CNHA celebrates graduation of first Production Arts Training cohort

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), in partnership with Hawai‘i Stage, is celebrating the graduation of the inaugural cohort of its Production Arts Technical Training Program. This workforce development initiative aims to address the labor shortage in Hawai‘i’s live event and entertainment production industry.

On June 6, 2025, from 6-10 p.m., CNHA will celebrate 18 graduates who have completed 21 weeks of intensive, hands-on training and earned multiple industry-recognized certifications. The graduation ceremony and showcase will be held at Hawai‘i Stage headquarters, located at 710 Kohou Street in Honolulu.  Students will demonstrate their new skills to industry partners, prospective employers, and their ‘ohana in a fully produced live concert experience.

“This program creates opportunity, especially for local talent who are passionate about working behind the scenes to bring events to life,” said Kūhiō Lewis, CEO of CNHA. “We are building a local workforce pipeline that is rooted in culture, excellence, and economic empowerment.”

As part of their transition into the workforce, all graduates will be interning with Hawai‘i Stage as production specialists, gaining immediate real-world experience on professional productions across the state.

Developed by CNHA in direct response to workforce gaps in lighting, rigging, staging, and event logistics, the program provided graduates with:

• OSHA-10 safety certification
• Scissor lift, fall protection, and lift operation training
• First Aid/CPR certification
• Training in Vectorworks for technical drafting and visualization

In addition to technical instruction, participants received financial literacy and cultural awareness training, aligning their workforce readiness with the values and practices of Hawai‘i’s community-oriented production culture.

This pilot cohort was made possible through the generous support of Kamehameha Schools, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Cecil G. Marshall Fund, Hi Lights Designs, and CNHA, with Hawai‘i Stage serving as both training partner and future employer.

CNHA’s Hawaiian Trades Academy Program Manager Manasseh Santos added, “Our graduates are ready to contribute on day one. They’ve acquired the skills, mastered their craft, and are now stepping confidently into a field that truly needs their talent.”

The June 6 graduation event will be an evening of celebration and pride, featuring live demonstrations showcasing the technical skills mastered by Native Hawaiian and local talent who are ready to step up to power Hawai‘i’s future in the production arts.

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is a member-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the cultural, economic, and community development of Native Hawaiians. Through programs focused on business incubation, housing, policy, tourism, and workforce development, CNHA uplifts Hawaiians across the pae ʻāina and beyond. For more information, visit www.HawaiianCouncil.org.