Impromptu hula generated sunny smiles, as dedicated the college¡¯s 50th built by students and handed the keys to the new homeowner, Luana Dang and her family.
¡°Hawai?i Community College is n¨ ka ?oi,¡± said Dang. ¡°I hope my grandchildren come here.¡±
Students in five Hawai?i CC programs built the home. More than 4,000 students have participated since the Model Home project was established in 1965, to give students in construction trade programs a hands-on learning experience.
- Related: Hawai?i CC reunion celebrates 50 years of model homes, April 13, 2017
¡°You just learn so many world experiences,¡± said student Keoki Baily. ¡°After this you can go outside and build your own house.¡±
¡°This project has meant a lot to me because it helps us to get ready for the outside field of work,¡± said student Tyson Ah Puck.
The acts as the developer, while Hawai?i CC provides the skilled labor at no cost, resulting in an affordable home for a local family.
Carpentry Professor Gene Harada, who built model homes as a student and graduated from Hawai?i CC in 1975, is a shining example of how the program continues to give back to the community.
¡°We¡¯ve been very fortunate that so far I have 15 past graduates since 1991 that have gotten their contractors license and they are coming back to hire our students,¡± said Harada.
Here¡¯s to the next 50 years, Hawai?i Community College!
See at the Hawai?i CC flickr.
¡ªBy Kelli Trifonovitch