Hawaii Training Center
Kahuku Training Center, Oahu, Hawaii
Following the official site dedication on December 11, 2004 workers began pouring the concrete for the foundation of the administration and classroom building at the new Kahuku Training Center . “Kahuku” translates from the native Hawaiian language as “the projection” and is the name of the town on Oahu ’s north shore where the center is located. The newest of four training centers within Local 3’s jurisdiction, the Kahuku Center is on 100 acres of land, isolated and surrounded by U.S. government (Army) property. “The Army conducts jungle warfare training here,” said Nelson Umiamaka, administrator for the Hawaii Apprenticeship program. The Local 3 site begins 1 mile in from the highway and at 300 feet elevation. The natural topography of the land was incorporated into the planning when the physical training areas were decided.
Equipment operations that normally create a large amount of dust, such as loaders or excavators loading trucks will train in the areas that are blocked from the naturally windy conditions according to the topography of the site. Maintaining a good relationship with the site’s neighbors is important to the Hawaii operation. The Training Center has laid a water system for domestic use and fire control, which included placing a 63,000-gallon water tank on the site. The combination office and classroom building will be a two-story structure tucked into the hillside. The upper level will be offices and a conference room with the bottom floor housing the classrooms and open bay.
Due to the geography of the Hawaii district, students from the outer islands stay at a hotel adjacent to the Honolulu Airport . The Training Center instructors provide transportation to the Kahuku Center and back to the hotel each afternoon. Local students make the daily commute. Apprenticeship classes run for nine hours Monday through Thursday and four hours on Fridays. Graduation requires 440 hours over a three-year period, well above the one-year, 144 hours of state required training in Hawaii .
The Kahuku Center staff includes 5 instructors who provide certified training in forklift operation, First Aid/CPR, OSHA 500/501 and HAZMAT. One of the instructors is a National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators Certified Examiner.
In addition to apprenticeship training, the Center offers on-going journeyman upgrade instruction to improve and hone existing skills. Operators also have the opportunity to earn certifications in hazardous materials, emergency reposnse, disaster site worker certification, Construction Safety OSHA 500/5001, first aid and CPR. When a substantial number of bargaining unit members in any field require specialized training or education, the Center will develop a quality, custom-designed program to meet their needs whenever possible.
Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. For additional information on training class schedules and locations or to learn more about the apprenticeship program, call the Hawaii apprenticeship office at (808) 847-5523 (JAC dept in union hall) or (808) 232-2001 (Kahuku training site)
Training Center Staff
All staff members of the Kahuku Training Center have taken the following Honolulu Community College courses: Apprenticeship Teacher, Metric System for Operating Engineers. All have participated in the “Maintain a Drug Free Workplace” program.
Administrator
Nelson Umiamaka
OSHA 500/501/502 instructor, HAZMAT, IUOE Homeland Security and Disaster site worker course, Western Apprenticeship Coordinators Assoc. Executive Board Member, Hawaii State Apprenticeship Council, Apprenticeship & Training Coordinators Association of Hawaii.
Instructors
Phone number has changed...they can either call (808) 847-5523 (JAC dept in union hall) or (808) 232-2001 (Kahuku training site) also for the instructors
Alan Kumalae (Certified First Aid/CPR instructor; OSHA 500/501, HAZMAT)
Daniel Nelson Jr. (Certified First Aid/CPR instructor, OSHA 500/501 instructor, HAZMAT, Crane instructor, NCCO examiner)
Kealii Colburn, Instructor/Coordinator (Certified First Aid/CPR instructor)
Fabian Kalili, Instructor
Dain Kamakaala, Instructor (Certified First Aid/CPR instructor)