LIHUE — Akita Enterprises was at the Career Expo 2018 Saturday at Kukui Grove Center, recruiting for bus drivers and assistants.
“Do you want to drive bus?” Lihue resident Bernie Brown asked passersby.
The Garden Island newspaper’s Career Expo was a chance for job-seekers to meet recruiters face-to-face.
Driving school buses is something Brown said she enjoys, so she was there to encourage job-seekers to join her in the field.
“If you guys can get out here and put in your applications today, we provide training and everything and licensing,” she said.
Akita Enterprises Vice President Josie Aurelio said pay for the permanent, part-time positions starts at $21.25 per hour.
“We have a few openings, but we are continuously recruiting. If they can drive just in the morning it’s OK. If they can drive just late in the afternoon, it’s OK. We take anybody,” she said.
Karna Taylor, a supervisor and trainer in Lihue, said the best part about driving school buses is working with the kids and having holidays off.
“The hours are good. Monday through Friday, let’s say 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and then you’re done, so if you have a family it’s a good job because when the kids are off, you’re off. You don’t have to work on the weekends when the kids are home. That’s why it appealed to me because I have five kids,” she said.
With experience in the customer service industry as well as in the construction field, Jason Wilson of Wailua was busy filling out job applications Saturday.
“I recently moved out here and I work to support myself. I’ve been applying to a lot of places, the Flip Flop Shop, I applied at the sushi place,” he said.
Genki Sushi, the Kauai Police Department and Kamehameha Schools were just some of the businesses looking for employees during Saturday’s expo. A talent acquisition specialist with Hilton Grand Vacations was recruiting for opportunities on Hawaii Island and Oahu.
“We have a variety of opportunities. We have sales, marketing and resort opportunities,” said Hilton’s Mary Pueringer.
With her two children in tow, Elisabeth Dingas said they were on a break from a fundraising car wash in the parking lot and wanted to see what the Career Expo was all about.
“There’s a lot of places looking for jobs. It’s actually surprising how many businesses are trying to find jobs,” she said.
The most interesting, Rebecca Dingas said, was the KPD booth. The young girl said she just might be interested in being a police officer when she grows up.
“I learned that a lot of people are looking for jobs, for work,” she said.
Kapaa resident Kaytlin Mendoza, who has experience as a coffee shop employee and in customer service, was wandering around the Career Expo because she’s interested in possibly finding another job.
“Maybe front desk at a hotel,” she said.
Eleele resident Amy Dunaway said she attended the event because she was curious to see what companies are hiring. She’s interested in the hotel industry.
“I’ve been there for awhile and changed careers, but put career on hold, and maybe try something else, like another job or something,” she said.
Soleil D. of Kapaa has a wide variety of experience. She’s owned her own business, been an adventure guide and has worked in the customer service industry.
She attended the Career Expo to find out what jobs are available that represent Kauai well, she said.
“We’re a big part of supporting local, so we want to do a part of merging the two worlds with corporations and Kauai residents,” she said.
The Hawaii Career Expo is one of Hawaii’s largest hiring events, hosted by The Garden Island newspaper and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. This is the first year the recruiting event came to Kauai, thanks to a new partnership with Kukui Grove Center.
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Bethany Freudenthal can be reached at 652-7891 or bfreudenthal@thegardenisland.com.
