Each year, under the Perkins statute, Congress authorizes nearly $3.6 million to the Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program (NHCTEP). This funding is designated for community-based organizations primarily serving and representing Native Hawaiians to provide career and technical education programs for Native Hawaiian Students.
OCTAE Contact
In FY 2021, the Department awarded nine grants under the NHCTEP program.
The grantees are:
The E Ola Pono project, integrated within the Medical Academy of James B. Castle High School, will ensure students’ success in preparing for meaningful careers in the Medical Pathway. Student benefits will include smaller class sizes, focused mentoring, academic counseling, career and college guidance, peer learning opportunities, and work-based learning experiences. The project will provide culture-based education to Native Hawaiian students and foster a community where relationships are formed, and learning is connected to the context of students’ lives applied to the real world. The project will support 75 students to use their education and skills to not only give back to their community, but help it thrive. The project participants will:
- Increase their understanding, proficiency, and application of healthcare skills, leading to a degree,
- Benefit from partnerships that support skill proficiency and provide opportunities to visit healthcare settings, and
- Transition into postsecondary training without the need for remediation and recognize the importance of graduation and advanced education leading to in-demand, high-skill, and high-wage employment.
Project Narrative (PDF, 2.40 MB)
The Ka’ika’i A’o Internship and Workforce Service Program will provide students with targeted support, internships, and relevant hands-on projects that are specific to the following programs at Kaua’i Community College that represent high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand occupations:
- Automotive Technology,
- Carpentry Technology,
- Electrical Installation and Maintenance Technology,
- Electronics Technology, and
- Facilities Engineering Technology.
The project will further develop CTE student supports, which reflect an improved and ongoing dedication to workforce investment. Through this alignment of educational and business opportunities, the project will work to build stronger communities and live up to the Ka’ika’i A’o name to raise its students up through teaching, advising, and learning together. The project will:
- Increase enrollment, retention, and completion of students in CTE and STEM courses,
- Integrate Hawaiian culture and trade-specific instruction to increase relevant knowledge and skills through participatory experience, and
- Improve employability through completion of industry recognized certifications, licenses, and/or degrees.
Project Narrative (PDF, 1.98 MB)
The Kūlia ma Kapiʻolani project will support Native Hawaiian students to be competitive in high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand occupations, through rigorous CTE and STEM programs, while maintaining their identity as a native person. The project will provide introductory college success classes and bootcamps to support college readiness and retention. The project will provide career planning tools, information sessions and orientations to help participants find purpose, pursue their passion, and attain professional success. The project will support 75 students to successfully complete CTE and STEM programs, receive training toward industry certifications, certificates, or degrees, to continue education, and be employed within three to six months after graduation.
Project Narrative (PDF, 1.65 MB)
The Kūlia Mau project will improve Leeward Community College’s CTE programs by piloting three activities that will design, implement, expand, evaluate, and improve the career pathways program. The project activities will promote personalized career planning, skill building, and personal/financial supports to increase Native Hawaiians’ readiness to enter STEM, computer science, and in-demand and high-wage careers, including:
- Cybersecurity,
- Digital Media,
- Information & Computer Sciences,
- Natural Sciences,
- Plant Biology & Tropical Agriculture,
- Pre-Engineering, and
- Business.
The project will deliver industry-linked professional development activities to program instructors and staff supporting STEM courses aligned to in-demand CTE careers, to weave industry needs and employability skills into lessons and advising sessions that increase readiness for in-demand and living-wage careers, and help participants earn academic and industry credentials while providing opportunities to develop valuable employability skills.
Project Narrative (PDF, 2.75 MB)
The Maritime Careers Exploration and Placement Program will prepare Native Hawaiian participants with the STEM skills necessary to enter the maritime trades industry. The project will increase job readiness of participants by providing additional stackable credentials, expanding career coaching, and increasing training opportunities in order to improve accessibility for participants from more remote regions throughout Hawaii. The project will:
- Improve programming, train participants, and place graduates throughout the maritime industry,
- Partner across union and non-union settings to provide mentorship, internships, and immediate employment for this in-demand, high-wage industry,
- Increase both career aspirations and opportunity for Native Hawaiians towards the in-demand, high-wage careers of the maritime industry, and
- Provide alternative education and training pathways towards gainful employment.
Project Narrative (PDF, 1.85 MB)
The A‘o Kahi Project will expand opportunities for Windward Community College students to obtain recognized CTE and STEM postsecondary credentials and hands-on learning for employment in high-skill, in-demand, and high-wage careers, specifically in computer science and sustainable agriculture. The project will ensure students have equitable access to high-quality CTE programming to improve educational and workforce outcomes; and increase student program support to more than 20 existing CTE and STEM courses, in addition to the current four cybersecurity courses. The project will:
- Include an annual summer bootcamp, focused course offerings, enhanced learning environment, career readiness training, industry internships, and creation of a larger pathway from certificate to bachelor’s degree,
- Increase STEM and CTE course passing rates to above 80 percent,
- Double the rate of internship opportunities over the course of 5years, and Achieve a 90 percent success rate for continuation in higher education, military service, or gainful employment.
Project Narrative (PDF, 3.71 MB)
The Puʻuhonua Wellness – Phase 2: Training in Sustainable Agriculture and Advanced Agricultural Technologies project will partner with Native Nations Education Foundation and Going Home Hawaii to include three integrated core components:
- Paʻahao reentry and remedial education support;
- Puʻuhonua wellness/E Ho`okanaka; and
- CTE training in sustainable agriculture and advanced agricultural technologies.
Cohorts and their greater communities will benefit from produce grown in hoop greenhouses constructed and maintained by project participants. The project goal is to increase the knowledge and skills of 55 formerly incarcerated persons and their family members to become self-sustaining. To address social and economic stability, this project will utilize a multifaceted approach to develop personal and employability skills, which includes a comprehensive intake and enrollment process, a remedial education component, CTE coursework, a cultural-based framework for self-actualization, workforce readiness assessments, job placement assistance, and other support services.
Project Narrative (PDF, 3.31 MB)
The Kealaho‘imai: CTE Pathways for Returning to Health and Wellness project will prepare 376 participants over a 5-year period to enter high-skill, in-demand, and well-paying career pathways within Maui County’s growing healthcare and wellness industries. In partnership with University of Hawaii Maui College, the project will offer the following recognized postsecondary credentials:
- Nurse Aide certification,
- Massage Therapy license,
- Dental Assisting certificate,
- Personal Fitness Trainer certification,
- Community Health Worker certificate, and
- Substance Abuse Counselor certification.
The project will address Native Hawaiians’ academic barriers to gaining admission into competitive nursing, dental hygiene, and other health science associate degree programs. Activities will include supplementary instruction for challenging science and math pre-requisite courses and a nursing admission exam preparation course. The project will use cohorts to create supportive peer learning relationships, provide financial assistance and personalized guidance, and empower participants to see themselves as part of a culturally competent workforce that cares for the health and wellness of their communities.
Project Narrative (PDF, 3.09 MB)
The Hana Lima project will serve 400 students to embrace the concept of ma ka hana ka ‘ike, to learn by doing, in partnership with University of Hawaii Maui College. The project will address gaps in Maui’s Native Hawaiian student educational attainment rate, poverty rate and academic achievement. The project will expose students to multiple CTE fields and computer science coding and will provide a sequence of activities that will increase the number of high school students entering in-demand, high-wage CTE pathways, including:
- Construction (to include building maintenance and Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning (HVAC)),
- Medical Assistant,
- Educational Assistant, and
- Renewable Energy Technician (Electric Vehicle Maintenance and Photovoltaic Installer).
The project will increase on-time high school graduation, postsecondary credit completion, completion of work-based learning experiences, attainment of recognized credentials for CTE concentrators, and intent to a pursue CTE pathway career.
Project Narrative (PDF, 3.89 MB)
NHCTEP Project Abstracts, May 2021 (DOCX, 31 KB)
Federal Register Notice for the FY 2021 NHCTEP Competition
(PDF, 264 KB)
Related Links
As you may know, section 116(c)(3) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, as amended by the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V), authorizes Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program (NHCTEP) projects to use a portion of their grant award to provide student stipends to one or more students to help meet the students’ costs of participation in a NHCTEP project (section 116(c)(3) of Perkins V).
- Discretionary Grants
- Grant Program Guidance
- Articles and Publications
- Program Memoranda
