KAPA‘A — Aimee Lorenzo, of the Koloa Landing Resort, offered a handshake on Thursday at the Kapa‘a High School campus.
The offer was accepted by a group of ninth grade students at Kapa‘a High School, who stopped to shake Lorenzo’s hand and accept a passport ticket that would qualify them for prizes drawn at the Career Exploration Fair presented and coordinated by the Kaua‘i Economic Development Board.
“A handshake tells you a lot about a person,” Lorenzo said.
Koloa Landing Resort was one of more than 30 vendors offering insight into the various careers, the benefits to expect and what it takes to enter a chosen field.
School officials said the fair was open to ninth grade students to get them acquainted with the various career options available to people. This helps them select the proper pathways available at the school to use later on down the line.
Darin Tan, the manager at Keoki’s Paradise, brought along Taylor Gaspar of the restaurant’s human resources department, and Aaron-Michael Vidinha, the culinary team lead, as testaments to the success students are capable of achieving.
Both Gaspar and Vidinha are graduates of Kaua‘i schools and programs.
“Students can get an idea of the many different types of jobs and skill set required in the hospitality industry,” Tan said. “The same applies to the other representatives like the Marriott International, the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa. This is just what’s available in the hospitality industry.”
The fair included representation from the various sponsors, including Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Local 1196, Keoki’s Paradise, Koa Lani, Local 675, Aloha Termite and Pest Control, Aqua Engineers and HoloHolo Charters.
Students were exposed to many different types of career options, including the Kaua‘i Invasive Species Committee, who said they will be a community partner in the Kaua‘i Landscape Industry Council Arbor Day free tree giveaway on Saturday at Kukui Grove Center.
“This is all part of outreach,” said Lizzy Baxter, who pointed out the jumpsuit she wears while working in the field.
Emilia Knudsen was one of the 289 students participating in the event. She brought a background portfolio ranging in experience from being a successful business owner and entrepreneur to international modeling.
Her tour included being a student at a number of schools while building her experience portfolio, but now settling at Kapa‘a High School.
“This fair really helps,” Knudsen said. “I’m at Kapa‘a High School now, and this fair gives me an idea of what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
Jackie Kaina, of KEDB, said the Career Exploration Fair is the first of three KEDB is hosting.
“Today”s event was just for the ninth grade students,” Kaina said. “The next one is next Thursday at Waimea High School, where it’s going to be held for an entire day because all of the Waimea High School students are going to be involved. Additionally, we have St. Theresa School coming along with select classes from the Waimea Canyon Middle School and Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.”
The third and final Career Fair will be at the new Kaua‘i High School gym on Nov. 20.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
