Big Island Construction Career Day Payroll Benefi ciary

Helping Hawai‘i’s Youth Build Their Future: Big Island Constructi on Career Day

By: Melanie Marti n

On October 24, nearly 650 students, teachers and counselors packed the grounds of the Civic Auditorium in Hilo to attend the Big Island Construction Career Day.

HDOT is a proud sponsor of the career fair for high school students, which has been held annually for the last 13 years.

Students from about a dozen public, private and charter high schools attended the event. Some traveled almost two hours from the west side to participate.

All participants received a backpack fi lled with a hard hat, safety glasses, earplugs, level, tape measure, pen and a Career Guide. Everyone also received a delicious bento lunch.

Students rotated through two areas: 1) Heavy Equipment and 2) Trades/Exhibits. In the Heavy Equipment area, students operated and/or drove the construction equipment under close supervision by qualifi ed personnel. Students had fun with crane simulators provided by the Operating Engineers.

In the Trades/Exhibits area, participants competed in skill building competitions to learn about the various professions in the construction trades such as carpenters, electricians, plumbers, roofers, and masons.

The event was made possible by HDOT and many private sponsors that contributed money, manpower, and other resources to provide an awesome experience for the students.

Special thanks to

Heidi Medeiros,

Clinton Yamada, Marcia Soares, and the

Maintenance Crew of the Highways

Division, Hawaii District for their hard work in coordinating the event.

A huge mahalo also goes out to the Hawaii Department of Education, Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship and Training Fund, Isemoto Contracting and over 100 volunteers for their commitment and tireless dedication to this worthwhile event.

The next Construction Career Day will be held on Maui on November 15th at the University of Hawai’i, Maui College.