Hana Pono is Hawaiian for "proper and appropriate work." The Hana Pono program prepares Hawaii's students for jobs in the rapidly expanding "green jobs" sector by leveraging employers' on-the-job learning opportunities and the Department of Education's training facilities and curricula. Program outputs include greener schools, ecologically literate graduates, and an expanded pool of workers certified for green jobs.

Please describe your innovation?

Hana Pono transforms four critical components of Hawaii's "green" workforce development pipeline: 1) Curricula: Hana Pono aligns training curricula with DOE STEM and Career and Technical Education (CTE) standards and "upgrades" them for hands-on training in industry-specific certification standards. 2) Facilities: Hana Pono provides hands-on training at DOE high schools and off-campus facilities, so learners get "on the job" experience, and schools benefit from green technology improvements. 3) Underserved Learners: Hana Pono targets learners who lack access to specialized training - high school students, vocational/continuing education students, and students/clients with special needs. 4) Placement: Hana Pono places graduates with firms that need specific green skills, including clean energy, green building, transportation, recycling, and agriculture. | The goal is to take Hana Pono statewide, but with this grant, it will be expanded to Kaimuki High, where new curricula will be used in a modernized auto shop to teach students how to assemble and maintain electric vehicle chargers.

What is the problem or situation that your innovation seeks to address?

Hawaii's sustainability challenges create opportunities for "green jobs" in the renewable energy, waste reduction, and sustainable production industries. Green jobs grew 6.5% annually between 2003 and 2010, and from 2010 to 2012, the number of green jobs in Hawaii is projected to grow 26%, outpacing all other sectors. | This rapid growth makes it difficult for firms to find skilled workers. A 2010 survey identified 670 green job vacancies statewide. This dearth of skilled workers discourages firms from launching or expanding in Hawaii. | At the same time, Hawaii has many unemployed residents and students anxious for well-paying, meaningful work but who lack the training required for green jobs. | Most of Hawaii's green jobs have "medium tier" training requirements - post-high school certification from on-the-job training, a community college, or a vocational school. DOE STEM and CTE curricula and facilities must be updated to provide the on-the-job certification required. | Hana Pono works to bring these green jobs "supply and demand" equations into better balance.

What effort have you made to test out your new idea?

Hana Pono has been piloted successfully in the Kipuka Kalaniiki project (web.me.com/kowstep/KipukaKalaniiki/Welcome.html). At Kalani High School, the agriculture curriculum and facilities were reborn as Natural Resources and Workplace Readiness programs focused on re-using, re-purposing, and re-cycling available materials. Program components include electric vehicle (EV) repair, urban gardening, aquaponics, composting, and biochar production. Several videos have been produced to bring the project's success to life, which are viewable on YouTube and at futureschools.ning.com/video. | Based on meetings with 52 high schools statewide, requests for participation have come from every island, and projects are being tailored to school-specific facilities and partnerships at six sites, including "Kipuka Kaimuki." A National Guard armory and a DOE warehouse are also being prepared as hands-on training sites for solar, LED, and EV manufacturing and maintenance.

What is particularly noteworthy or novel about your innovation?

Network-focused and Boundary-crossing: Hana Pono strengthens ties within Hawaii's green jobs network of public, non-profit, and for-profit players. | Next Generation: Building on existing standards and programs, Hana Pono is creating new STREAMS curricula (Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Art, Math and Sustainability) and using them in re-engineered facilities. | Inclusive: During evenings and weekends, Hana Pono's community-based training sites will serve veterans, adults with disabilities, and adults seeking training not available at community colleges. | Bringing it Home: By turning school facilities into hands-on laboratories, Hana Pono is greening schools, and students are applying lessons-learned at home. | Blue and Green: As an alternative to industries that pit jobs against the environment, Hana Pono advances both economic growth and sustainability. | Viable: Hana Pono has a sustainable business plan based on contracts with green enterprises, creating a genuine win-win for schools, students, employers, and the environment.

What impact do you expect your innovation will have on the problem or situation described in the previous question?

Hana Pono will have significant impacts on Hawaii's schools, its workforce, and its green economy. | Schools will benefit from updated, more relevant curricula and facilities that are closely integrated with STEM standards, workforce development programs, and school operations. As demonstrated at Kalani, the operational improvements result in "greener" schools, including improved energy efficiency, reduced waste, and cost savings. | The school improvements, in turn, translate into more opportunities for students. Students can explore green career options, develop STEM skills through practical experience, and if desired, get certified to fill living wage jobs. | As the Hana Pono program grows, the supply of green collar workers will increase, thereby allowing greater expansion of Hawaii's green economy and green jobs sector. | Together, each of these impacts contributes toward creating a more self-sufficient Hawaii.

What other community partners will you need if your innovation is to scale beyond your organization?

Hana Pono is ready to scale-up - relationships are in place, curricula are ready, sites are prepared, and employers are ready to hire. | Sustain Hawaii provides program coordination, brokering the relationships among the many partners and serving as the program's administrative and fiscal home. | The DOE provides training curricula, faculty, and facilities. Curricula are being developed by OCISS, and existing STEM, CTE, and Workplace Readiness faculty serve as instructors, with support from volunteer retired teachers and technical experts. | Other workforce development agencies like Abilities Unlimited will also use the Hana Pono facilities to train adult learners during evenings and weekends. | Other partners include firms that assist with curricular development, act as Subject Matter Experts for DOE instructors, and provide on-the-job training opportunities for their green manufacturing and assembly processes. Examples include Hubble, National Energy Partners, Seesmart, and Zero Waste Technologies Hawaii, which are leading EV, solar, LED bulb, and waste-to-energy companies.

Why are your organization, partners, and key personnel suited to take on this project?

Sustain Hawaii is a statewide nonprofit with a mission to help transform our islands' capacity for enduring self-reliance by balancing ecological, socio-cultural, and economic needs through community education, innovative practice, and advocacy. Ramsay Taum, Sustain Hawaii's co-Executive Director, will coordinate the Hana Pono program. Much of Ramsay's career has focused on sustainability based on the Native Hawaiian ahupuaa management system. Nicole Lemas, who has coordinated youth and cultural immersion programs, will provide program development support. | The state Department of Education is charged with preparing Hawaii's young people for successful lives and careers. Ken Kajihara, who taught agricultural sciences and managed facilities for the DOE, is Hana Pono's liaison to the DOE. Colleen Murakami, who develops environmental education curricula for the DOE, is crafting Hana Pono curricula. | Each of the business partners is established in or expanding to Hawaii, is committed to corporate social responsibility (CSR), and is prepared to invest in workforce development.