A cohort of 13 students from Waipahu High School’s ʻOhana of Excellence Academy made history as the first special education class in the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education to earn college credit through an Maagang Kolehiyo course. Their achievement was celebrated on campus after they completed their final project — a mock job interview.
Principal Zachary Sheets remarked at the certificate ceremony, “It’s very important that we offer this to our students in the ʻOhana of Excellence Academy so that they have the same opportunity as everyone else. And now we’re proud to say that every single academy on our campus has early college opportunities for their students.”
The students are part of a fully self-contained special education classroom (FSC), serving learners with significant disabilities and support needs. Despite the intensive challenges they face, the students completed IS 105C: Professional Employment Preparation in person through Windward Community College — a course designed to build real-world employment skills and confidence.
“So these students, the goal for them is to obtain full-time employment. And so that’s why we thought this course through Windward Community College would be perfect because it’s professional employment preparation,” explained Eunice Fukugana, director of ʻOhana of Excellence Academy, who was instrumental in bringing the college-level course to her students.
“They take the knowledge and the skills that they learn like resume building, interview skills, and actually use those skills to go out and seek employment.”
The class met twice a week in-person at Waipahu High, so partnering with the right college was key to the program’s success. “We are always very excited to collaborate with our partners to try new things in support of student success. Our goal for our early college program is access and opportunity for all of our local students,” said Jennifer Brown, vice chancellor of student affairs, Windward Community College (WCC).
Inspired by Waipahu’s milestone, WCC plans to expand the program next year at Kailua High’s FSC Ready to Surf Academy. Two courses will be offered throughout the year.
Two Waipahu High students, Ikaika Roby and Lloyd Cabutaje, already have job offers lined up — one at McDonald’s, another at Aloun Farms — ready to start after graduation.
Ikaika Roby said he was honored to be a part of this groundbreaking accomplishment. “And I was thankful, respectful. Being respected by everyone is a good thing. I’m honored for everything they did for me.”
Asked about how his interview went for his first job, Ikaika responded, “My interview for McDonald’s was great. It went well. And I was hired. For everything I did, yeah, I was actually hired.”
Lloyd Cabutaje secured a job right down the street at Aloun Farms. He beamed as he reflected, “My experience is the people over here is, like, good, like family.” He then added about his instructor, “Mr. Ganigan is a good teacher. Their class helps me look for a job. It helps me for the resume, everything.”
It was not just the students who felt proud about their accomplishments. Janick Enchi, whose son Will completed the program, expressed, “I’m very proud of Waipahu High School and the Department of Education, as well as my son, for the support, dedication, and all that that has been poured into the program.
“It just brings tears of joy to me and my wife. She was with me on the phone watching the whole ceremony and she was just crying because it’s something that, you know, words can never express.”
Waipahu High is a nationally recognized wall-to-wall academy high school, holding the highest level of national recognition for its six career academies. The ‘Ohana Academy’s mission is to empower students to own their futures and become active members of their communities.
“When you saw the students’ parents tearing up because their students are going to have this opportunity. I think you know how special it is,” said Sheets. Breaking stereotypes and barriers is just the next step to “show them that it is possible.”
