Free training available through Good Jobs Hawaii initiative

HONOLULU — The University of Hawaii Community Colleges’ Good Jobs Hawaii initiative is offering Hawaii residents the opportunity to upskill or attain certifications through free summer training classes, according to a news release.

Registration is currently open for online and in-person classes that could lead to employment opportunities, paid internships and pathways to apprenticeship.

Trainings starting in May include:

• Creative industry jobs – intro to esports careers and digital art fundamentals
• Technology jobs – help desk technician prep, CompTIA A+, AI in the workplace and AWS cloud certifications
• Clean energy and skilled trade jobs – carpenter pre-apprenticeship, renewable energy and commercial driver’s license
• Health care jobs – certified personal trainer, certified nurse aide and medical assistance
• City and County of Honolulu jobs – Police Academy prep, certification in court interpreter training, Microsoft Office and plant propagation for nursery workers

Over 4,000 residents statewide have enrolled in the program since its 2023 launch.

“The Good Jobs Hawaii initiative is focused on ensuring our state’s economic future has a skilled and local workforce ready to meet the demands of our high-growth industries,” said UH Community Colleges Vice President Erika Lacro in the release. “These free training classes being offered to Hawaii residents provide an invaluable opportunity to upskill, paving the way for a successful future filled with promising career prospects.” 

More than $3 million in funding is available to eligible applicants through tuition assistance and various training costs, such as industry certification exam fees. The Good Jobs Hawaii program is free for most eligible participants since many trainings provide a 100% tuition subsidy to cover all costs.

In addition, participants in the program are assisted by a “navigator” who provides one-on-one support to ensure success. Navigators can provide college and career advising, referring to community partners for support services, facilitating connections to employers and various forms of financial assistance.

Those interested can visit the Good Jobs Hawaii website for more information and to apply.

Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.