Waiākea High hosts blessing ceremony for new health training lab

Honolulu-based nonprofit Hawaiʻi 3Rs in partnership with Healthcare Association of Hawaiʻi and Hawaiʻi Department of Education this week marked the start of a new health training lab project at Waiākea High School in Hilo.

A blessing ceremony attended by local officials was hosted Thursday for the project planned to transform an existing building at the Big Island high school into a dedicated space for students to get hands-on experience and explore healthcare careers.

“This project is about more than transforming a building. It’s about creating opportunities for our students to see themselves in healthcare careers and giving them the tools to succeed,” said Hawaiʻi 3Rs Executive Director Kalowena Komeiji. “Our hope is to build a stronger connection between education and employment while investing in the next generation of Hawaiʻi’s healthcare workforce. Partnerships like these make that possible.”

The facility is expected to be complete by summer 2027 and will be the second health training lab developed through this partnership. The first is at Waiʻanae High School on Oʻahu.

These health labs are part of ʻAulama I Ke Ola, a multi-year initiative to establish a best-in-nation network of health learning labs throughout Hawaiʻi’s public high schools with an emphasis on underserved and underrepresented communities.

The initiative combines facility improvements, workforce training, industry certifications and personalized student support to create a pathway from education to employment in health care.

Waiākea High School’s new lab will provide students with a dedicated learning environment designed to introduce them to healthcare professions, develop practical skills and prepare them for future education, certifications and career opportunities.

The project reflects a shared commitment to expand educational opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s students while addressing the state’s long-term healthcare workforce needs.