21 students graduate from Hawaii Carpenters’ construction internship program

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Twenty-one students from across the state graduated Wednesday from a construction internship program, organizers said.

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For six weeks, recent high school graduates and current high school seniors participated in the Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship & Training Fund’s (HCATF) Career Connections program, gaining real-world experience alongside skilled trades professionals.

Thirteen students from Oahu, one student from Maui, and seven students from Kauai interned with signatory general contractors on active construction projects across the islands.

“The classroom learning helps you prepare, but nothing compares to working on an active job site and seeing how you’re contributing to a structure or building,” said Rane Kawakami, a recent high school graduate who worked with contractor Albert C. Kobayashi.

Organizers said 39 high schools across the state offer the HCATF Career Connections curriculum, including Kamehameha Schools’ Maui and Hawaii Island campuses.

Students are selected through an application process and paired with a signatory contractor under the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters.

“This program has been incredibly successful in getting the next generation interested in the trades and jump-starting their career,” said Kapuni Patcho, an HCATF training coordinator.

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Interns must complete 40 hours of preparatory training, including OSHA 10 and First Aid/CPR Certifications, material handling, and basic tool safety before the six-week internship.

Once completed, they begin full-time work at an active construction worksite where they can earn a paycheck.

“It’s hard work, but I’ll be able to earn a living wage, stay in Hawaii, and come out debt-free,” Kawakami added.

Since the program began eight years ago, more than 131 students have graduated; 75 have been brought on as apprentices with the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters, organizers said.

“This program could not be successful without the support of our contractors, who opened their doors to teach the next generation of construction workers,” Patcho said. “It’s critical for the industry to support programs like these so we can ensure a healthy pipeline of workers.”

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Click here to learn more about HCATF.