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By Nikita Mendonca
Nanakuli High School
Nanakuli High and Intermediate School has a Health Occupations and Professions Exploration program that helps students learn about various health-care professions and occupations. HOPE prepares students for eventual careers in the medical field through knowledge and skills that are necessary, and it gives the students the opportunity to participate in training through practical and clinical work experiences.
HOPE is divided into three integrated projects. It is coordinated by different content areas: science with teacher Joy Hanabusa, social studies with Keith Kawamoto, English with Jocelyn Siologa and health with Peggy Yoshida. School to Work coordinator Derek Kiyuna also assists.
HOPE began in 1994 when then-Principal Alvin Nagasako asked Yoshida and Hanabusa to get started on a program for students who wanted to get involved in medicine.
"We researched it through the Farrington Health Academy and opened up a program that was similar but designed for our students," Yoshida said.
"I enjoy being in the program very much because it prepares me for my career as a pediatrician, and it helps me to gain more knowledge in my field of study," said senior Tiffany Noa, a two-year participant in the program.
HOPE takes on projects such as blood drives, CPR and First Aid certification. Students visit the UH School of Medicine, Kapiolani Community College and Hawaii Pacific University as well as hospitals like Kaiser, Kapiolani, Tripler and Queen's. In class, the students do work involving medical terminology, legal and ethical issues, infection control and blood pressure.
Students also participate in career shadowing activities at Waianae Coast Comprehensive, Kaiser Punawai and St. Francis-West Medical Center, and can take college classes at the Waianae Health Academy.
"My good experiences in health occupations would have to be visiting the different hospitals around the island and having the doctors show us around the hospital and show us what they would normally do in a day," Noa said.
Yoshida said the HOPE program is exciting because many students realize they would like a career in health care.
"I have many students in college now who are working on their (nursing) degrees, and I also have students working in the field already, so it's been very rewarding," Yoshida said.
Compiled by Sheena Mendonca, Nanakuli High School
Stacey Garcia
Senior
"My grandfather, because he accomplished a lot; he had a rough childhood, and, no matter what, he always found solutions to problems."
Janna Fernandez
Senior
"My role model is Pete Jr., a computer engineer, because he tells me that in order to succeed you have to work hard. He's my mentor."
Keolani Naeole
Freshman
"My brother, because he's always there for me; he is strong in both mind and body, and he gives me faith in everything I do."
Asora Matamua
Sophomore
"My dad, because he can do anything that he puts his mind in, and he's supportive."
