LIHUE — When the sun is not out, the wind is blowing and rain showers force the evacuation of outdoor seating, this scenario is a reflection of a construction rain day.
LIHUE — When the sun is not out, the wind is blowing and rain showers force the evacuation of outdoor seating, this scenario is a reflection of a construction rain day.
“You just do what (you) can,” said a heavy equipment operator during the Kauai Construction Career Day that welcomed more than 500 students from grades six through 12 to an impressive area set aside at Kauai Community College.
“We are excited for the students to have this hands-on experience to learn about construction industry professions,” said Laura Cushnie, owner of Cushnie Construction Company and the co-chair of the Kauai Construction Career Day on Thursday.
“We want our youth to know that a career in the construction industry can be extremely rewarding and provide many opportunities and positive personal growth.”
More than 40 vendors set up in two different arenas offered the students hands-on and interactive exercises with the goal of accomplishing various tasks in the construction industry. The vendors listened to the words of encouragement from local leaders, including Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, Kauai Community College Chancellor Margaret Sanchez and Kauai Complex Area Superintendent Daniel Hamada.
Horns from big rigs in the first arena that involved the set up of heavy equipment ranging from concrete trucks, cranes, excavators and more, as well as the safety equipment surrounding the use of the equipment. Certified operators were more than eager to help the aspiring workers experience the feeling of controlling heavy equipment in the execution of delicate tasks like moving basketballs and soccer balls from one point to another.
More activity suited to indoor environments included stations where students could hone their skill sets in basic hammering, drilling, cutting and more, as Kauai Community College established a unique station where one student operator cranked a bicycle to generate enough power for another student to use a reciprocating saw to cut through a piece of wood.
The experience started when arriving students were issued special backpacks containing the basic construction helmet and safety goggles that were required during the tour. In addition to a pamphlet containing related activity pages and quizzes, the backpack contained snacks, a bottle of water and a reminder advice of staying hydrated.
