“Growing, cultivating and building our own talent is so important right now,” said Kymm Solchaga yesterday about the necessity of helping the local community find employment. In a combined effort with Steve Farrell and Eric Nordmeier of WorkWise Hawai‘i, Solchaga
“Growing, cultivating and building our own talent is so important right now,” said Kymm Solchaga yesterday about the necessity of helping the local community find employment.
In a combined effort with Steve Farrell and Eric Nordmeier of WorkWise Hawai‘i, Solchaga helped develop the idea “Aloha Begins With Me, Enhancing Employability,” a free workshop and seminar that was held yesterday in an effort to assist job seekers in finding suitable employment on Kaua‘i. The workshop allowed those searching for jobs the opportunity to learn how to acquire the edge they need to land a desirable position in the island’s workforce.
With a turnout of over 50 people, the lecture hall in Kaua‘i Community College’s Technology Building was filled to the brim with participants asking questions and listening to the advice of presenters such as Candace Yim-Tabuchi of Kaua‘i Community College and Jack Dacey of Kaua‘i Community School for Adults.
“So many people who move here from the Mainland get ‘rock fever’ and leave after one or two years. When you have an emotional lifetime somewhere, the chances are more likely that you’ll stay,” Solchaga explained, in regards to why businesses would rather hire locally.
On the other hand, she explained that if a job seeker hasn’t polished his or her skills, it is likely that the employer will seek qualified help elsewhere.
She believes that adopting the aloha spirit is one of the key ingredients to unlocking a successful career in Hawai‘i, especially in the tourism industry.
“You will be dealing with visitors and guests no matter what industry you are in here,” said Yim-Tabuchi, an instructor for KCC’s Host Program.
“There are a lot of skills employers look for, but the main thing is attitude. If you’re going to be in the hospitality industry, employers want people with the aloha spirit, people who are willing to help others and someone who understands a little bit about the island and about the culture,” she said, in keeping with the theme, Aloha Begins With Me. “Employers want to know that people are going to show up on time, be dressed properly and be professional, so we incorporate these lessons into the programs we offer as well.”
At 71 dollars per credit hour, Yim-Tabuchi said that the classes and certificates available at KCC are highly beneficial in obtaining a position within the hospitality and tourism industry and are another quality employers look for in applicants.
Steve Ferrell agrees that the tourism industry is vital to the island’s economic pulse and is a “major employment opportunity.” Farrell was the driving force behind the last two job fairs held in Hanapepe and Koloa. He said he wanted to reach out to other parts of the island that wouldn’t typically have the chance to participate in such events and would like to see more networking activities become readily available to the local community.
Jack Dacey concurs that networking, such as job fairs and workshops, are essential to employment and he also believes that a proper education is crucial. He said an overwhelming 50 percent of high school students are dropping out in the state of Hawai‘i.
“It’s a big problem and we need to address it,” he said. “If 50 percent of the population doesn’t have a high school degree, where are all the good jobs going to go?”
In an attempt to give high-school dropouts the skills they need, Dacey, along with others at Kaua‘i Community School for Adults, offer free workshops and the chance to acquire a high-school diploma.
“We really do want to reach out and help these people. You may not have a child in a situation, but maybe a neighbor does, or maybe you know someone who’s truant. With 50 percent of our high school kids out of school, everybody who lives here probably knows someone who is out of school,” he said, and urged people to call 274-3390 if they do, and want to help.
Eric Nordmeier of WorkWise Kaua‘i believes that opportunities abound for job seekers and that finding something is really a matter of perspective and how one portrays themselves to others.
“If you present yourself well, you’ll have a much better chance at finding a job, especially if you keep a positive attitude about it,” he said.
For those seeking employment, please visit www.hirenethawaii.com for more information.
• Coco Zickos, business writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com
