moderate-income Hawaii families secure or sustain housing since 2011.* The numbers include families who had secured rental housing, purchased homes, or prevented foreclosure over the 3 year period.

HCA Receives $200,000 to Increase Number of Volunteers Fighting Poverty and Homelessness in Hawaii 

In September 2013, HCA received a $200,000 grant from the Federal Corporation for National and Community Service to recruit, train, and dispatch 14 AmeriCorps VISTA members to nonprofits across the state.

The AmeriCorps VISTA members are serving under the Building Stability in Housing Project, a project established by HCA in 2011 which seeks to institutionalize free financial education services and products within nonprofits, affordable and transitional housing sites, homeless service organizations, schools, and government programs. 

"The Building the Stability in Housing Project is not only about creating bridges from homelessness to permanent housing, but also building the capacity of our non-profit partners to ensure service to community," said HCA Program Director, Desiree Vea.  "The AmeriCorps VISTA program gives us the opportunity to continue the development of a housing continuum moving individuals from the beach to the biggest investment in their life - a home - as well as train individuals to pursue life-long careers in community development."

To-date HCA has reported the following key successes of its AmeriCorps VISTA program:

• 57% increase between 2011 and 2013 in the number of children and families served with free financial education and housing counseling
• 30 more families secured or sustained housing in 2013 than in 2012
• 50% of HCA AmeriCorps VISTA members have gone on to secure employment in the community development field upon completion of their term of service

For more information about the AmeriCorps VISTA program and available positions across the United States, visit www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/americorps-vista.

5 AmeriCorps VISTA Members Join HCA to Fight Poverty and Homelessness in Hawaii

HCA welcomed 5 new AmeriCorps VISTA members to its team in August to fight poverty and homelessness through the organization's statewide offices.  The VISTA members will serve 1-year terms with HCA, assisting with their various financial education and housing counseling programs. 

Tracy Parks

Youth Financial Education Program

Tracy graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a B.A. in Political Science and Psychology with a focus in Multicultural Studies. Her recent work involved the research and analysis of volunteerism within the youth population. After conducting her research she partnered with the City of Columbia and launched an independent non-profit initiative called "Youth in Action"-promoting youth volunteerism throughout urban communities.  Tracy joins HCA to build the capacity of its youth financial education program to increase the financial capabilities of low-income children statewide.

Annie AuHoon

Beneficiary Advocacy Program

Annie has lived on Hawaiian Home Lands most of her life, having been born in Nanakuli and raised in Papakolea.  Annie brings with her 20 years experience in community organizing and development services, focusing on low-income families and beneficiaries of Hawaiian Home Lands.  She is a mother of 5 children and has 5 grandchildren with 1 grandbaby on the way.  Annie joins HCA's Beneficiary Advocacy Team, working to streamline the organization's client intake process and expanding outreach to Hawaiia Homestead beneficiaries at-risk of lease cancellation and eviction.

John Malone

Renter Education Program

Originally from the Midwest-Chicagoland Area, John attended City College of San Francisco majoring in Economics.  His commitment to service has been recongized having received both the President's Volunteer Service Award and the Congressional Service Award.  Most recently John served as an AmeriCorps National Service member with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity from August 2012 - July 2013.  John comes to HCA to fight poverty and homelessness through enhancing the organization's renter education and counseling program for homeless individuals and families residing in transitional shelters.

Melatia Cabrera

Maui Office

Melatia was born and raised on the island of Maui.  A Summa Cum Laude graduate of Maui High School, Melatia was a part of Maui High's Video Club, Interact, and Key Club. She currently resides in Kahului, Maui and attends the University of Hawaii focusing on Hawaiian language and culture. Winning multiple awards for her public announcement productions, Melatia continues to use her passion of videography to communicate the important work of non-profits.  Melatia works out of HCA's Maui office and is dedicated to expanding the organization's services to hard-to-reach communities on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai.