LIHU‘E — For at least four hours, 29 Kaua‘i High School students from the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism got a taste of working at the Marriott properties on Monday. The students were part of the Marriott’s annual Groundhog Job
LIHU‘E — For at least four hours, 29 Kaua‘i High School students from the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism got a taste of working at the Marriott properties on Monday.
The students were part of the Marriott’s annual Groundhog Job Shadow Day program where high school students work with various departments to get a hands-on feeling for the types of career opportunities that await them.
“Originally, we had 32 students signed up for the program,” said Cathy Murashige, director of the AOHT program. “But several of the students were absent so we have 29 students. Nineteen students are at the Kaua‘i Marriott and 10 students are at the Marriott’s Waiohai.”
Of the 19 students at the Kaua‘i Marriott, three were assigned to the Kaua‘i Lagoons property where they were scheduled to work at the pro shop and greet guests and golfers.
Rody Ganiron, an associate at the Waiohai, was one of the mentors whose student was absent, but said the program was a great way for students to get exposed to the different kinds of jobs available.
The Kaua‘i Marriott has scheduled a similar job shadow day for Kapa‘a Middle School students on Feb. 27, said Jolene Ogle, the multi-site community and associate events coordinator.
“I want to be a doctor, but culinary is interesting,” said Daily Liberato, who was shadowing Waiohai chef Quintin Concepcion in creating bento.
Liberato’s dad Rody is also employed by the Waiohai said Jo Brun of the Waiohai’s Human Resources department.
Azlynne Abara, an 11th grader, was experiencing her first job shadow, and noted that the experience makes an individual really focus.
“I’m just kind of checking everything out,” said Abara, who was working the front desk at the Waiohai.
Murashige said the job shadow day is a great way for students to get hands-on experience in the variety of jobs and careers available in the visitor industry.
Earlier in the year, Murashige said the juniors and seniors in the AOHT program went on a familiarization trip to O‘ahu where they got to visit various colleges, took in the O‘ahu version of the College and Career Fair, visited Pearl Harbor and through the coordination of Marriott Multi-Site Human Resource director Chuck Brady, were treated to a tour of the Ihilani Resort.
The students will have their mock job interviews coming up later in the school year, Murashige said.
“I’m really grateful and appreciative to the Marriott staff,” Murashige said. “As a first-year instructor, they took the initiative and set up everything.”
Ogle said the Groundhog Job Shadow Day program is a national event and the Marriott has been participants for some time.
Jenny Saguid of the Waiohai said they have been doing the Groundhog Job Shadow Day event since the resort opened.
Additionally, Ogle said the Marriott associates will have an opportunity to have their children experience the workplace during the Take Your Children to Work event which will be coming up later this spring.
According to the Job Shadow Web site, Feb. 2 is the nationwide kickoff for job shadowing and continues through the school year.
Job Shadow is an academically motivating activity designed to give students the unique opportunity of an up-close look at the world of work and provide the answer to the commonly asked question, “Why do I have to learn this?”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
