UPDATED: High-impact HINET helps hungry students to succeed

VIDEO NEWS RELEASE with legislative hearing information

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Kelli Abe Trifonovitch, (808) 228-8108
Chief Communications Officer, UH Communications
Posted: Feb 12, 2019

Leomana Turalde, Windward CC natural sciences student
Leomana Turalde, Windward CC natural sciences student
Deedee Crowton, Windward CC veterinary technology student
Deedee Crowton, Windward CC veterinary technology student
Bernadette Rose Garrett, Windward CC Hawaiian studies graduate
Bernadette Rose Garrett, Windward CC Hawaiian studies graduate

UPDATE:   SB 50 SD1 (a bill with an appropriation for HINET) is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 2:45pm.

Link to video and sound (details below): https://bit.ly/2MrMVNU

What: A life-changing workforce education and training program called HINET, which stands for Hawai‘i Nutrition Employment and Training, is providing students assistance that can total more than $4,700 a year for food, transportation, books and other expenses.

Who:  More than 200 University of Hawai‘i Community College students at four campuses.

How:  To qualify for HINET, students must enroll at a UH community college and take at least six credits in an approved program. They must also qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called food stamps, and HINET can help with the paperwork.

  • Students in the HINET program may substitute their education and employment training for the USDA 20-hour weekly work requirement.  This allows them to maintain their benefits while pursuing a college education.

  • Current and prospective community college students are encouraged to visit the HINET website hinethawaii.org or go to a HINET office on campus.  

Why:  To reduce the cost of education for Hawai‘i’s most vulnerable populations and help them to get good paying jobs.

Other facts:

  • HINET began operations in 2015 and was developed by the State of Hawai‘i Department of Human Services in partnership with Windward Community College.

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture reimburses 50 percent of non-federal funds spent in support of HINET.  

  • As more state and philanthropic dollars are invested in HINET, more USDA dollars will flow to HINET, helping to reach more students.

  • Administrators say if they could increase the current operating budget from $656,000 to $ 1.4 million, potentially 1,000 to 1,400 students could be served.

  • Donations to support HINET will be matched by 50% and can be made by going online at https://www.uhfoundation.org/HINET to donate via credit card or call 956-8849 if you wish to make a credit card gift over the phone.

VIDEO:
BROLL: (1 minute 50 seconds)

0:00-0:36, 6 clips: HINET forms and website

0:36-0:52, 3 clips: Leomana Turalde assisting as a safety officer with the Project Imua team

0:52-1:14, 4 clips: Deedee Crowton studying in a computer lab

1:14-1:26, 2 clips: Bernadette Rose Garrett interacting with students on campus

1:26-1:50, 4 clips: various campus shots


SOUND:

Leomana Turalde, Windward CC natural sciences student (22 seconds)

"The biggest issue I feel like I had was worrying about how am I going to eat, how am I going to stay healthy, how am I going to get places and HINET helped me just relax about hey we got money we got help to cover food, we don’t gotta stress about that, I can focus on just my schoolwork."

Turalde (5 seconds)

"I think the biggest thing HINET helped me with is being confident in my future."

Deedee Crowton, Windward CC veterinary technology student (6 seconds)

"Oh my gosh, the HINET program is awesome. Like, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to stay in school."

Bernadette Rose Garrett, Windward CC Hawaiian studies graduate (12 seconds)

"Having that opportunity, that HINET opportunity, it just gave me a way to like live. Gave me a way to not stress out so much about where my next meal was going to come from."