Stories from the Field: Elementary Career Exposure Fair, October 2024
We’ve said it before (you can read the article here, actually), and we’re happy to keep saying it: it’s never too early or too late to explore career options! There are so many possibilities right here on Hawaii Island for kids to consider when they think about what their lives could be like after they finish school.
We’re glad to report that others believed in keiki career exploration so much that they helped us throw a second elementary career exposure fair this year!
The October 2024 Career Exposure Fair
The career fair was held at the Kekuaokalani Gym in Kailua for the more southerly elementary schools from the Honoka‘a-Kohala-Kealakehe-Konawaena Complex Area.
We were visited by the 5th-grade classes of six different schools: Kealakehe Elementary, Ho‘okena, Honaunau, Ke Kula ‘O ‘Ehunuikaimalino, Holualoa, and Kahakai. We had the joy of hosting a total of 382 students, along with 26 of their teachers, principals, and educational assistants, creating a lively atmosphere of nonstop engagement.
A teacher observes her students learning from Kealakehe High’s automotive program.
We were also proud to have plenty of local high school students join us again to share with the younger keiki. Kealakehe High School’s automotive and digital media programs and the West Hawai‘i Cafe College’s teen college counselors all hosted tables promoting different career pathways. We also had individual ‘ōpio conducting mock job interviews, and plenty of Alternative Learning Program students helping to set up, direct students, and clean up.
Conservation International showed up with buckets of limu for hands-on exploration of the different species and forms of algae.
The demonstration “patient” teddy bear at the medical career pathways table, which was run by complex area staff.
The 5th-graders really took advantage of the event, and were excited to visit the different presenters’ tables. There were all sorts of great interactive opportunities presented, including revving car engines, portrait drawing, touching different species of limu, bandaging a teddy bear, and more. We were so impressed by the volunteers’ creativity in making career pathways engaging and approachable to younger students! And of course we were so happy to have so many people excited to volunteer their time to inspire the next generation, many of them from organizations that regularly attend career fairs and other engagements.
Want to help us in the future?
Organizations interested in being career presenters should sign up for the ClimbHI Bridge Portal. There, you can keep an eye out for event announcements and invitations. Staying active in ClimbHI is the easiest way to connect with opportunities to work with local students and schools to build the workforce. Employers can indicate their preferences: from small commitments like virtual classroom visits, up to offering internships and other direct work-based learning experiences.
Mahalos
We were blessed with a great team of planners, volunteers, presenters, and partners from a wide range of organizations.
Awesome high school student volunteers and their kumu.
We would like to particularly thank CTE (Career and Technical Education) Resource Teacher Fern White for her leadership. She was supported by a fantastic team from the HIDOE Honoka‘a-Kohala-Kealakehe-Konawaena complex area. Mahalo also to the public schools’ Alternative Learning Program for bringing so many wonderful ‘ōpio to help us prepare for and run the event! Student leaders from Kohala High School also pitched in by making beautiful yarn lei to give to the presenters.
A big “mahalo” to Friends of the Future for providing stipends for the high school student helpers. Roberts Foundation graciously sponsored the refreshments for volunteers, and water and snacks for students. We are also grateful to the County Parks & Recreation team for their help in providing a wonderful space.
Hōkūpa‘a is excited to continue helping with future career exploration efforts alongside the public school system. We hope to find a regular sponsor or grantor so that we can confidently continue these elementary exposure events each year.
Those interested in sponsoring future events to cover costs like venue, lunches, tables and chairs, and stipends for student club helpers can contact our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor Friends of the Future.
