PO‘IPU — Jazzelyn Bradbury, a student from Kalaheo School, was obviously excited as she enjoyed her breakfast in the orientation room of the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa here last week. Bradbury knew before arriving to the Southshore property
PO‘IPU — Jazzelyn Bradbury, a student from Kalaheo School, was obviously excited as she enjoyed her breakfast in the orientation room of the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa here last week.
Bradbury knew before arriving to the Southshore property that she would be spending her day as the general manager for the luxurious resort, and the thought gave her mixed feelings as she joined about 20 other students from Kalaheo and Koloa elementary schools in the annual Camp Hyatt Career Day experience.
“Let everyone go down the slide,” one student suggested to Bradbury, that offering just one of numerous being volunteered by the group that had already donned the outfits of the different departments they would be heading off to within the hotel.
Claire Morris-Dobie, the resort’s public relations manager, explained, “Kalaheo School has a waiver day today, but the students still came. That’s exciting! They could be home, but they’re here.”
“This is the best breakfast ever,” chimed Jasmine Ikeda, another student from Kalaheo School who said the group was selected to be part of the event by writing essays on “Why We Should Be Picked to come to the Camp Hyatt Career Day.”
Koloa School students who were engrossed in the antics of a pair of exotic birds as part of their “Bird Talk” session also were selected on the judging of similar essays written for their classes.
The popular hands-on program with the birds always entertains nervous students who need to have some pre-career anxieties chased away.
Morris-Dobie explained that this year’s group was smaller than the resort is used to accommodating — about 20 compared with up to 60 students in previous years.
But the smaller number resulted in students receiving more attention in their respective careers for the day.
Jordan Abreu, a Koloa School student, fidgeted nervously as he was fitted for a chef’s hat by Ligaya Ansagay of the Hyatt’s laundry department. Sensing his discomfort, Morris-Dobie offered encouragement about the importance of chefs within the resort environment.
“They’re really powerful people,” she said. “Everyone knows them.”
The annual Camp Hyatt Career Day offers an opportunity for fifth-grade students from Kalaheo and Koloa schools for hands-on career shadowing of the many different career opportunities that are available within the hotel as well as in the visitor industry.
Additionally, because many of the students have parents or relatives employed within the visitor industry, the outing offers an opportunity for students to gain a better understanding of the jobs being done by those parents or relatives.
Following a tour of the Po‘ipu resort, the students were introduced to their respective supervisors of the day, representing the various departments within the expansive hotel. Then, it was off to work.
For Bradbury, one of the remembrances of the day was resort General Manager Jerry Gibson’s arrangement for the fifth grader to have a manicure and nail treatment from the Anara Spa, something she showed off with pride as a memento of the day.
Staff Writer Dennis Fujimoto may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or mailto:dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
