Skip to Main Content

Whether you’re just starting your career or ready for a change, now more than ever is the time to consider becoming a nurse aide…to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

The 7-credit / 3-class CNA training prepares students for the state certification exam in just a few months*.

For more information, email wccCNA@hawaii.edu.

As a CNA, you will be an important part of Hawaii’s healthcare, with knowledge and skills that are always in demand to provide quality care for residents and kupuna in long-term care facilities, hospitals, home health care, and hospice settings.

Unique training

  • New online/clinical skills training
  • Combines Western healthcare career training with traditional native Hawaiian healing practices: lāʻau lapaʻau (plant-based medicines), lomilomi (massage) for kupuna and the medically fragile, growing healthy foods in the Māla ʻAi Hoʻola nursing garden, and hoʻoponopono (conflict resolution) 
  • Apprenticeship option with tuition support to pursue higher education
  • Provides a nursing pathway to LPN, RN, or the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)–Hawaiian and Indigenous Health and Healing at UH West O‘ahu

To complete the CNA 7-credit training, the following courses are required:

CourseDescription
HLTH 123CIntroduction to Clinical Skills and Patient Care ONLINE (3 credits)
HLTH 124CIntroduction to Hawaiian and Indigenous Health and Healing; Kupuna Care for Nurse Aides (3 credits)
Prerequisite: HLTH 123C
HLTH 134CIntroduction to Hawaiian and Indigenous Health and Healing: Kupuna Care for Nurse Aides— Practicum (two-week, 45 hours)
(1 credit)
Prerequisites: HLTH 124C
Recommended preparation: Grade of “C” or better in ENG 23, OR placement into ENG 100W or higher; Grade of “C” or better in MATH 75x, or placement into MATH 82.

Contact Jamie Kamailani Boyd, PhD, FNP, for more information at wccCNA@hawaii.edu.