HTI Welcomes Kulia Na Mamo (KNM) To Our Campus!

Kulia Na Mamo is a social justice organization that has been serving Hawai`i’s transgender population for the past seven years.  Recently, HTI was graced with KNM’s presence on our Honolulu campus as the first group of KNM participants enrolled in our Career Transition Program.  The program is designed to help participants refine their workplace literacy and math skills and prepares them for success in other HTI programs and, if they’re ready, in Hawai`i’s workforce. 

By completing the four-week open entry / open exit program, KNM participants will receive one-on-one attention through instructor-led and computer-based learning that will determine current verbal and quantitative basic skill levels.  They will also begin to develop a professional portfolio and enhance their job readiness skills.  Once finished, many participants go on to enroll in one of HTI’s other programs, such as, Medical Assisting or Office Technology Management.

Mahuwahine (male -to-female transgenders), mahu and aikane (same sex relationships) were accepted among indigenous, non-westernized people, as in Native American and Polynesian societies.  Not fully accepted in today's mainstream economy, KNM participants have maintained a subculture of survival through welfare / SSI supplemented by hustling, drag entertainment, small jobs and care giving for children and the elderly.  To help eliminate some of the stigma associated with this enthusiastic and creative learning community, HTI is dedicated to help improve their reading, writing, math and keyboarding skills and to introduce those with little to no computer skills to world of Information Technology.  Most important, HTI looks forward to helping KNM participants align their career goals with their personal and professional interests, needs and aptitudes and to develop and enhance their strategies for learning and living a better quality of life.

Welcome, Kulia Na Mamo!  HTI is proud to have you in our learning `ohana.  E holomua kakou!