Three Kauai Residents Become Licensed Practical Nurses After Local Training

Three local participants completed an earn and learn nursing pathway on December 18 and are now recognized as Licensed Practical Nurses on Kaua‘i. Janelle Papa, Kai Lee Kupihea and Andrew Aaron Cezar finished a program that paired classroom instruction with paid on the job training and local clinical placements, allowing them to earn credentials while remaining in their home community.

The program model emphasizes hands on experience alongside academic instruction. Participants completed coursework then applied those skills at clinical sites on the island, receiving compensation for on the job training. Local clinical placements and employer involvement are central elements, helping align the curriculum with the needs of Kaua‘i health providers while offering students a direct pathway into local jobs.

For residents, the immediate benefit is increased capacity in bedside nursing at facilities across the island. Licensed Practical Nurses perform essential roles in long term care, outpatient clinics and hospital units, and graduating locally trained LPNs can reduce the need to recruit staff from off island. Keeping training and employment local also supports continuity of care for patients who prefer providers familiar with Kaua‘i communities and culture.

The earn and learn approach addresses common barriers to entering healthcare careers, including upfront tuition costs and the need to relocate for clinical experience. By combining paid work with education and placing clinical rotations within the island health system, the program creates a more accessible route for people who want to stay in Kaua‘i while advancing into nursing roles. Community partners and clinical sites that supported the pathway contributed to workforce development efforts that aim to strengthen health services across the county.

With three new Licensed Practical Nurses added to the local workforce, Kaua‘i hospitals, clinics and care facilities gain trained staff ready to step into practice. The graduates represent a practical outcome of investments in community training, and their entry into the workforce highlights how local education models can help meet ongoing staffing needs while keeping career opportunities on the island.