{"id":174087,"date":"2023-03-16T08:21:26","date_gmt":"2023-03-16T18:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=174087"},"modified":"2023-03-16T08:21:26","modified_gmt":"2023-03-16T18:21:26","slug":"kahuaola-basic-needs-center-opens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/03\/16\/kahuaola-basic-needs-center-opens\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawai\u02bbi CC<\/abbr> opens Kahuaola Basic Needs Center"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"person
A lei is draped during an opening celebration by Noʻel<\/span> Tagab-Cruz, director of Hawaiʻi<\/span> Life Styles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hawaiʻi<\/span> Community College<\/a> has announced the opening of the Kahuaola Basic Needs Center<\/a> at the Manono campus in Hilo. Kahuaola, as its name references, is a student resource center that aims to build a foundation to support the basic needs of Hawaiʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> students. Kahua is the foundation upon which ola—life, health and well-being—blossoms.<\/p>\n

“Hawaiʻi<\/span> Community College and other higher education institutions are seeing more students struggling to meet basic needs like food and housing, which makes it difficult for them to succeed in college,” said Craig Mitchell<\/strong>, the coordinator of the Kahuaola Basic Needs Center. “If we can connect students with our on-campus food and resource pantry, as well as to other support programs available in the community, we can increase the chances students will persist and graduate.”<\/p>\n

\"people
Blessing ceremony for Kahuaola Basic Needs Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hawaiʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Chancellor Rachel Solemsaas<\/strong> said the establishment of Kahuaola is a recognition of how important it is for the college to work in partnership with community organizations.<\/p>\n

“In addition to offering services like a food pantry, Kahuaola is also a resource center and a connection to the community,” Solemsaas said. “Because at the end of the day, as an educational institution, we know we can\u2019t do it alone. Hawaiʻi<\/span> Community College is proud to be part of the larger opportunity network that supports students so they can succeed in college, thrive in the workforce, and support themselves and their families.”<\/p>\n

Related story: $1.8M to support low-income, first-generation students\u2019 basic needs<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The launch of Kahuaola has been supported by a five-year Stupski Foundation grant<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“We mahalo the Stupski Foundation for investing in our students and community,” said Solemsaas.<\/p>\n

In a recent study<\/a>, 50% of Hawaiʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> students surveyed experienced some type of basic needs insecurity. Basic needs include, but are not limited to, food and housing, clothing, childcare, mental health and transportation. Of the Hawaiʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> students who were surveyed:<\/p>\n