LIHU‘E — Fifteen children of employees at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club here had an opportunity to experience the work performed by their parents as the Marriott managers opened their doors Thursday to the children as part of
LIHU‘E — Fifteen children of employees at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club here had an opportunity to experience the work performed by their parents as the Marriott managers opened their doors Thursday to the children as part of national Take Your Children to Work Day.
Originally starting out as part of a Girl Scout program where mothers would take their daughters to work, the program has been modified so it is not limited to just mothers and daughters.
Ranging in age from 9 to 13, the youngsters at Marriott were eager to experience something beyond their school environment.
“I had to wake up at 6 to get here by 7:30,” said Jaerene Medeiros, a fifth grader from Wilcox Elementary School whose mother works in reservations.
“I got to listen to her talk on the phone. I got to type on the computer,” Medeiros said of her experience working alongside her mother, following the brief morning orientation.
“Making the omelet was fun, but scary,” Medeiros said as she finished her dish under the guidance of chef Guy Higa during the culinary demonstration that was also part of the day’s activities.
Sweltering in the heat emitted by the large hotel stove, Medeiros continued, “What if it (omelet) fell and got burnt?”
“The students got to sit in on the morning managers’ meeting,” said Jolene Ogle of the Marriott’s human resources department. “Then, they were off to spend some time with their parents before returning for a tour of the hotel.”
For Ogle, this is not a new experience, as students have been given opportunities to “job-shadow” their parents in previous years under this program that is also offered at other Marriott properties.
The hosting of youngsters didn’t end for Ogle Thursday. Members of her department also hosted a job-shadow experience involving 22 sophomores from Kaua‘i High School yesterday morning.
Ogle explained that the students Friday were assigned to different employees in different departments of the hotel for a day of job-shadowing.
On Take Your Children to Work Day, students, dressed in hotel employee uniforms, worked with Higa in creating omelets they got to sample following the culinary experience.
Ogle said that following the culinary demonstrations, the students learned how to set up banquet tables before adjourning to the lu‘au grounds for participation in a variety of Hawaiian games.
Their day culminated with a gathering for ice cream while waiting for their parents to finish work for the day.
Kekoa Dolor, a fifth grader from King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School, said his mom also worked in reservations. “I made my own reservation,” the pride of his accomplishment obvious in his smile. “Actually, she had to help me, but I made my own.”
Dolor made his way to the employee cafeteria with his omelet in hand. “It was hard, but I got it,” he said of learning to flip the omelet using the frying pan.
Higa pointed out a section of the stove that had a covering over the burners where students would flip their omelets — just in case the omelets didn’t want to cooperate.
Derrin Peleras-Costa, a fifth grader at Kalaheo School, said his mother worked in human resources, and he spent his morning “filing papers, faxing papers, and filing more papers” before adjourning to making omelets.
As the students began filtering into the cafeteria to enjoy their omelet accomplishments, Kodirei Pezario spied her dad having lunch.
“She said it was interesting,” John Pezario said after getting a hug from his daughter. “She likes it. She told me, ‘I like come work every day!'”
Sports Editor Dennis Fujimoto may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
