This two-day historical, in-person Honolulu workshop paired foundational COFA-language interpreter training with palliative-care interpreting.
Schedule and format
- Friday, January 23, 2026, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM: First Steps Toward Becoming a Professional Interpreter.
- Saturday, January 24, 2026, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM: Interpreting in Palliative Care.
- In person in Honolulu; lunch was provided for registered participants.
Day 1
For speakers of Marshallese, Kosraean, Pohnpeian, or Chuukese interested in becoming professional interpreters in Hawaiʻi health-care settings.
- The interpreter’s role in Hawaiʻi health care
- Ethics and standards of practice
- Working when a language has no direct equivalent
- Message analysis and conversion
- Next steps toward paid professional interpreting
Day 2
For experienced, trained COFA-language medical interpreters and Day 1 participants. Bilingual glossaries and practice activities were provided in Chuukese, Kosraean, Marshallese, and Pohnpeian.
- Introduction to palliative care
- Interpreting skills and vocabulary for palliative care
- Sight translation
- The impact of emotion and belief on interpreting
Historical registration and continuing education
Registration closed. Applications closed at 5:00 PM on January 14, 2026; capacity was limited to 25 applicants. Day 2 was approved for 7 CCHI CE credits and 0.7 IMIA/NBCMI CEUs. Certificates of attendance were awarded to participants who arrived on time and stayed for the full workshop.