A new handbook published by the state gives newcomers a road map on everything from how to find a job to when to use a car horn, from how to keep their kids safe to understanding sarcasm.
The Hawaii Handbook for Immigrants, a 40-page guide, is available in four languages — English, Ilokano, Chuukese and Marshallese — with plans for Chinese and Spanish versions once funding becomes available.
"Immigrants are self-starters and highly motivated to work, to be self-reliant," said Mila Medallon-Kaahanui, executive director of the Office of Community Services in the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. "They only need a little bit of help to get started."
She added, "This handbook is a treasure trove of information and resources to put immigrants on the path to success."
The handbook, subtitled "What Every Newcomer Needs to Know About Living in Hawaii," was launched Friday at a news conference in the governor’s office. It is the latest step in an effort to restore immigrant services that had been slashed in previous administrations, Medallon-Kaahanui said.
The state opened Immigrant Resource Centers on three islands in November, giving newcomers a one-stop shop to guide them in settling into their new home. The guidebook will be stocked at those centers and at other locations frequented by newcomers. It is also available online at the Office of Community Services website at goo.gl/bQApFQ.
In clear, simple language, it shows people how to go about getting documents, from Social Security cards to driver’s licenses; finding housing and jobs; and dealing with schools and the health care system. Also included are tips on social customs and life in the islands. It winds up with a study guide for the naturalization test.
"All of us, throughout Hawaii’s history, have had to come from someplace else," Gov. Neil Abercrombie said. "This handbook is a primer, a guidepost; it is a light on the path for those who are contemporary immigrants, who have come most recently to Hawaii. … It is the complete spectrum of the aloha spirit in action."
The project cost about $15,000 altogether, Medallon-Kaahanui said. About 2,300 copies are available in the four languages. It was printed by students at Honolulu Community College, and the cover was designed Jaime C. Sison, a graphic design student at the University of Hawaii.
Hawaii has one of the highest proportions of immigrants in the country, with nearly 1 in 5 residents hailing from abroad. More than half of them are already U.S. citizens. The foreign-born population grew by more than 50 percent between 1990 and 2010.
"We made sure that it is culturally sensitive and its language accessible," Medallon-Kaahanui said in an interview.
Sometimes immigrants get into trouble because they don’t know that what they are doing is wrong, she pointed out. She recalled her strict upbringing as a child, with parents who believed in corporal punishment — even wielding a belt.
"It’s considered acceptable there but not here," she said. "You cannot do that for children."
She also expressed frustration at anti-immigrant sentiment, saying new arrivals help fuel the economy and that it would grind to a halt without their contributions.
"There is this old common notion that immigrants come here to milk the system," said Medallon-Ka-ahanui, who arrived in Hawaii herself as an immigrant from the Philippines at age 22.
"Immigrants come here to become productive, to better their lives," she said. "Where can we find them? Look at the hotels, look at the restaurants. Who is cleaning the toilet in the hotels, in the offices?"
Margarita Cholymay, who translated the booklet into Chuukese, came to Hawaii years ago to attend the University of Hawaii. She found it informative even for someone who has lived here for a long time.
"It’s very good," she said. "It’s something that can easily guide newcomers … and not just for new arrivals, but even us who have been here for a while."
