The sounds of papers shuffling and people conversing fill the room of Chrstine Farina’s Virtual Enterprise class at Kapa‘a High School. This year, there is a new business forming in this class: Aquafinity, an innovative new business that promotes sustainability
The sounds of papers shuffling and people conversing fill the room of Chrstine Farina’s Virtual Enterprise class at Kapa‘a High School.
This year, there is a new business forming in this class: Aquafinity, an innovative new business that promotes sustainability by using a creatively designed aquaponics system to provide food for a restaurant, as well as for international markets.
Aquafinity also has a consulting firm that provides information about building home or commercial aquaponics systems.
“Aquafinity aims to be an international distributor that promotes sustainable living as well as provide the community with a healthy and delicious dining option,” said Maddy Rausch, Aquafinity’s chief executive officer.
Virtual Enterprise is a stimulating business class that helps teach and prepare students for the world of work. Currently, this class is a one of a kind in the state of Hawai‘i, but I wanted to get to the bottom of why my fellow students decided to take this skill-building class.
“It took a real world experience and put it in a school environment,” said Teresa Huff, the Web master designer and digital media specialist.
Aquafinity’s Branch Bank Manager Ken Miyata said: “I wanted to take this class so I could learn what it takes to become a part of business in the future, so I thought why not sign up?”
Some of other classmates took it to gain experience while having fun, like the Vice President of Accounting Trevor McCracken: “My friends and I all decided to sign up because we wanted to learn how business works.”
Josh Cram, the human resources communications specialist said, “I took this class to gain experience in the area of management and to learn how to deal with people while having fun.”
Virtual Enterprise also is a great program for students who want to start their own real business in the future.
“I am planning to go to college to be a dermatologist, and following college I would like to have my own private practice. To do so, I need previous business experience, that’s where V.E. sparked my interest and caught my attention,” said Taylor Anama, the company’s marketing layout coordinator.
“Here I can learn what is needed to start and run a business.”
Aquafinity’s Vice President of Media/Technology Chas Pham said, “I wanted to start my own business, a restaurant, so I wanted to get a head start — knowing what it takes — which is why I took this class.”
As one can see, my fellow students took this class for a vast array of different reasons, but we all can agree that Virtual Enterprise is a unique, one-of-a-kind program that teaches life skills in the work world, while having fun and playing to one’s strengths and interests.
Aquafinity is sure to be a success. Updates and future events to be announced soon.
• Lawson Fernandes is the public relations and event planner for Aquafinity and a student taking a business class at Kapa‘a High School.
