LIHUE — Safeway in the Hokulei Village is scheduled to open in mid-August, and hiring for the new store started Tuesday with a job fair at the Kauai Veterans Center. “We’re looking to fill at least 150 regular, part-time positions,”
LIHUE — Safeway in the Hokulei Village is scheduled to open in mid-August, and hiring for the new store started Tuesday with a job fair at the Kauai Veterans Center.
“We’re looking to fill at least 150 regular, part-time positions,” said Lesah Merritt, Safeway Kapaa store manager. “The positions are with the retail clerks union, and offer at least 24 hours a week with full medical and dental coverage despite its part-time status.”
About 100 lined up outside the Kauai Veterans Center in anticipation of the job fair opening from 9:30 a.m. through 1:30 p.m.
The job fair will continue today and Thursday.
Rebecca Hostallero was one of the those in line, along with her son Kyle, and soon-to-be daughter-in-law Whitney Keliikuli.
“I have a full time job, now,” Hostallero said. “I also have a child with challenges so I’m looking for a part-time position just to get out of the house. I’ll consider any department.”
She said her son Kyle was looking for a full-time position.
“He’s working for Genki Sushi as a sushi maker, now,” Hostallero said. “He’s also a fisherman so wants something in the seafood section, but will consider anything.”
Keliikuli was also interested in the seafood section.
“But when I applied online, I looked at all of the positions and applied for several positions which looked interesting to me,” she said.
Merritt said most of the managerial positions were hired in-store with Kapaa store department managers promoted to positions in the Hokulei Village store.
“The managerial staff was promoted from within,” Merritt said. “However, the store will be needing to fill at least 40 positions in the produce section which will feature a cut fresh department which will need 20 positions, and another 20 positions for the produce section.”
The store at Hokulei Village is scheduled to occupy more than 50,000 square feet, Merritt said. This compares with the 25,000-square-feet footprint of the Kapaa store.
“It will feature a bank and a Starbucks Coffee in the store,” Merritt said. “The Starbucks section will be needing 15 people.”
She said there are 20 positions which need to be filled in the deli section, another 15 spots in the bakery, 50 positions for checkers and front end, and 25 positions for overnight (stocking) clerks.
“The meat department is already filled,” Merritt said.
Candidates need to have applications filled online at www.safeway.com/careers prior to the job fair.
