Bringing clinical training into the classroom
The Waiʻanae lab transformed two traditional classrooms into a 3,195-square-foot clinical training environment equipped with exam rooms, long-term care bays and phlebotomy stations. The immersive setting mirrors real-world health care environments, giving students hands-on experience to build clinical and administrative skills.
Students can earn industry-recognized certifications in four high-demand professions: certified nurse aide, medical assistant, patient service representative and phlebotomist. Upon graduation, students are prepared to transition directly into employment, and through the Healthcare Association of Hawai’iʻs “earn-and-learn” pathways, students can access continued training to support their career development long-term.
Supporting the next generation of health care professionals
About half of Hawaiʻi's public high school graduates do not pursue higher education, representing an opportunity to connect more students with entry-level careers in health care.1 Early exposure to clinical environments helps students explore health care careers, build confidence and develop skills that translate directly into employment. For underserved communities, school-based training and certification can reduce barriers to entering the workforce and connect students to long-term career opportunities.
The impact extends beyond workforce development: many students who complete the program can pursue health care careers in the communities where they grew up, enabling them to care for family members, neighbors and others they have known throughout their lives. By creating pathways to local employment, the program helps communities develop a homegrown health care workforce while supporting students in fulfilling their Kuleana, or responsibility, to their community.
Building a statewide network
The Waiʻanae lab is part of ʻAulama I Ke Ola (“to light the torch towards well-being”), a statewide initiative to establish a best-in-nation network of health learning labs across Hawaiʻi's public high schools. With 18 schools offering health programs, the initiative is addressing workforce gaps in high-demand, entry-level roles that are foundational to care coordination, access and patient experience.
For United Healthcare Community Plan of Hawaiʻi, this investment reflects a commitment to strengthening the local health care ecosystem through workforce development. By building pathways from training to employment to long-term career advancement, this initiative aims to build a stronger pipeline of health care professionals and ultimately support access to care in communities across Hawaiʻi.
