HELP WANTED SIGNS POSTED ON THE DOOR.

KII FUTRELL/CITY MILL: “WE’RE WILLING TO TRAIN ALL THE WAY FROM THE BOTTOM.” NO ONE AROUND TO HELP YOU OUT WHEN YOU NEED IT.

CASSANDRA SABADO‑EVANS/MANAOLA: “TO GAIN EMPLOYEES, WE HAVEN’T QUITE BEEN ABLE TO.” SO WHERE ARE THE WORKERS?

IT’S AN ISSUE IMPACTING MORE THAN RETAIL STORES.

NADIA LEE/ALII PET HOSPITAL: “IT’S DEFINITELY BEEN A CHALLENGE TO FIND GOOD WORK WITH A SKILL LEVEL WE REQUIRE.” FROM GOVERNMENT SERVICES TO THE STATE’S TOP ECONOMIC DRIVER – HOW THE LABOR SHORTAGE IS HAVING A RIPPLE EFFECT ACROSS THE ISLANDS AND WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.

THIS LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVESTREAM OF KAKOU: HAWAII’S TOWN HALL, START NOW.

ALOHA AND WELCOME TO KAKOU: HAWAII’S TOWN HALL, LIVE FROM THE HARRY AND JEANETTE WEINBERG MULTI‑MEDIA STUDIO.

I’M YUNJI DE NIES.

THE PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT MANY CHANGES TO THE WAY WE LIVE, AND THE WAY WE WORK.

ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII ECONOMIC RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, OR UHERO, HAWAII HAS ROUGHLY 37,000 FEWER JOBS FILLED THAN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

WHETHER IT’S AT A TABLE AT YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT, TRYING TO GET A SPOT FOR YOUR CHILD AT SUMMER FUN, OR MAKING SURE YOU’RE ABLE TO SEE A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WHEN YOU NEED TO ‑ THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE FILLING THESE JOBS, AND THAT CAN HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON HOW WE LIVE.

WE KNOW THE COST OF LIVING IS HIGH IN HAWAII ‑ MOST OF US NEED TO WORK AT LEAST ONE JOB, SO THE QUESTION IS, WHERE ARE THE WORKERS?

AND IS THIS TIGHTER LABOR MARKET HERE TO STAY, IF SO, HOW DO WE ALL ADAPT?

KAKOU MEANS ALL OF US, AS IN – WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

SO WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU IN OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE’RE ALSO STREAMING LIVE AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND ON THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.

IN OUR TOWN HALL TONIGHT, WE HAVE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, LEADERS IN LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC EXPERTS, AND PEOPLE WHO WE NEED MORE OF: THE WORKERS THEMSELVES.

LET’S DIVE RIGHT IN TO TALK ABOUT THE HIRING CHALLENGES… THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

WONDERFUL SEEING YOU ALL IN STUDIO TONIGHT.

YOU OPERATE RESTAURANT IN TOWN.

ARE THE HEAD OF HAWAII RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION OF TELL US WHAT IS BEEN LIKE TO HIRE IN YOUR INDUSTRY OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS?

>> RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS EVOLVEING.

CAN START BY COMMENDING ALL THE RESTAURANT OWNERS MADE IT THIS FAR AND SURVIVED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

MANY DID NOT SURVIVE.

SOME ARE STRUGGLING.

>> ON LAST LEG.

HOPING TO TREAD ABOVE WATER.

GOOD PUBLIC HEARS THAT AND KNOWS THAT SO THEY CAN SUPPORT ALL OF OUR RESTAURANTS.

>>Yunji: IN TERMS OF HIRING HAS IT BEEN DIFFICULT TO FIND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU NEED?

>> TWO GREATEST CHALLENGES.

FIRST IS FOOD COST AND SECOND STAFFING.

MANAGING FOOD COST WITH THE CPI BEING WHERE IT IS.

ALWAYS INNOVATING TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO CONTROL FOOD COST AND HANDLE PRICE.

STAFFING, THAT IS IT OUR ABSOLUTE TOP PRIORITY IN TERMS OF CREATING CULTURE WHERE THEY WANT TO STAY.

ALSO, RECRUIT OTHERS.

IT'S BECOME CREATIVE IN HOW YOU INCENTIVIZE THEM, BONUS STRUCTURES CREATIVE BENEFIT, BEING MORE SUPPORTIVE IF THEY CALL IN SICK AND TRYING TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT.

CREATING CULTURE TO INSPIRE TO DO BETTER, CALL THEIR FRIENDS BE A PART OF THAT SAME COMPANY.

>>Yunji: RETAIL SUFFERS A LOT OF THE SAME STRUGGLES THAT THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY HAS HAD WHEN IT COMES TO STAFFING.

YOU OPERATE SURF SHOP AT PEARLRIDGE.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE TO HIRE IN RETAIL.

>> FOR US AT PEARLRIDGE CENTER, VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF DEMOGRAPHICS THAT I HIRE FOR.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHO WOULD WORK WELL IN RETAIL.

AND AT OUR STORE.

IT'S A FUN BUSINESS.

WE SELL FUN PRODUCTS.

KIDS ALWAYS ENGAGE AND LEARN FROM THERE AS WELL.

GREAT FIRST JOB.

>>Yunji: I WANT GO TO YOU.

FROM HAWAII PACIFIC HEALTH.

WE KNOW HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY HAS GONE THROUGH SO MUCH OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS I WANT TO BRING UP GRAPHIC HERE TELLS THE STORY.

RECENT REPORT FROM THE HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION OF HAWAII FOUND CLOSE TO 4,000 NONPHYSICIAN POSITIONS OPEN.

>> THAT'S UP FROM 2200 IN 2019.

OVERALL, 17% OF TOTAL POSITIONS ARE UNFILLED.

WHERE DID EVERYONE GO AND WHERE ARE YOU FINDING NEW WORKERS?

>> THANK YOU.

YEAH.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT RETIRED OBVIOUSLY, WELL DOCUMENTED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE LEFT THE WORKFORCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THAT CERTAINLY HIT US AS WELL.

WHAT WE SAW WAS MORE OF IMPACT BURNOUT ON THE PART OUR STAFF AND BECAUSE OF HIGH COST OF LIVING, THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO STAY HERE IF THEY LEFT THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.

SO WE SAW A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY LEAVE THE STATE TO PURSUE EMPLOYMENT ON THE MAINLAND.

ALSO, TO BE CLOSER TO FAMILY.

YOU THINK ABOUT HAWAII, ABOUT 30 TO 40% OF OUR WORKFORCE COMES BACK FROM THE MAINLAND.

SO WE GET THEM TO COME TO HAWAII, BUT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THEY HAD SO MANY FAMILIES MEMBERS GOT SICK OR NEEDED THEIR ASSISTANCE TO BECAME EASIER FOR THEM TO MOVE, RELOCATE BACK TO THE MAINLAND.

SO THAT REALLY IMPACTED OUR NUMBER OF JOB OPENINGS THAT WE HAVE.

BROUGHT IT LIGHT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TRAINING PROGRAMS HERE LOCALLY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GROW OUR OWN WORKFORCE.

THAT'S PART OF WHY HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION OF HAWAII AND MANY THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT WAYS GETTING MORE TRAINING PROGRAMS INTO THE HIGH SCHOOLS, GET THAT ENTRY LEVEL WORKFORCE SKILLED UP WHILE THEY'RE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEN HELP THEM PROGRESS THEIR CAREERS AFTER THEY GRADUATE.

A LOT OF WORK.

A LOT OF EFFORT.

MORE TO COME.

>>Yunji: WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO SOME GREAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOLKS HERE TONIGHT.

CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU.

MAYOR RICK BLANGIARDI SAID IT IS ONE OF HIS PRIORITIES TO TRY TO FILLMORE THAN 3,000 VACANCIES THAT THE CITY HAS.

WENT TO A JOB FAIR YESTERDAY.

CITY & COUNTY ALONE, DIDN'T HAVE ONE TABLE.

THEY HAD OVER A DOZEN FROM DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT ARE LOOKING TO HIRE.

THINK ABOUT MENTIONED SUMMER FUN AT THE BEGINNING.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS CRITICAL TO A LOT OF FAMILIES AND THEN LOOKING AT OVER 300 POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE STILL NEEDED.

WHAT IS THE CITY DOING TO SPEED UP THE HIRING PROCESS AND WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO HIRE?

>> THANK YOU.

CITY & COUNTY HAS AS YOU KNOW, MANY OPENINGS AND WE'RE ALSO OPERATING WITHIN A FAIRLY STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT WITH CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND OUR MAYOR, PRINCIPAL.

WE HAVE DONE IS REALIZED THAT ABOUT 15% OF OUR CURRENT WORKFORCE IS RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE.

SO BETWEEN THE RETIREMENTS AND SEPARATIONS AND HIRING, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY THAT WE'VE HAD.

LOST JOBS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, 200 OR COUPLE HUNDRED A YEAR FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE JUST NEED TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY.

WE ARE ABLE BY LAW TO OFFER INCENTIVE RECRUITMENT.

RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES.

LOOK AT EVERYTHING.

CHANGING THE WAY WE HIRE PEOPLE, THE WAY WE REACH OUT.

WE'RE DOING AGGRESSIVE HIRING AND RECRUITING AND CHANGING OUR BRAND IMAGE, DOING A LOT MORE OUTREACH AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO REACH DIFFERENT KINDS OF DEMOGRAPHICS ACROSS THE STATE.

ALSO USING TOOLS THAT MAY APPEAL TO PEOPLE THAT MAY COME BACK FROM THE MAINLAND.

AND WANT TO COME BACK TO HAWAII.

WE'RE LOOK AT ALL KINDS OF OPTIONS THAT HELP GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT VACANCY AND THE FACT THAT CITY IS REALLY GREAT PLACE TO WORK.

WE ARE COMPETING WITH A LOT OF EMPLOYER FOR A LOT OF SIMILAR JOBS.

NOT JUST STATE AND COUNTY, PRIVATE SECTORS.

WE HAVE TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE.

>>Yunji: WIDEN THIS OUT.

GIVE US PERSPECTIVE.

LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, 2019, HAWAII HAD 1.9% UNEMPLOYMENT.

TODAY, AS FOR THE DECEMBER NUMBERS, WE 3.2%.

YOU WOULD THINK TIGHTER LABOR MARKET PREPANDEMIC.

WHY DOES IT FEEL SO DIFFERENT NOW?

>> SO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE ON THE FREEWAY.

THERE'S A WRECK.

AND WHEN THIS ACCIDENT HAPPEN, CAN TAKE ALL DAY LONG FOR THE TRAFFIC TO GET UNJAMMED.

THAT'S LARGELY WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

WE HAD A WRECK.

PANDEMIC ACCELERATED ALL KINDS OF TRANSITIONS.

ALL KINDS OF TRENDS, ZOOMING REMOTE WORK.

SHOPING ONLINE.

>> ACCELERATED RETIREMENTS.

>> ACCELERATED PEOPLE LEAVING THE STATE.

WE'VE SEEN ABOUT 25,000 PERSON DECLINE IN OUR POPULATION SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

WE'VE SEEN INCREASE IN RETIREMENT AGE WORKERS, PRETTY DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THEIR 70s.

ALMOST 10 TO 15,000 PEOPLE, AGED INTO A GROUP THAT IS ALMOST CERTAINLY RETIRED.

SAW ACCELERATION EARLY RETIREMENTS.

SUDDENLY OPENED BACK UP FOR BUSINESS.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, EVERYBODY NEEDED THOSE WORKERS BACK.

WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT.

SO SOME OF PEOPLE WOULD LEFT WERE, WE SAW 25,000 DROP IN GEN Z POPULATION IN 2011.

SHOCK.

MY GUESS IS MANY OF THOSE WERE PEOPLE WORK AND SERVICE INDUSTRY IN THE STATE.

WOULD WENT BACK TO FAMILY ON THE MAINLAND.

DURING THE PANDEMIC.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS ISSUE WITH AGE POPULATION IS NOT GOING AWAY.

AROUND 15%, TALKING ABOUT HOW CITY WAS TALKING ABOUT, HOW MANY OF THEIR WORKERS ARE SORT OF INELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT.

TRUE IN THE OVERALL POPULATION.

ABOUT 15% OF THE POPULATION IS 60 TO 69.

FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, TEN YEARS FROM NOW, DEALING WITH THE SAME THING.

>> WHICH SPEAKS TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT RYAN WAS TALKING ABOUT.

TALKING ABOUT HOW WE ADDRESS THIS.

HOW WE DEAL WITH IT.

>>Yunji: ONE PERSON DIDN'T LEAVE IS CELINE.

YOUNG WORKER SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.

RESTAURANTS RETAIL, CITY.

HEALTH CARE.

YOU REALLY HAVE YOUR PICK.

WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER LOOKING FOR A JOB RIGHT NOW.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT CHANGES YOUR DECISION‑MAKING AND HOW YOU LOOK FOR A JOB RIGHT NOW KNOWING THAT THERE IS SO MUCH AVAILABILITY?

>> DEFINITELY.

FROM MY EXPERIENCE, WHILE ACTIVELY LOOKING AND APPLYING FOR EMPLOYMENT, A LOT OF THE I GUESS, DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE JOB, LIKE SOME OF THEM ARE OH, YEAH, I CAN DO IT.

SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS ARE, YOU WANT, YOU NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE FOR YOU.

YOU WANT ME TO BE FLEXIBLE FOR YOU.

I WOULD SAY MY GENERATION OR PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT THAT WILL ALLOW US TO BE FLEXIBLE RATHER THAN HAVING TO BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

>>Yunji: THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

I WANT YOU TO WEIGH IN ON THAT.

YOU ACTIVELY WORKED WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

A LITTLE BIT FARTHER ALONG.

EMPLOYMENT JOURNEY IF YOU WILL.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE EXPECTATIONS ON THE EMPLOYEE SIDE HAS CHANGED FROM WHAT YOU'RE SEEING WITH THE PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH?

>> SORRY.

I'M JUST TRYING TO TAKE IN THAT QUESTION.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, I DID WANT TO DEFER TO KAWIKA BECAUSE I'M KIND OF NEW IN THIS ROLE.

KIND OF REALLY FINDING MY PLACE IN LIKE A CAREER FIELD TOO.

I FEEL LIKE I'M VERY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE PROBABLY GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I THINK KAWIKA MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ON SEEING YOUNG PEOPLE AND PROGRAMMING THAT WE DO.

AND HOW WE RECRUIT THEM, HOW WE RETAIN THEM.

HOW THEY RETAINED ME I GUESS IN A SENSE TOO.

FROM BEING UNEMPLOYED.

ONE OF THOSE COVID PEOPLE TOTALLY OUT A JOB.

USED TO WORK IN RESTAURANT.

GOT MY WHOLE, UPHEAVAL.

ENDED STAYING IN CONSERVATION.

>>Yunji: KAWIKA IS HERE.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT KUPU DOES AND IF YOU THINK THAT GIVEN HOW LONG YOU WORKED WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, IF THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE EMPLOYEES HAVE CHANGED?

>> FIRST I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS SORT OF BROADER QUESTION OF WHAT IS HAPPENING THE LABOR MARKET.

SOME WAYS, OF COURSE, WE FEEL THAT WE'RE A PART OF IT.

IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING HUNDREDS OF JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS.

GROWING EMPLOYER OURSELVES OF ONE OF THE THING THAT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING.

KEISHA IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

TREMENDOUS INTEREST, DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GOING ANYWHERE AMONG THE YOUNG POPULATION TO GET INTO CONSERVATION, TO FIND A JOB THAT'S RESPONDING TO THE CLIMATE CHANGES WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE.

SO I THINK THAT LARGER DESIRE FOR MEANING, FOR CONNECTION, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SEEK PROVIDE IN OUR PROGRAMMING AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE A STRONG APPEAL FOR THE POPULATION THAT WE FOCUS ON.

I THINK IT'S WHY OUR ORGANIZATION IS DOUBLED IN SIZE SINCE WHERE WE WERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REALLY TAKE CREDIT FOR.

WE'RE FORTUNATE TO GET TO RESPOND TO THE PASSION OF YOUNG ADULTS HERE IN HAWAII.

>>Yunji: INTERESTING.

I WANT GO YOU BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT LOCAL 5 AND MANY PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY ARE WORKING.

BUSINESSES HAVE HAD TO ADAPT AND TOURISM INDUSTRY CERTAINLY HAS.

THEY ARE DOING MORE WITH LESS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL WORKING?

WHAT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF WORKS IN THIS ENVIRONMENT?

>> OF WORKERS IN THIS ENVIRONMENT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, NOT DISAGREEING WITH ANYTHING SAID.

THERE'S A COUNTERPART HERE.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR JOBS.

THE TRUTH IS MY MEMBERS WERE LAID OFF.

AND NONE OF HOTELS DID ANYTHING FOR THEM.

SO PEOPLE ARE PUT ON THEIR OWN DEVICES.

WHAT THEY HAD DO THEN WAS SEEK OTHER EMPLOYMENT AND FIND OTHER WAYS DO IT.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT, PEOPLE DO HAVE TO WORK MULTIPLE JOBS HERE.

THEY ALWAYS HAVE.

IT HAS NOT GOTTEN ANY BETTER DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS HUSBAND AND WIFE HAVE TO HAVE THIS WHOLE CHOREOGRAPHED DANCE.

PICK UP, DROP OFF, HAVE SOMEBODY THERE FOR THE KIDS.

AND THAT ALL GOT BUSTED UP ONE TIME.

PEOPLE HAD TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO MAKE A LIVING.

AND IT BROKE THE PATTERN.

THAT PATTERN HASN'T REFORMED.

WHAT EVERYBODY IS NOW IS MULTIPLE SMALL JOBS.

AND HOTELS CALLED THEM BACK, COME BACK.

WE'LL OFFER YOU ON CALL WORK.

SO YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PATTERN HERE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

IT'S NOT YOUNG PEOPLE'S FAULT NECESSARILY THAT THE JOBS AREN'T ACCEPTABLE TO THEM.

WITH WE'VE DONE THE RESEARCH, SAW THROUGH THE PANDEMIC FOR EXAMPLE, THAT HOTEL CORPORATIONS, OWNERS, SPECIFICALLY WENT TO THEIR INVESTORS WE'RE GOING TO CUT STAFF.

REDUCE THE LABOR FORCE.

TO INCREASE PROFITS FOR THE INVESTORS.

THEY DID IT.

WALL STREET JOURNAL.

THAT HAS PLAYED ITSELF OUT.

THE HOTELS WERE STILL AT DESPITE BEST EFFORTS, RESTORING DAILY HOUSEKEEPING AND HOTELS.

STILL AT ABOUT ONLY 90% OF 2019 EMPLOYMENT LEVELS.

SO THERE'S WORK THERE THAT THEY'RE NOT OFFERING BECAUSE CORPORATIONS HAVE DECIDED TO MAKE MORE MONEY INSTEAD OF OFFER MORE JOBS.

WE'RE ALSO DEALING WITH TECH ISSUES.

NOWADAYS, YOU CHECK IN ON YOUR PHONE.

IT'S YOUR ROOM KEY.

THAT'S WHERE THAT'S GOING.

>> THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO CUT INTO THE JOBS THAT ARE ACTUALLY ATTRACTIVE.

I THINK THERE IS A CHANGE THAT, THERE'S A, WHEN I WAS YOUNG PERSON, I ONCE WAS, YOU TRY TO PICK A COMPANY THAT YOU STICK WITH.

MOVE UP WITH.

AND THE COMPANIES DIDN'T STICK WITH US.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT ESPECIALLY FOR WORKING WOMEN, SITUATION HAS MADE THEIR FINANCES FAR MORE CRITICAL.

FOR EXAMPLE, MY DAUGHTER HAS TO WORK ON GRAVEYARD SHIFT.

SHE'S GOT TWO YOUNG KIDS.

SCHOOL SENDS THEM HOME.

IF SOMEBODY TESTS POSITIVE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

YOU HAD TO BE THERE FOR YOUR KIDS.

THERE'S NO DAY CARE.

NOBODY SET UP MORE DAY CARE OPTIONS FOR PARENTS WHO HAVE TO WORK.

AND SO THEY'RE BUSY STUCK IN THIS TERRIBLE SITUATION.

>> I CAN GO WORK AND MAKE 200 BUCKS AND HOUR, TAKE 15 BUCKS OF THAT AND GIVE IT TO MY DAY CARE.

SO PEOPLE ARE FACED WITH A REAL ECONOMIC BIND.

NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR WORKING PEOPLE.

NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR THE TRAINING AS WELL.

WE RUN A TRAINING PROGRAM.

GRADUATE PEOPLE QUALIFIED.

GIVE THEM A CERTIFICATE.

AND HOTEL SAYS, YOU NEED TWO YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET THAT?

TRYING TO THAT OUT.

HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY GET PEOPLE HIRED?

I'M NOT CLEAR.

WE DID A JOB FAIR LAST YEAR, AND HOLO WERE THERE.

KAISER WAS THERE.

WE REPRESENT KAISER.

HEALTH CARE HAVE A PANDEMIC, FELT ABANDON BY EVERYBODY.

WE HAVE THIS THING WE HAVE TO GET PAST.

>> WORKERS HAVE TRUST THEIR EMPLOYER.

AND I THINK THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

>>Yunji: HEAR FROM YOU.

YOU WOULD, IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY YOURSELF.

HOW HAS IT BEEN FOR YOU?

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO DO MORE WITH LESS?

>> SO MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, NOT TO TAKE AWAY ANYTHING FROM WHAT ERIC HAS JUST SAID, BUT I CURRENTLY WORK FOR HOTEL IN WAIKIKI.

NONUNIONIZED.

I HAVE A LOT OF REALLY KIND OF BENEFITS TO SAY ABOUT JUST HOW MY EXPERIENCE LIKE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PANDEMIC WAS.

SO I WAS VERY FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT THE HOTEL THAT I WAS WITH DID NOT LAYOFF ANY OF OUR PLEASE.

THEY MAINTAINED OUR MEDICAL FOR 2 YEARS.

GOING INTO THE PANDEMIC.

AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ACTIVELY HIRING LIKE REGULAR STAFFING JUST TO KIND OF KEEP US GOING.

ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FEW HOTELS THAT I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY STILL HAS DAILY HOUSEKEEPING.

ALL OF THOSE POINTS I'M NOT SURE IT FOR LARGER CORPORATIONS.

AT LEAST FOR MY EXPERIENCE, VERY HAPPY TO SAY THAT THAT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE WHOLE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR MYSELF BEING IN THE INDUSTRY.

ALSO, JUST BEING LOCAL.

>> I'VE SEEN A LOT OF ‑‑ I GRADUATED FROM U.H.

WENT TO ROOSEVELT.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF REALLY POSITIVE OPPORTUNITIES COME MY WAY.

HONESTLY SPEAKING I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A LOT OF STUDENTS AND A LOT OF LOCAL KIDS IN THE INDUSTRY OR JUST IN GENERAL, GOING TO COLLEGE.

NOT SURE WHAT THEIR PATHS ARE, JUST TO EXPERIENCE BENEFITS OF WORKING IN TOURISM.

AND HOSPITALITY.

KIND OF BEEN MY WHOLE, NOT TO DISCREDIT ANYTHING ERIC SAID.

MANY PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH MANAOLE.

CLOTHING BRAND IN THE ISLANDS YOUR EXPERIENCE THROUGH ALL OF THIS, YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO RETAIN YOUR EMPLOYEES.

YOUR STORY IS VERY DIFFERENT.

TELL US ABOUT IT?

>> YES.

SO OUR SMALL BUSINESS, THANKS.

OUR SMALL BUSINESS IS FAMILY RUN.

EMPLOYEES BECOME LIKE FAMILY.

FOR US TO HAVE THE SAME 18 PEOPLE THAT WE HAD BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC AND TO COVERING EVERYBODY'S MEDICAL AND RETAINED ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT, BUT IT'S WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE SAME PERSON EVERY DAY.

AND THAT IS HOW WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ALL WORK THROUGH THE PANDEMIC TOGETHER.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, EVERYBODY WHO WORKED, I MEAN, WE COULDN'T ALL DO RETAIL.

SO EVERYBODY LEARNED NEW SKILL.

EVERYBODY LEARNED HOW TO CUT.

OR EVERYBODY LEARNED HOW TO MANUFACTURE SOMETHING.

>> THEN IT WAS KIND OF COOL THAT WE ALL GOT TOGETHER AND WE COULD TALK STORY ABOUT WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD MAKE?

IT WAS JUST GOOD TO HAVE THAT KIND OF INTERACTION WITH THE EMPLOYEES THAT DO BECOME OUR FAMILY.

INTO THAT IS THE BENEFIT OF WORKING IN SUCH A SMALL ENVIRONMENT.

>> YES.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO BRING YOU IN ON THIS.

RECENTLY, MEMBER OF OUR PBS STAFF WENT TO FOODLAND AND LOOKED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RECEIPT AND IT SAID, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A COPY OF THIS RECEIPT, WE HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT.

STORE WAS OFFERING UP TO A $3,000 HIRING BONUS.

THIS IS IN DECEMBER.

DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS STILL AVAILABLE.

>> DON'T RUSH IN.

YOU KNOW, THAT SAID, BUSINESSES ARE HAVING TO DO LOT OF THINGS TO TRY TO ATTRACT WORKERS.

HOW ARE YOU ADVISING YOUR MEMBERS TO STAY COMPETITIVE.

>> EMPLOYERS ARE REALIZING THEY HAVE BE INNOVATIVE.

REALIZING THEY CAN'T JUST SIT AND BE CONSUMERS OF TALENT.

HAVE TO BE COCREATORS OF TALENT.

SO WE'RE SEEING BUSINESSES GET INVOLVED AND TAKE ACTION TO MAKE SURE THEIR TALENT PIPELINE IS FILLED WITH SKILLED LOCAL WORKERS.

WE SEE A LOT OF EMPLOYERS GETTING INVOLVED IN OUR SCHOOLS WHICH IS VITALLY IMPORTANT.

BECAUSE THIS WORKPLACE LEARNING OUR EMPLOYERS DO IN SCHOOLS MAKES SURE IS THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PREPARED FOR CAREER SUCCESS.

SEE THEM GETTING INVOLVED IN TRAINING.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY PAY OFF TOMORROW.

IT MIGHT BE LONGER.

FORESIGHT TO BE ABLE TO ACT IN THAT WAY, IN FACT, JUST AMONG THE STAGE HERE, NUMBER OF EXAMPLES THAT EMPLOYERS ARE INVESTING RESOURCES IN WORKING WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE HAVE HAWAII PACIFIC HEALTH AND HAWAIIAN AIRLINES AND KUPU.

SO THIS IS A TIME WHERE EMPLOYERS ARE HAVING TO INNOVATE, HAVING TO INVEST IN TRAINING.

THEY'RE HAVING TO INVEST IN GOING OUT INTO THE SCHOOLS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT EMPLOYMENT METHODS.

SO IT'S NOT JUST TRADITIONAL CAREER FAIRS, FOR INSTANCE.

OR SITTING AND WAITING FOR APPLICANTS.

WE'RE FACILITATING MEET & GREETS WITH EMPLOYERS.

AND BRINGING HANDFUL OF EMPLOYERS TO MEET WITH STUDENTS, EVEN IN THE CLASSROOM.

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT IN DEMAND, INDUSTRIES.

THIS IS WHERE THE GOOD JOBS ARE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN GET FIRST OF ALL SKILLS TRAINING FOR GOOD JOBS, AS WELL AS PAID INTERNSHIPS AND TRAINING AND THEN EVENTUALLY, JOB PLACEMENT SUPPORT.

SO THERE'S VERY EXCITING INITIATIVE THAT ACTUALLY WILL BE LAUNCHED ON MONDAY.

CALLED GOOD JOBS HAWAII.

AND THIS IS A REALLY ONCE IN A GENERATIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT FOR HAWAII THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY EXCITED ABOUT.

FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT HAWAII HAS BEEN AWARDED TO PUT 3,000 KAMA'AINA ON CAREER PATHWAY FROM SKILLED TRAINING AT U.H.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES, FULLY SUBSIDIZED INTO PAID INTERNSHIPS AND INTO JOB PLACEMENT.

WITH THE WRAP AROUND SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.

SO THEY CAN PERSIST IN THEIR JOURNEY OF GAINING THESE NEW SKILLS.

SO YOU'LL HEAR IT ANNOUNCED ON MONDAY.

COALITION BETWEEN EMPLOYERS STATEWIDE, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIKE THE CHAMBER, AND JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT OUR STATE NEEDS TO DO MORE OF.

TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE CAN STAY IN HAWAII AND THRIVE IN GOOD JOBS.

AND EMPLOYERS CAN FIND THE LOCAL TALENT THAT THEY NEED.

MORE ON MONDAY.

>>Yunji: LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

I WANT TO BRING YOU IN HERE.

BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER.

TONIGHT, FOOD AND BEVERAGE THERE.

YOU FEED THOUSAND OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY.

THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, YOU MADE SOME REALLY SIGNIFICANT ADAPTATION AND ACTUALLY, PAID OFF FOR WORKERS AND FOR THE COMPANY.

>> YEAH.

>> WE WERE CLOSE FOR 11.5 MONTHS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

TIME ON OUR HANDS.

WENT THROUGH ALL THAT EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE LAID OFF, RETIRED PEOPLE.

WE FURLOUGHED PEOPLE.

WE REALLY TRIED OUR BEST TO TAKE AS BEST CARE AS WE COULD.

WITH THE PANDEMIC BEING WHO WE ARE, WE HAD TO CLOSE.

DURING THAT TIME, WE DECIDED TO RELOOK AT OUR MODEL.

WHAT WAS THE MODEL THAT WE NEEDED?

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF ALFRED GRACE, CEO, WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A MODEL THAT REALLY WORKED BEST AND THAT IS.

ABOUT 30 TO 40% LESS VISITORS A YEAR AND WE CAP, SO BEFORE WE USED TO HAVE 1500 PEOPLE IN OUR LUAUS.

NOW WE HAVE 500.

USED TO HAVE 1600 IN OUR GATEWAY BUFFET.

NOW WE HAVE 740.

SO WE CAP OUR ATTENDANCE.

WHICH I THINK HELPS SPEAK TO THE WHOLE HOW MUCH TOURISM IS ENOUGH TOURISM.

WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN TO THAT POINT.

AND WE JUST FINISHED 2022.

WHICH WAS OUR BEST YEAR ON RECORD SINCE 1963.

WE FOUND A MODEL THAT WORKS FOR US.

AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS AND SUNDAYS AND SO THAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE ONE SHIFT OF EMPLOYEES VERSUS, ALWAYS BEEN CLOSED ON SUNDAY.

>> BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A SIXTH DAY, THAT ALLOWS, I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT TO SOME EXTRA EMPLOYEES IN THERE.

BECOMES MUCH DIFFERENT MODEL BY CLOSING TWO DAYS A WEEK, WE NOW HAVE PEOPLE GET TWO DAYS OFF A WEEK.

THAT REALLY IMPROVES THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

IN THE HOSPITALITY WORLD, TO HAVE TWO FULL DAYS OFF, IS ALMOST UNHEARD OF.

ABLE TO OFFER THAT TO OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ATTRACT, WE'RE VERY BLESSED IN THAT WE HAVE BYU HAWAII.

WE GET A LOT OF OUR ENTRY LEVEL EMPLOYEES.

BACK UP TO PREPANDEMIC NUMBERS WHEN IT COMES BACK TO STUDENTS THAT WE HIRE.

BEFORE, WE HAD 800.

2019.

WE'RE BACK TO 800.

WHERE WE ARE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS WE'RE LACKING IN THE SKILLED EMPLOYEES.

TRYING TO FIND WAYS.

WHEN WE HAVE TIME, I WOULD LOVE TO TALK ABOUT COME BACK AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE TIME.

HAD TO DO DEVELOPING OF SOME CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS.

AND WORK WITH BYU HAWAII AND TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT.

>>Yunji: ON THAT VERY POINT, I THINK ROBIN, YOU'RE THE PERFECT SEGUE TO YOU.

YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF HAWAIIAN AIRLINES RECENTLY ANNOUNCED PRETTY MAJOR PARTNERSHIP WITH HONOLULU COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE REPRESENTED TONIGHT, THEY CAN STAFF UP AND STAFF DOWN.

CAN'T REALLY HAVE NOT ENOUGH AIRLINE MECHANICS.

TELL US ABOUT THAT PARTNERSHIP AND WHAT YOU'RE HOPING TO DO WITH THAT.

>> AS YOU MAY KNOW.

MANY OF US HERE, EXPERIENCING THIS.

HAVING SKILLED WORKERS IS REALLY CHALLENGING POST, CERTAINLY THE CASE PREPANDEMIC.

BUT IT WAS EXACERBATED POST PANDEMIC.

SO WE PARTNERED WITH UNIVERSITY, JUST FABULOUS PARTNERS OF OURS.

TO REALLY DETERMINE HOW WE CAN BEST SUPPORT THAT PIPELINE OF TALENT.

STARTING FROM HCC.

SO WE OFFERED, PARTNERED WITH THEM GETTING INSTRUCTORS MODIFYING CURRICULUM, HAVING TOOLS FOR STUDENTS WHO CAN'T AFFORD THEM.

PARTNERING WITH OUR UNIONS ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.

SO THAT WE CAN WIDEN THAT PIPELINE AND MECHANICS GRADUATING FROM HCC.

ALSO INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

THAT CAN ENSURE THAT WHOEVER, WHICHEVER GRADUATES COME OUT OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ARE PREPARED AND SUCCESSFUL IN THE WORKFORCE.

BUT I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY, EXPANDING THIS NOW TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

EVENTUALLY PLAN IS TO EXPAND THIS TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

>> SO WE CAN GET KIDS TALK ABOUT STEM, I DON'T THINK THEY THINK, AIRCRAFT MECHANIC.

I NEED TO BECOME AN ENGINEER OR MIT GRADUATE.

WHAT THEY DON'T REALIZE IS THEY'RE REALLY GREAT JOBS THAT THEY CAN HAVE AS A CAREER HERE IN HAWAII.

SO THAT IS PART OF THE STARTE, INTERNAL PROGRAM CALLED ALUMNI AMBASSADORS.

ASKED EVERYONE WHAT SCHOOL YOU GRAD SO WE CAN HAVE THEM GO INTO THEIR SCHOOLS THAT THEY GRADUATED FROM AND ADVOCATE FOR ALL OF THE TYPES OF JOBS THAT WE PROVIDE, WHETHER THAT BE IT, PILOTS, MECHANICS, FINANCE, MARKETING TO MAKE OUR KEIKI AWARE OF ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

ANDEL AIRCRAFT MECHANIC IS EXTREMELY LUCRATIVE JOB.

SHIFT JOB.

YOU CAN HAVE THE TYPE OF LIFESTYLE THAT YOU WANT.

WHETHER THAT BE WORKING DURING THE DAY, OR NIGHT.

PROVIDES FABULOUS BENEFITS AND MANY, MANY, MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE CREATED A CAREER OUT OF IT.

SOMETHING THAT THIS IS THE START OF OTHER SIMILAR PROGRAMS THAT WE HOPE TO HAVE FOR OTHER TYPES OF JOBS AT HAWAIIAN AIRLINES.

>> INTERESTING, I SAW EVERYBODY'S REACTION WHEN ROBIN SAID MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

SHE'S RIGHT.

WE DO IT IN HEALTH CARE AS WELL.

BEEN DOING IT FOR A FEW YEARS.

AMAZING TO SEE REACTION OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND GET THEIR PARENTS ENGAGED AND INVOLVED.

AND THAT'S A GREAT WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AND HEALTH CARE AND AIRLINE INDUSTRY AND MANY OF OUR INDUSTRIES.

GET THEM YOUNGER SO THEY KNOW WHAT'S AVAILABLE AND WHAT THE THINGS THEY CAN DO IN SCHOOL TO ACTUALLY GET THERE FOUR‑YEAR DEGREE.

DON'T HAVE TO WORK TOWARDS A FOUR‑YEAR DEGREE.

THAT'S WHY I WANT TO GO TO JULIE WITH CLIMB HIGH.

YOU WORK WITH PLENTY OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND HOW YOU ARE PREPARING THEM AS THEY ENTER WORKFORCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE STRIVE IS TO INSPIRE OUR KEIKI TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL.

PROCEED TO POST‑SECONDARY EDUCATION OR ON TO EMPLOYMENT.

BY INSPIRE, EXPOSING THEM TO FUTURE CAREER PATHS STEPS TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.

COVER KINDERGARTEN THROUGH POST SECONDARY, IMPORTANT START.

IMPORTANT START, KINDERGARTEN.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHAT DO ALL THE STUDENTS SAY?

FIREFIGHTER OR POLICE OFFICERS?

GOD BLESS THOSE PROFESSIONS SO GOOD GETTING INTO EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL.

MEETING WITH BUSINESSES, WE NEED TO BE AS GOOD AS THEY ARE ARE BECAUSE OUR KEIKI COME HOME SAYING THAT.

WHAT WE EXPOSE OUR YOUTH TO THEY WANT TO ASPIRE TO.

IF WE'RE NOT SHARING THEM THINGS, WON'T HAVE THINGS TO ASPIRE TO.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE LEAVING.

SO MUCH TO OFFER, WE NEED TO GET IT OUT THERE.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE AROUND TO BE EXPOSE THEM TO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE.

>>Yunji: TALKED A LOT ABOUT GROWING WORKERS.

MELI JAMES.

WHAT DO YOU IS GROW ENTREPRENEURSES.

HERE FROM COFOUNDER OF MANA UP.

TELL US ABOUT MANA UP AND WHAT ADVICE YOU'RE GIVING TO ENTREPRENEURS IN HAWAII WHO ARE TRYING TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS, GIVEN ALL THE CHALLENGES WE'VE HEARD ABOUT TONIGHT.

>> ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY.

HOPE GROW LOCAL PRODUCT COMPANIES HERE IN THE ISLANDS LOOKING TO SCALE THE GLOBAL MARKET.

6 MONTH ACCELERATOR PROGRAM.

SOLVE BUSINESS CHALLENGES GROW THEM TO CREATE MORE JOBS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ISLANDS.

SO WE ACTUALLY INTERESTINGLY, WE DO A CALL FOR APPLICATIONS JANUARY THROUGH MARCH.

AND EVERY YEAR, IT GROWS.

INTERESTINGLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, HAD OVER 20% OF OUR APPLICANTS HAD STARTED THEIR BUSINESSES IN UNDER 18 MONTHS.

WITH WHAT MEANT TO ME, PEOPLE ARE KIND OF SHIFTING.

EVERYTHING IS SHIFTING FOR THEM.

COUPLE OTHER GUESTS SAID, EVERYTHING THE MOLD BROKE.

EITHER I LOST MY JOB OR LIFE CAN LEAD DIFFERENT PATHWAYS.

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO DIFFERENTLY?

SEEING A LOT MORE INTEREST IN ENTREPRENEURS STARTING FIRST COMPANY.

BEEN REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THAT.

FROM WE'RE TALKING TO THE ENTREPRENEURS ABOUT, FOUNDERS, INTERESTINGLY, FROM A TREND STANDPOINT, SEEING AUTHENTICITY, TRANSPARENCY, CONNECTION TO CULTURE.

MICROGRAMS WITH THRIVING.

>> YOUNG PEOPLE LOOKING AT VALUES BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHERE THEY CAN CREATE IMPACT, IN THE ISLANDS.

SO THEY'RE NOT LOOKING FOR MORE OF THOSE TRADITIONAL JOBS.

ACTUALLY LOOKING AT WHO THE FOUNDER IS WHAT DO THEY STAND FOR, HOW IS THIS HELPING HAWAII?

FINDING A LOT OF OUR ENTREPRENEURS ARE STILL SOMETIMES HAVING HARD TIME FINDING EMPLOYEES.

>> BUT THEY'RE ALSO FINDING A LOT MORE THAT ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THEIR ORGANIZATION.

BUT I SAY FROM CLASS STANDPOINT, ALWAYS HAVE CHALLENGES WITH COSTS.

COSTS OF GOODS.

BUT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF COMPANIES THRIVING.

OUR COMPANY 74, MANA UP.

33% GROWTH RATE.

A LOT OF THAT DUE TO E‑COMMERCE AND THAT SHIFTING GEARS WITH TECHNOLOGY.

PEOPLE DOING A LOT MORE ADAPTING TO BUYING ONLINE AND BEING ABLE TO BRING HAWAII TO THE WORLD.

>>Yunji: ALSO WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH THAT CONNECTION TO CULTURE.

NARRATIVE AND KEISHA, THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO YOUR CAREER CHOICES AS WELL.

I WANT TO BRING YOU BACK INTO THE DISCUSSION.

YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY HIGHEST SALARY BUT ATTRACTING, I HATE TO SAY THIS, YOUR GENERATION, IF YOU WILL.

IT IS THAT INTANGIBLE OF THE CONNECTION.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH.

ACTUALLY, PEOPLE SOME CONTEXT.

BACKGROUND.

ORIGINALLY WORKING IN MUSICAL THEATER IN NEW YORK CITY.

AND I WAS WORKING THREE JOBS.

SIMILAR TO HAWAII, KIND OF HAVE TO WORK THREE JOBS.

LIVING IN NEW YORK.

WORKING IN MERCHANDISING.

WORKING FOR EXECUTIVE PRODUCER WHO DO ME, WAS MY DREAM JOB.

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID.

WANTED TO DO MUSICAL THEATER AND DO THAT AND THEN GO DO IT, NEW YORK, LOVELY, BEAUTIFUL.

AND I SAW A PLAY THAT WAS WRITTEN BY A KAMA'AINA PLAYWRITE.

VERY SMALL THEATER, DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN.

I SAW THAT WE COULD BE TELLING HAWAII STORIES AND I DIDN'T NEED TO BE IN NEW YORK TO BE TELLING THOSE STORIES.

AND I KIND OF MADE THAT DECISION, MOVED HERE AND THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

THEATER WAS NOT OPERATIONAL AT THAT TIME.

NEAR WAS RESTAURANT.

KIND WENT BACK INTO RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

IN WAIKIKI.

JUST TO, I NEEDED TO INCOME AT SOME POINT.

PANDEMIC HIT.

AND THEN KUPU OFFERED THIS KUMU AINA CORE PROGRAM.

TWO MONTH PROGRAM.

FEDERALLY FUNDED.

THEY GAVE BUNCH OF JUST PLEASE, HIRE, TONS OF PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.

I THINK ESPECIALLY FOR CULTURE, CULTURALLY, AINA IS JUST TIED SO MUCH WITH OUR MO'OLELO.

WITH OUR CULTURE.

WITH EVERYTHING.

AINA IS A PART OF IT.

ALOHA AINA IS TIED SO MUCH WITH OUR CULTURE.

KANAKA TOO, I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I WAS EXPOSED TO THAT.

JULIE SAID, I JUST EXPOSING KIDS TO THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT THEY HAVE, AINA WASN'T REALLY AN OPTION FOR ME.

WASN'T PRESENTED AS AN OPTION FOR ME.

AND I DISCOVERED THAT I LOVE IT AND IT TIED SO MUCH WITH THEATER.

TELLING STORIES.

EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING TIES BACK INTO THAT.

AND YEAH, I FOUND THAT MEANING.

>> I FOUND GIVING BACK TO MY COMMUNITY, TO THE AINA, AND THEN ALSO, GETTING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE TRY TO TALK ABOUT BRINGING UP MIDDLE SCHOOLERS EXPOSING THEM.

MY WHOLE SITE POSTED A LOT OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND AND MIDDLE SCHOOLER PROGRAMS.

AND WE INTRODUCED THEM TO AINA.

THIS IS A POSSIBILITY FOR YOU AND I WATCH KIDS GOING FROM SO SCARED TO GET THEIR TEE‑SHIRT DIRTY.

CAME IN WITH NICEST NIKES EVER SEEN IN LIFE.

AFTER THE PROGRAM, PARENTS COMING TO ME, STARTED GARDEN.

ASKED ME, THEY WANTED TO PLANT FOOD.

THEY WANTED TO START THIS GARDEN.

THEY WANTED DO THAT.

I DEFINITELY PERSON SHIFTED CAREER PATHS.

VERY MUCH, WE WANT TO FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING.

I THINK.

AND YEAH.

I WANT TO BRING IN SORT OF THE PANEL.

I MEAN, SORRY NOT THE PANEL.

>>Yunji: VIEWERS RESPONDING TONIGHT.

PLEASE DO KEEP YOUR QUESTIONS COMING I'VE GOT A BUNCH HERE.

BRING THIS TO YOU AND OTHERS ON THE PANEL.

MILDRED SAYS, 16 OF OUR SENIORS APPLIED REPEATEDLY BUT WERE NOT HIRED TO AGE DISCRIMINATION.

SENIORS ARE THE ANSWER AND EMPLOYERS SHOULD HAVE HIRED US BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

OTHER CALLER SAYS, WHAT ABOUT TRAINING THOSE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T FRESH OUT OF SCHOOL?

THEY HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE TO SHARE AND LOOK FOR GROWTH AND CHANGE.

YOU TALK ABOUT PEOPLE RETIRING OUT.

SPECIFICALLY IN HEALTH CARE.

ALSO IN OTHER INDUSTRIES.

HOW MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE DO YOU THINK WILL GET BACK?

>> SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING NATIONALLY, WE DON'T HAVE PRETTY STANDARD YOU DON'T HAVE IT'S REALLY DETAILED DATA STATE AND COUNTY LEVELS.

NATIONALLY, PEOPLE NOT COMING BACK FROM RETIREMENT.

SAW EARLIER RETIREMENT THAN WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND UNLIKE PAST RECESSION AND RECOVERIES, WE AREN'T SEEING THOSE PEOPLE COMING BACK IN THE LABOR FORCE LIKE THEY HAVE THE PAST.

PART IS JUST OLDER.

BUT CALLER IS ASKING ABOUT IS REALLY, PART OF THE THEME WE'RE HEARING.

BUSINESSES HAVE TO BECOME MORE FLEXIBLE.

THERE'S 170, 180,000 PEOPLE GOING TO BE IN RETIREMENT AGE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OVER A DECADE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO MAKE THOSE JOBS FLEXIBLE SO THAT OLDER PEOPLE WILL WANT THEM.

YOUNGER PEOPLE WILL WANT THEM.

THINK ABOUT WHETHER THOSE JOB REQUIREMENTS WE PULL OUT THE JOB AD WE USED LAST TIME, GOT ALL OF THESE REQUIREMENTS.

NONE OF THEM MATTER ANY MORE OR WE DON'T NEED THEM ALL.

WE STILL JUST POST SAME OLD JOB AD.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING SCREENED OUT OF JOBS THAT THEY'RE POTENTIALLY QUALIFIED FOR BECAUSE OF THE PROCESSES THAT WE FOLLOW.

SO BASICALLY, EVERYTHING IS BEING DISRUPTED AND WE HAVE TO BUSINESSES ARE HAVING TO ADJUSTMENT HARD WORK.

>>Yunji: RIGHT.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT?

DO YOU THINK THAT THERE IS APPETITE FOR OLDER WORKERS, THESE FOLKS WHO SAY, 16 OF US APPLIED REPEATEDLY NOT HIRED.

HOW DO BUSINESSES ADAPT NOT ONLY TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE RETIRED FOR A TIME AND NOW WANT COME BACK?

>> I THINK BUSINESSES ARE CERTAINLY RE‑EVALUATING THEIR REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT.

BOTH ON THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS SIDE AND ELSEWHERE.

AND REALLY BEING FORCED TO BROADEN THEIR LENS AND CONSIDER CALL THEM THE I THINK IT'S CALLED HIDDEN WORKFORCE, IS THE TERM.

SO IT'S NOT JUST OLDER POPULATION.

THAT'S VETERANS.

THOSE WHO ARE JUST AS INVOLVED.

INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

AND THERE ARE GREAT EXAMPLES IN THE COMMUNITY OF BUSINESSES HAD GREAT SUCCESS HIRING INDIVIDUALS.

BIG CITY DINER, TARGET COME TO MIND.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO SHARE THOSE STORIES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN CHANGE THEIR PERCEPTION AND UNDERSTAND THIS TRULY IS INCREDIBLE PART OF OUR WORKFORCE THAT CAN HELP FILL THEIR HIRING NEEDS.

THERE'S SOME WORK TO BE DONE THERE.

WE HOPE TO PROVIDE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE THOSE STORIES OF SUCCESS TO HELP FOLKS UNDERSTAND AND REALIZE THAT THE WORKFORCE IS STARTING TO LOOK DIFFERENT.

>>Yunji: LORI FROM KAUAI SAYS, TO ME, WORKFORCE HOUSING IS SO CRITICAL FOR FILLING JOBS ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE LIVE IN HAWAII.

TEACHERS NURSES I WOULD ADD HOTEL WORKERS AS WELL TO THIS LIST.

HOW CAN WE INCLUDE THIS SO PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO STAY?

HEAR A LOT OF ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

GOVERNOR RAN ON THIS.

BUT IS THERE A WAY THAT PRIVATE INDUSTRY CAN HELP TO BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION?

>> I THINK ALL OF INDUSTRY CAN GET TOGETHER AND FORM A HUI TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE SOLVE SOME OF THE HOUSING ISSUES.

AS HOSPITAL ON KAUAI.

ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES WE HAVE IS FINDING AVAILABLE HOUSING TO BRING PEOPLE TO KAUAI.

SO YEAH, I THINK WE ALL HAVE TO GET TOGETHER.

>> I DON'T THINK ONE SIMPLE ANSWER.

BUT I DO THINK IF WE START LOOKING AT HOW DO WE SOLVE COST OF LIVING ISSUE GOVERNOR IS TALKING ABOUT, HOW DO WE GET BUSINESSES TOGETHER TO LOOK AT WAYS TO INVEST AND LOOK AT WORKFORCE HOUSING, HAS TO BE DONE.

ALONG KEALA POINT, I CAN TELL YOU THAT BUSINESSES ARE STARTING TO CHANGE.

WE CONTINUE TO TELL EVERYBODY, YOU GOT TO START LOOKING AT HIRING ON SKILL BASE AND NOT NECESSARILY QUALIFICATION BASED.

NOT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO START LOOK MORE AS TALKING EARLIER, ABOUT HAVING THE PERSON WOULD CAN DO THE JOB, NOT NECESSARILY PERSON WHO CAN GET THE JOB.

CHANGING THAT FOCUS.

GETS TO THE POINT THAT SOME OF YOUR LISTENERS WERE TALKING ABOUT APPLYING TO JOBS AND NOT BEING BECAUSE AS CARL SAID, USING OLD METRICS AND OLD QUALIFICATION.

GOT TO CHANGE THAT DYNAMIC.

>>Yunji: 25,000 PEOPLE LEAVING.

AFFORDABILITY IS A KEY PIECE OF THAT.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORKFORCE HOUSING CHALLENGES.

>> HOUSING DAY CARE, COMMUNITY HAS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR WORKERS SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE AND WORK.

AND WE'RE NOT GOOD AT THAT.

WE'VE BEEN ARGUING ABOUT EVERY NEW CONDO PERMITTED IN TOWN.

DOZEN OF THEM.

THEY'RE ALL EMPTY OR BOUGHT OUT BY PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE HERE AND DON'T LIVE IN THAT BUILDING.

YET, AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT'S BEEN ATTACHED TO THAT, HAS BEEN VERY SMALL.

PRETTY CYNICAL.

I THINK ONE CASE, ARGUED IT'S NOT ENOUGH UNITS.

>> OKAY, WE'LL MAKE MORE UNITS.

>> MADE THEM ALL SMALLER.

SO THERE HAS TO BE SOME COMMUNITY INTERVENTION, MARKET IS NOT DOING IT BY ITSELF.

HAVE TO DESIGN SUPPORT FOR WORKERS IF WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO WORK.

AND I THINK HOUSING ABSOLUTELY, WE BROUGHT IN MORTGAGE PROGRAM.

AND IT'S EXCELLENT MORTGAGE PROGRAM.

BEST IN THE NATION.

FACT IS YOU CAN QUALIFY FOR HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO BUY A HOME AND THERE'S NO HOME TO BUY FOR HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.

THE INVENTORY ISN'T THERE.

EVEN POSSIBLE TO FIND A FINANCING BUT THERE'S NOTHING TO BUY.

SO WE HAVE TO A MUCH MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THIS.

THAT INCLUDES TRAINING.

I AGREE ABOUT GETTING INTO SCHOOLS.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING OUR HOTELS HAVE DONE WELL, BUT NEED TO, TRUTH IS, WE'VE GOT JOBS THAT YOU CAN COME OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND YOU CAN MAKE $50,000 DAY YEAR IN THE HOTEL.

ANOTHER $20,000 WORK OF BENEFITS.

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT.

STUDENTS AREN'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN SCHOOLS.

DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT.

THERE'S A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF MAKING JOBS MORE ATTRACTIVE.

ALSO MAKING IT CLEAR WHAT ATTRACTIONS THERE ARE.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF AGING WORKFORCE AS WELL.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE PANDEMIC, ACTUALLY DROPPED A COUPLE YEARS.

>> BECAUSE OF THAT.

SAW OLDER PEOPLE KIND OF JUST THROW IN THE TOWEL.

OKAY, LET SOMEBODY ELSE HAVE THE JOB.

I'M GOING TO MOVE ON.

BUT WE GOT TO ADDRESS THAT TOO.

FOR SOMEBODY YOUNG, WORK ON A PENSION NOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WHEN YOU RETIRE.

AND YET, VERY FEW EMPLOYERS OFFER PENSIONS.

AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, MY 401K TOOK A DIVE PAST YEAR.

TOOK A DIVE.

>>Yunji: BRING IN NOAA.

BACK TO THAT AFFORDABILITY PIECE, MAYOR ALSO SAYS THAT HE IS VERY MUCH ADVOCATE OF CREATING NEW HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT BUILDING DECADE TO BUILD.

IN THE MEANTIME, ARE THERE CREATIVE THINGS THAT'S CITY IS LOOKING AT?

COULD THERE BE VOUCHERS FOR OTHER PROGRAMS INCENTIVES?

HEARD ABOUT IT BEFORE, PERHAPS BRING MORE POLICE OFFICERS OFFERING THEM RENTAL SUBSIDY.

>> LOOK AT WAYS TO ENHANCE EMPLOYMENT OFFERS IN THE CITY TOO.

WITH COMBINED WITH THE MAYOR'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PUSH, REALLY VERY AGGRESSIVE THAT'S WHY THEY RECENTLY PURCHASED THE WAIKIKI VISTA.

BECAUSE IT'S VOLUME PURCHASE.

THE APPROACH IS TO TRY TO GET AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

MORE UNITS ONLINE.

AND TO KEEP AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT ISN'T PLACED IN THAT CATEGORY WITHOUT FALLING OFF LINE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

SO THAT IS DEFINITELY A GOAL.

AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR EMPLOYMENT, WE HAVE LOOKED AT USING THESE ACQUISITIONS TO ENHANCE OWN WORKERS.

SOME OF OUR WORKERS, MANY OF THEM AS ERIC MENTIONED, DON'T MAKE THE KIND OF WAGES EVEN FOR TWO EARNERS TO BUY 7 FIGURE HOME.

AND EVEN PUT THE DOWN PAYMENT DOWN.

WE'RE LOOKING AT IT.

WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY PULLED TRIGGER ON ANYTHING.

BEEN UNDER DISCUSSION AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE RECRUITS WE HAVE IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY AREA, REALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND REALLY BIG NEED.

>> GIVEN AN EXAMPLE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER AND CULINARY DIVISION, WE HAVE SOUS CHEF.

AND HE IS AMAZING.

HE'S GRADUATING FROM BYU HAWAII ANY BELIEVE APRIL.

AND HE WANTS TO STAY.

MARRIED.

GOT A YOUNG BABY.

ANOTHER ONE ON THE WAY.

HE WANTS TO STAY HERE.

BUT HE COULD NOT STAY BECAUSE OF HOUSING.

JUST NONE TO HAVE.

SO WE CANNOT LOSE HIM BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY SWIMMING CULINARY SKILLED POSITION.

SO WE PUT THE FULL FORCE OF OUR CORPORATE HR BEHIND IT.

WERE ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING.

REALLY A BLESSING.

BECAUSE HE WANTS TO BE HERE.

HE WANTS TO MAKE A CAREER HERE ON THE ISLAND.

HIS WIFE IS FROM TONGA.

HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE MAINLAND BECAUSE OF THIS VERY ISSUE.

JUST SUCH A REAL PROBLEM.

PEOPLE ON THE MAINLAND, THEY DON'T DEAL WITH THIS.

RIGHT?

THERE'S NOBODY PUTS THEIR FULL HR CORPORATE RESOURCES TO HELP FIND ONE SOUS CHEF A PLACE TO LIVE THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THEM.

BUT THAT IS WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH TO JUST KEEP ONE SOUS CHEF.

HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.

>>Yunji: YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT.

WHAT I WOULD IMAGINE THAT, RYAN, NOT ALL OF OUR MEMBERS CAN DO THAT FOR THE CHEFS IN THEIR KITCHEN AS WELL.

THAT'S TREMENDOUS RESOURCE.

TREMENDOUS GIFT TO HELP SOMEONE IN THAT STRUGGLE.

WHAT KIND OF DIFFERENCE DO YOU THINK AFFORDABILITY PIECE IS MAKING TO THE WORKFORCE WHEN IT COMES TO RESTAURANTS?

>> SO MAYOR BLANGIARDI HAS BEEN WORKING FIRST BILL WITH WAS BILL 1.

SMALLER DEVELOPERS TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I HAVE SIX COMPANIES, 190 EMPLOYEES.

AND 90 UNITS THAT ARE IN DESIGN PHASE.

ALLOW US TO DO, PROVIDE SOME OF THESE WORKERS AFFORDABILITY.

IN TERMS OF RENTAL.

THERE'S ACTUALLY 25 OF THESE BUILDINGS THAT ARE BEING BUILT UNDER THIS PROGRAM.

I THINK CITY IS TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE OTHER DEVELOPERS TO ALSO GET INVOLVED CREATING SHORTAGE IN SOLUTIONS,EL WON'T TAKE TEN YEARS.

>>Yunji: I WOULD IMAGINE SIMILAR STORY FOR YOUR STAFF AS WELL?

>> JUST AFFORDABILITY PIECE.

FACT THAT YOU CAN BUY A HOUSEWORKING IN RETAIL THAT CAN BE TOUGH IF YOU'RE TALLKING ABOUT THESE ENTRY LEVEL WORKERS, THAT ARE COMING IN.

HOW DO THEY MAKE RENT?

MAYBE THEY GO 9TH ISLAND BECAUSE IT'S JUST TOO TOUGH.

>> I HAVE WIDE RANGE OF EMPLOYEES AND I DO HAVE KIDS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND IN COLLEGE.

AS WELL.

I LIKE TO THINK THAT I'M FOUNDATION FOR A LOT OF THEM TO START THERE.

AND THEN MOVE ON TO POSSIBLY THEIR CAREER.

THERE IS A LOT OF GROWTH WITHIN AS WELL.

DO PERHAPS NOT ONLY WORK T&C.

SO HAVE ANOTHER JOB.

SOME OF THEM DO LIVE AT HOME.

BENEFIT FOR THEM.

YES, THOSE THAT ARE LOOKING TO SAVE MONEY, THEY MAY HAVE TO MAINTAIN ANOTHER JOB AGAIN, WE DO OFFER DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING AS WELL.

SO THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD AND POSSIBLY MAKE THAT AFFORDABLE FOR THEM.

>> JUST DON'T THINK THAT FUTURE, MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSING, IT CAN BE ACCEPTED SAME WAY IT IS TODAY.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LIVE THREE AND FOUR GENERATIONS IN A HOME.

THAT IS WHY WE'VE SEEN, AT LEAST FROM MY EXPERIENCE, SEEN PEOPLE LEAVE AND GO TO THE MAINLAND.

WANT THEIR OWN HOME.

HAVE A BACKYARD.

HAVE THOSE THINGS.

WE JUST CANNOT CONTINUE TO MAKE IT OKAY THAT YOU'RE JUST GOING TO GROW UP AND LIVE MULTIGENERATIONAL AND NEVER HAVE YOUR OWN HOUSE.

THAT TAKES HOPE AWAY.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN THAT.

>>Yunji: WE HAVE A QUESTION FOR CELINE.

DIRECT FOR YOU FROM FACEBOOK.

YOUNGER MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU HOPE TO PURSUE AND WHAT CAN EMPLOYERS MAKE IT WORTH YOUR TIME AND GAIN INTEREST FOR PEOPLE OF YOURSELF?

SPEAK FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR PEERS TONIGHT.

>> OKAY.

I THINK OKAY, SO SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, I WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE SOMETHING, MAYBE BETTER CONTEXT.

WENT TO COLLEGE.

PURSUED DEGREE BUSINESS ADMIN.

GOT FUNDED SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH HTA.

AND THAT SCHOLARSHIP REQUIRED ME TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE.

AND THROUGH THE REQUIREMENT, I PURSUED KUPU TO COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS AND THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE, IT HAS BROUGHT ME CLOSER TO THE HAWAIIAN CULTURE.

AND ESPECIALLY LIKE OLELO HAWAII.

HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

CHANGED MY LOOK TO MORE SO LIKE PURSUE SOMETHING THAT WOULD IMPACT HAWAII IN A POSITIVE WAY.

AND BE ABLE TO KIND OF BRIDGE THE GAP OR LIKE MAKE A POSITIVE CHANGE BETWEEN TOURISM AS WELL MALAMA AINA, ALOHA AINA.

SPEAKING FOR MY PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF MY GENERATION, I THINK THAT WE'RE PURSUING THINGS THAT INTEREST US.

A LOT OF THE PEOPLE I MAY HAVE SPOKEN WITH, THEY ARE MORE SO THINKING ABOUT LIKE THEIR HOBBIES WHAT THEY WANT TO PURSUE AS WELL AS HOW CAN THEY MAKE IT HAPPEN.

AND SOME PEOPLE EVEN MOVED OUT OF STATE TO PURSUE THOSE THINGS AS WELL.

YEAH.

THAT'S ALL THAT COMES BACK TO MIND RIGHT NOW.

>>Yunji: THAT'S WONDERFUL.

THERE'S A COMMENT HERE.

I WANTED YOU TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.

PEOPLE WANT TO WORK BUT EMPLOYERS ARE NOT FLEXIBLE WITH SCHEDULING.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, ACCOMMODATING WORKERS WITH KIDS.

I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE VARIETY OF AGE GROUPS WHERE ARE THE WORKERS?

FOR YOU AND I WOULD IMAGINE MOTHERS ON THE STAFF.

AS A BUSINESS OWNER?

>> VERY FLEXIBLE.

>> A LOT OF CALL‑INS, A LOT OF SWAPS, TOTALLY ACCEPTABLE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CALL‑INS.

NOT ONLY DO WE DO RETAILS, HAVE OTHERS, YOU CAN MODEL, YOU CAN HELP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU CAN, THERE'S MANY MORE FACETS THAT YOU DON'T ONLY HAVE TO DO RETAIL ON THE FLOOR.

SOME DAYS, WE MIGHT COME IN AND THEY ONLY WANT TO HELP IN THE BACK ROOM.

OR YOU KNOW, BE WEBSITE.

THEY WANT TO PULL ORDERS FOR WEBSITE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT YOU CAN BE FLEXIBLE AND SOME YOU CAN STILL WORK FROM HOME.

OR NOT NECESSARILY BRING YOUR CHILD TO WORK.

BUT YOU'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOUR CHILD AT HOME.

THERE'S A LOT OF YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TRUST THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE WORKING NEXT TO, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO JUST KNOW THAT I NEED TO GET IN THERE AND HELP THE NEXT PERSON.

>>Yunji: I LOVE THAT.

I WANT YOU TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, SOME PEOPLE DEVELOPED INTERNET BASED SIDE HUSTLE.

HOW ANY OF THE PANELISTS FEEL THIS HAS IMPACTED SOME PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT TRADITIONAL 9 TO 5 JOB?

WE FOCUS ON CELINE.

YOUNG PERSON.

YOU'RE A RELATIVELY YOUNG PERSON.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU'RE IN A TRADITIONAL CAREER PATH.

HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THE GIG ECONOMY IMPACTED GOING INTO THE TRADITIONAL LABOR FORCE?

>> RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, I THINK THAT PEOPLE OF HER GENERATION, I'M 25 RIGHT NOW, BUT PEOPLE THAT YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC.

LOOKING AT THE GIG ECONOMY OR HAVING YOUR OWN BOSS.

HAVING FLEXIBLE, CELINE MENTIONED EARLIER.

THINGS PEOPLE YOUNGER GENERATION SEE ON YOUTUBE, TIKTOK.

MEDIA SITES.

MAKES THEM VERY, VERY INCENTIVIZED TO SAY, HOW FUN THIS PERSON IS HAVING.

LOOK AT HOW GREAT OF A LIFE THAT THEY CAN BE LIVING.

KIND OF SHIFTS PERSPECTIVE, NOW I LIKE ME, MYSELF, I THINK I CAN DO THAT.

MAYBE I WANT TO TRY TO WORK IN THE GIG ECONOMY.

IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, TRY OUT THAT KIND OF LIFESTYLE.

FOR ME PERSONALLY, I WISH I COULD.

VERY LUCRATIVE OPTION BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T.

I THINK A LOT OF LOCALS RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF LIKE LOCAL TALENT, THEY KIND OF ALL SEEING THE POSSIBILITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

AND MAYBE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE, MAYBE HAWAII THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE IN HAWAII SPECIFICALLY.

HAVE TO GO AWAY.

BUNCH OF MY COLLEAGUES WENT TO COLLEGE WITH, ALL LOCAL.

>> WENT TO MILILANI WENT TO ROOSEVELT.

HALF OF THEM MOVED TO SEATTLE.

MOVED TO PORTLAND.

A LOT BETTER OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.

COST OF LIVING A LOT LESS.

FOR ME PERSONALLY, I GUESS SEEING IT FROM A ROLE, HOTEL ASSISTANTS MANAGER, WORK 9 TO 5 SHIFT.

SEE ALL OF MY FRIENDS JUST OUT THERE LIVING THE DIFFERENT KIND OF LIFE.

REALLY LIKE PERSPECTIVE.

AND KIND OF BEEN MY EXPERIENCE RIGHT NOW.

>> 29‑YEAR‑OLD IN THE ROOM.

NEXT YOUNG PERSON.

>> GIG ECONOMY ALREADY.

LOOK AT IT.

THEY HAD SHUT DOWN UBER BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT LETTING THEM GUYS TO IMPROVE THEIR CONDITIONS.

UBER, CHANGED YOUR COMPENSATION RIGHT THERE.

AND YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

GIG ECONOMY IS GREAT AS A SIDE JOB.

BUT WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET YOUR MEDICAL?

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE RETIREMENT?

I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING THAT YOUNG PEOPLE, I THINK EVERY GENERATION WANTS TO HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT THE TRUTH IS, PEOPLE ALSO GOT TO MAKE THEIR JOB INTO A BETTER ONE.

THAT'S WHAT I DO.

WHAT HE DO.

TRY TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE THE JOB THEY GOT INTO A BETTER ONE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES.

GIG ECONOMY, YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THAT.

SO I THINK WE GOT TO, IT'S A NEW THING.

POPULAR.

PEOPLE TRY TO MAKE A LIVING.

ON UBER.

JUST GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH, TOUGH TIME.

>> I THINK ALL BASED ON VALUE.

THINK ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP, YOU HAVE TO HAVE RISK TOLERANCE.

KIND OF PERSON GOING TO PURSUE CREATING THEIR OWN BUSINESS OR HAVING GIG ECONOMY.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE VALUES.

WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK.

29‑YEAR‑OLD IN THE ROOM.

45‑YEAR‑OLD.

ALSO ENTREPRENEURS.

WHAT DO YOU VALUE?

I THINK THAT FLEXIBILITY IS WHAT VALUED BUT ALSO, HAVING THAT LEARNING MENTALITY AND OWNERSHIP MENTALITY OF YOUR LIFE LEARNING FROM EVERY EXPERIENCE AND MAY NOT BE 401K OR THE PENSION IS MOST IMPORTANT.

IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD.

I THINK GEN‑X LAST GENERATION TOWING THE LINE.

JUST GOT IN.

STARTED WORK.

GEN‑X, Z, ALL OF THAT COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MINDSET AND THAT'S WHAT IS GETS EXCITING BUT ALSO SHIFTING GEARS A LOT.

BECAUSE YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE SAME SAFETY NET.

>> YOU DON'T.

MAYBE THAT'S NOT WHAT'S IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.

LEARNING AND LIVING.

SHIFT GEARS IN A FEW YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> GET TO THE 29‑YEAR‑OLD.

>> TALKED ABOUT THE GIG ECONOMY.

MAYBE GOING AWAY.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE IN HEALTH CARE.

WE TODAY HAVE MORE OF THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS FORCE THAT ARE TRAVELING, WHICH IS THE GIG ECONOMY.

WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF TRAVELERS HERE HELPING US MEET OUR EVERY DAY HEALTH CARE NEEDS AN IT'S BECAUSE OFFERS FLEXIBILITY.

OFFERS LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE COMPENSATION SIDE.

IT'S PROVIDING BENEFITS.

>> MORE BENEFITS.

BUT THE CHALLENGE IS HOW IS THAT SUSTAINABLE?

>> RIGHT.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAYING THE BILL.

>> NOW THESE DOLLARS GONE AWAY.

WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO THAT.

HOW DO WE TRAIN UP WORKFORCE?

SAME GIG ECONOMY HAS TO GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

OR WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT A DIFFERENT WAY.

>> RISKS GIG, SOMEBODY WITH A FULL‑TIME JOB AND WITH A GIG, I THINK I MEAN, FOR ME, GIG IS REALLY JUST A MENTAL HEALTH THING.

SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE A JOB AND A SIDE HUSTLE.

>> YEAH.

PHOTOGRAPHY.

IN NEW YORK, I DID THE STRUCTURAL, 9 TO 5 COME INTO THE OFFICE.

TOOK THE TRAIN.

9 TO 5, LITERALLY RUN TO MY SECOND JOB.

IN THE THEATER.

LIKE 6 STREETS DOWN.

THEN IN BETWEEN THOSE TIMES I WOULD TAKE PICTURES.

BECAUSE ACTORS EVERYBODY NEEDS PICTURES FOR SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND THEN SO THANKFULLY, BUT THEN, OBVIOUSLY LIKE EVERYBODY POINTS.

GIG IS NOT GOING TO SUSTAIN YOU.

YOU DON'T GET MEDICAL.

YOU DON'T GET, AS MUCH I WOULD LOVE TO BE A FULL‑TIME PHOTOGRAPHER.

REALLY HARD.

>> NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

BUT DIFFICULT, AND I VALUE NOT HAVING DO ACCOUNTING AND TAXES.

LIKE ON MY OWN.

NICE SIDE GIG FOR ME AND I THINKS JUST PART OF LIKE MENTAL HEALTH AND I LIKE TAKING LIKE YOU SAID, LEARNING ABOUT YOURSELF.

SO MANY PHOTOGRAPHERS HERE.

HARD TO COMPETE.

PIVOT AND BE CREATIVE WITH HOW I AM WITH MY GIG.

JUST TRIED TO TAKE PICTURES OF OHANA, BECAUSE WHEN MY OMA PASSED AWAY, WE DIDN'T HAVE PICTURES OF HER WITH OUR OHANA.

TRIED TO CHANGE, I THINK EVERYBODY HERE SAYS, HAVE TO PIVOT.

BE A LITTLE BIT CREATIVE WITH YOURSELF AND BUT THAT'S JUST KIND OF MY COMMENT ON GIG ECONOMY.

MY COUSIN IS A DOCTOR, FULL DOCTOR.

SHE HAS A SIDE GIG WHERE SHE JUST DOODLES.

HELPS HER MENTALLY.

DOCTOR‑RELATED DOODLES, SELLS ON ETSY.

STAY IN THE DOCTOR, HEALTH HEALTH CARE FIELD.

>>Yunji: BRING IN CARL HERE.

THERE IS THIS QUESTION.

PREPARING FOR THIS SHOW, THIS WAS THE ONE THAT GOT ME.

VIEWER EMAILED.

I WOULD LOVE YOUR INPUT ON THIS.

HOW ARE THE WORKERS WHO WORKING FOR YOU DURING THE PANDEMIC AND NOT RETURNING TO WORK MEETING NEEDS, RENTS, FOODING, CLOTHES, ET CETERA.

PANDEMIC CHECKS AREN'T COMING ANY MORE.

HOW ARE PEOPLE PAYING RENT?

>> LET'S BACK UP A SECOND.

THERE IS A PERCEPTION THAT THERE ARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO AREN'T WORKING.

HIGHLY UNLIKELY.

THAT'S TRUE.

IT WAS TRUE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THERE WAS TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT, FEDERAL SUPPORT THAT HELPED PEOPLE TO GET THROUGH THIS.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE PRIMARY, NOT THE PRIMARY, BUT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, GIG ECONOMY, IS FILLING UP ALL THE SECOND JOBS PEOPLE USED TO HAVE.

ONE OF WAYS AVOIDING SECOND JOB.

BUSINESSES THAT USED TO EMPLOY THOSE PEOPLE, ARE NOT ANY MORE.

DRIVING FOR UBER OR DOODLING OR STARTED THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS RECORD HIGH LEVELS OF BUSINESS STARTS.

NATIONALLY, AND IN HAWAII.

SO THE FASTEST BUSINESS FORMATION AND THESE WERE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR JOBS IN RESTAURANT.

OR IN HOTELS AND CREATED A NEW BUSINESS.

SO NOW, THEY'RE MAYBE THEY'RE COOKING AT HOME AND SELLING IT ONLINE.

OR WHATEVER IT IS.

SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT THEY'RE JUST WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE OUT THERE LIVING SOMEHOW WITH NO INCOME AND NO JOB.

THEY'RE DOING IT OTHER WAYS.

THEY ARE EARNING INCOME IN OTHER WAYS.

>>Yunji: I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

HERE FROM BOB.

SAYS, WITH THE TRAINING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL HELP KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE FROM LEAVING THE STATE, WHY NOT TRAIN IN MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES.

YOU TALKED ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS.

HPD WAS AT MY SON'S PRESCHOOL LAST WEEK.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

ALL WE TALKED ABOUT.

FOR DAYS AND DAYS.

TALKING TO BOB ON MAUI, WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DOES THAT HAVE ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ONCE THEY GRADUATE LEAVING THE STATE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M GOING GO BACK TO THE GIG ECONOMY.

TIES IN.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING, LAUNCHED TECHNOLOGY TO CONNECT EDUCATORS AND BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE.

OVER 600 BUSINESSES AND OVER 200 SCHOOLS AND 4500 EDUCATORS.

SEEN BUSINESSES ADAPTING CREATING JOB AS GIG.

A LOT OF EVENTS CAN SERVE AS GIG JOBS.

SUPPORTED TEACHERS.

SO WE SEE A LOT OF THOSE TEACHERS TAKING THOSE GIG JOBS ON THE SIDE AND GIVING THEM SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED AND GET A LOT OF INSTAGRAM POSTS AND FACEBOOK POSTS AND GOT A NEW PAIR OF SHOES OR BAG.

ABLE TO JUST SHOW UP ON A SATURDAY, WORK THIS EVENT.

MAKE $27 AN HOUR TO GO BACK TO THEIR JOBS.

BENEFIT TO THESE GIG JOBS POPPING UP.

IN REGARDS TO EXPOSING YOUTH TO CAREER PATH AND OPPORTUNITIES, WHAT THE PORTAL DOES.

EXPOSE THEM TO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE IN HAWAII.

MAKE SURE THEY SEE THOSE STEPS THAT ARE THERE.

SO WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING IN THE PORTAL FROM OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY AND HEALTH CARE AND HOSPITALITY, ENGINEERING, WE HAVE A LOT OF WOMEN FOCUSED SPEAKERS AND GROUPS WOMEN AND LODGING WANTING TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE OUR KEIKI KNOW WOMEN CAN DO ANYTHING.

WE WANT YOU FILLING ENGINEERING POSITION TRANSPORTATION.

LAUNCHED THIS JANUARY OF 2021.

ALREADY SEEN OVER 70,000 STUDENTS ENGAGED BY EVENTS THROUGH THE PORTAL.

THOUSANDS OF QUESTIONS COMING THROUGH TEACHERS LINKING THEM UP, SEEN REQUESTS ACROSS A WHOLE VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES.

IT'S HAPPENING.

THIS IS OUR YOUTH.

GRADUATING MOVING THROUGH, NOT INSTANTANEOUS.

WORKING HARD TO MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE AND GET IN FRONT OF THE STUDENT.

>> BRING IN THE QUESTION.

DIRECT THIS TO YOU.

ROBIN.

THERE ARE WORKERS OUT THERE EMPLOYERS WHO ONLY WANT TO HIRE THE BEST JOB RESERVE ONLY FOR MAINLANDERS.

>> WOULD ARGUE HAWAIIAN AIRLINES IS KIND OF OPPOSITE.

YOU CAN'T REALLY TEACH ALOHA, RIGHT?

WHEN YOU BORED A HAWAIIAN AIRLINES FLIGHT, THE WHOLE BRANDING IS ALL CENTERED AROUND BEING KAMA'AINA.

>> TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU RECRUIT LOCALLY AND WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.

COUNTER WHAT THIS VIEWER IS SAYING EMPLOYERER RESERVE BEST JOBS FOR MAINLANDERS.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S TRUE AND HOW DO YOU COUNTER BALANCE THAT?

>> YOU ACTUALLY WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT.

I'M SURE THIS IS TRUE FOR ANY EMPLOYER IN HAWAII.

LIVING HAWAII, VERY, VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THAN LIVING ON THE MAINLAND.

WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE WHO MOVE TO THE MAINLAND STRUGGLE TO MAKE IT, TO MAKE IT HAWAII.

FINDING FRIENDS, FINDING LOVE PARTNER, REALLY FINDING THAT THEY BELONG IN THIS CULTURE.

SO IF ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, WE WOULD ACTUALLY GIVE PREFERENCE TO SOMEBODY WITH TIES TO HAWAII, EITHER HAVE LIVED HERE, MAYBE MOVED AWAY OR HAVE REMAINED HERE.

THAT IS OUR PREFERENCE.

THEY UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF TIES TO COMMUNITY.

VERY IMPORTANT, CULTURE WITHIN HAWAIIAN AIRLINES IS SO INEXTRICABLY INTERTWINED.

HIRE LOCAL.

PERCEPTION COMES BACK IN PLAY, SPECIALIZED AREA LIKE HEALTH CARE, LIKE AIRLINES, CERTAIN POSITIONS THAT ARE SO HIGHLY TECHNICAL.

YOU NEED A LOT OF YEARS OF TRAINING, OR YOU NEED A LOT OF DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE, VERY TECHNICAL SPECIFIC AREA.

FOR INSTANCE, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING FOR EXECUTIVE FOR AIRPORT OPERATIONS JOB.

AND THAT IS THE LEADER, VERY LARGE SEGMENT OF OUR BUSINESS.

AND WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE LEADING LARGE GROUPS, UNDERSTANDING HOW AIRLINES WORK, UNDERSTANDING BEST PRACTICES IN THE INDUSTRY AND AIRLINE INDUSTRY IS VERY SMALL.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY AIRLINES HERE IN HAWAII AS HUB THAT'S BIG ENOUGH TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF EXPERIENCE.

THERE ARE FEW SELECT JOBS THAT ARE VERY SPECIAL.

I'M SURE IT'S TRUE OF SPECIALIST AND DOCTORS.

HAVE TO LOOK FOR THAT EXPERIENCE.

HIGH LEVEL JOB HAS TO BRING HIGH LEVEL OF EXPERTISE.

I WOULD SAY VAST MAJORITY OF JOBS MUCH PREFER TO HAVE SOMEONE WITH TIES TO HAWAII.

>>Yunji: I SEE YOU NODDING THERE.

I KNOW THAT HAS TO BE TRUE FOR YOUR BRAND.

>> BACK TO THE GIG.

YOU JUST DESCRIBED AN ENTREPRENEUR.

THAT'S THE PERSON WHO INCLUDE THEIR GIG.

THAT'S WHAT I DID.

GREW MY GARDEN.

LOVE TO SEW, I LOVE TO PRINT.

LOVE COLOR.

THEN I'M GOING TO GROW IT INTO A CLOTHING BRAND.

>> ULUPONO.

>> HAWAIIAN AIRLINES.

I MEAN, YOU'VE GIVEN LOTS OF SMALL BUSINESSES THE OPPORTUNITY.

GOT TO WORK WITH YOU AND COLLABORATION.

YES.

THAT'S HOW I MEAN, SMALL BUSINESSES REALLY BACKBONE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE HELD EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND WE MADE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE STILL, WERE ABLE TO HOLD ON TO WHAT THEY HAVE.

AND START NEW COMPANIES AND START NEW PROJECTS AND BE CREATIVE.

AND CONTINUE THE GIG.

>> POINT EARLIER, FACT THAT AS OWNERS OF THE BUSINESS, BUSINESSES HEADQUARTERED HERE.

HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES THAT GROWTH PATH.

BUT ALSO, THE ONE DAY YOU WANT TO DO FULFILLMENT VERSUS BE ON THE FLOOR.

>> CAN YOU DO THAT AS THE OWNER.

>> LOTS OF GIRLS THAT WORK WITH US, ONE OF THEM BECAME ESTHETICIAN.

STILL WORKS WITH US.

WE GO TO HER.

OTHER ONE DOES THE JEWELRY.

THERE'S LOTS OF COMPANIES WITHIN OUR COMPANY THAT HAVE BEEN BORN.

>> LET'S HEAR FROM YOU.

ON THIS WHOLE IDEA OF THE GIG ECONOMY AND WHAT JERRY WAS TALKING ABOUT, ALLURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE YOUNG PEOPLE SORT OF PURSUING AS THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER PATH FOR THEM.

>> GREAT CONVERSATION.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S BEEN SO INTERESTING.

I JUST WANTED TO LISTEN.

REALLY GOOD TO PARTICIPATE IN IT.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE FIRST GO BACK TO ONE OF THE HARDER CONVERSATIONS FOR US TO HAVE.

WHICH IS WHAT DO WE DO IN ORDER TO CHANGE THIS ISSUE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

WHERE CAN SOME OF THOSE BEST JOBS WERE GREAT PAYING JOBS, ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE HARD TO FILL, WITH OUR KAMA'AINA?

BECAUSE I THINK THAT WORK IS GOING TO, SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T SOLVE OVERNIGHT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH UPSTREAM APPROACH.

AND I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR STARTERS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR YOUTH KNOW WHAT THOSE JOBS ARE, HOW THOSE POSITIONS CONNECT, WITH WHAT THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT ALREADY, WHAT THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WE NEED TO DOEL CONSISTENT GOOD WORK WITHIN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM TO KEEP THEM CONNECTED TO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

SPEAKING FROM THE CONSERVATION SECTOR, WHEN I GO INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM, AND I ASK WHO WANTS CARE FOR THE ISLAND A WHO WANTS TO GET DIRTY FOR WORK, WHO WANTS TO WORK OUTSIDE, ALL THE HANDS GO UP.

TONS OF PASSION.

NOBODY NEEDS TO CONVINCE THE YOUNG GENERATION TO CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO, MUCH BETTER JOB OF, IS SHOW THEM HOW THEY CAN HAVE A GOOD CAREER IN HAWAII CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT CONSERVATION POSITIONS YOU MAY BE THINKING OF CONSERVATION TECHNICIAN.

JUNIOR FORESTER.

MAY NOT REALIZE THERE ARE GREAT PAYING JOBS LIKE CONSERVATION SCIENTIST.

HAWAII IS ONE OF THE BEST PAYING STATES IN THE U.S. FOR CONSERVATION SCIENTIST.

OTHER WONDERFUL POSITIONS WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD CAREER IN HAWAII, GIVING BACK TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

WITH CHANGES HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD, THAT IS ONLY GOING TO INCREASE.

BECAUSE THAT TYPE OF CONSERVATION AND AGE BASED KNOWLEDGE WILL ONLY BE MORE IMPORTANT TO THE WORK THAT WE DO BOTH WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTORS AND ACROSS ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ECONOMIC SECTORS IN HAWAII.

>>Yunji: THAT IDEA OF HAVING, THANK YOU.

I LOVE GETTING MORE QUESTIONS.

I THINK THERE'S A GOOD QUESTION HERE FROM JOCELYN.

THIS IS FOR YOU TONIGHT.

HOW CAN WE ALSO EMPOWER MIDDLE‑AGED EMPLOYEES?

WE TALKED ABOUT SENIORS.

ALSO TALKED ABOUT YOUTH.

HOW CAN WE ALSO EMPOWER MIDDLE AGE EMPLOYEE TO STAY EMPLOYED?

SEEMS AS IF THE FOCUS IS ON KEIKI RETENTION IN THE WORKFORCE.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> I THINK RETENTION FOR US REALLY IMPORTANT NOW BECAUSE IF WE HIRE A THOUSAND WORKERS THIS YEAR, LOSE 800 OR MORE OF THEM.

WE HAVEN'T GAINED AS MUCH AS IF WE COULD RETAIN REALLY VALUABLE WORKERS LOOK AT ALL KIND OF THINGS.

PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEE, WE HAVE BECOME FLEXIBLE WORK HOURS.

ALWAYS HAD THESE POLICIES ON OUR BOOKS.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN MORE AGGRESSIVE IN BRINGING THEM MAKING THEM AVAILABLE.

>> SO 4‑10 WORK WEEKS.

3/12 WORKDAYS.

FLEXIBLE WORK HOUR.

>> TELE WORKING MORE.

POSSIBLE FOR THOSE KINDS OF CITY WORKERS.

WE LOOK AT WAYS TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE AND MAKE MORE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO OUR STAFF.

AND TO EXISTING EMPLOYEES.

WE'RE LOOKING AT CAREER PATHS.

MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE CAREER PATHS BECAUSE IT THE PATHS WE HAVE HAD FOR EMPLOYERS SOMETIMES ARE OUTDATED.

SO THEN DIFFERENT KINDS OF SKILL SETS THAT WE CAN'T AREN'T BEING PROVIDED BY THE TRAINING THAT IS AVAILABLE AT COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE APPRENTICESHIPS FOR THINGS LIKE PIPEFITTERS AND BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY.

ASKING OUR DEPARTMENTS TO LOOK CAREFULLY AT REDUCING ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR SOME OF JOBS.

HARD TO FIND LICENSED ENGINEERS TO BRING ON THAT.

SO IT DOES REQUIRE TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT EXISTING EMPLOYEES TO DOWNGRADE POSITION.

WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR FIND PEOPLE TO JOIN OUR WORKFORCE THAT WAY.

>>Yunji: I WANT TO GO TO YOU.

INTERESTING.

WE HEAR A LOT OF EMPLOYERS AND PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT WHO HAVE THAT WILLINGNESS TO BE FLEXIBLE AND WHO ARE WILLING TO ADAPT TO THE NEEDS OF WORKERS.

YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT NEGOTIATING TABLE TRYING TO GET MORE BENEFIT.

>> ARE YOU SEEING MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS?

>> WELL, NOT DIRECTLY IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY.

EXAMPLE, WE REPRESENT KAISER, WORKERS AS WELL.

AND WE HAD A BUNCH OF HOUSEKEEPERS THAT WERE UNEMPLOYED.

AND WE FOUND SOME MONEY.

TRAINED THEM TO BE MEDICAL ASSISTANTS BECAUSE KAISER WAS GOING TO HIRE THEM.

MOST OF THEM CHOSE TO GET THAT LICENSURE AND OPEN UP OWN NURSING HOME.

A LOT OF TIMES WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO WAS CREATE REALITY.

THEY GOT ELDERLY PARENTS.

>> YOUNG KIDS.

GO TO WORK, WHO IS GOING TO WATCH THEM?

I THINK SOME OF THE OLDER PEOPLE THAT RETIRED RETIRED FOR THAT REASON.

I'VE SEEN A BUNCH OF OUR OLDER WORKS HAVE TO RETIRE BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS ARE OLD AND THERE'S NO WAY OR NO ACCESS TO OTHER CARE FOR THEM.

LONG WAITING LIST TO GET INTO A PLACE.

IT'S I WAS REALLY STRUCK DURING THE PANDEMIC.

EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

YET YOU LOOK AT THOSE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, THESE ARE THE MOST UNDER PAID JOBS THERE ARE.

AND YET WE ALL DEPEND ON THEM.

TEACHERS HAVE A HARD TIME MAKE A LIVING.

REPRESENT NURSING HOME.

THESE WORKERS ARE CAPPED MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATES CAPS HOW MUCH MONEY THEY CAN MAKE.

SOME OF THE STUFF HAS TO BE DRESSED WITH SOCIAL POLICY.

WE HAVE TO INVEST IN DAY CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND PARENTS.

WE HAVE TO DO THAT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN WORK.

I MEAN, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

>> I'M LEARNING A LOT TOO.

WE SEE IT.

WE DO A LOT OF TRAINING.

WE HAVE, HOW DO YOU TRAIN UP IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRAIN UP SOMEBODY TO BE ELECTRICIAN?

THEY NEED ON‑THE‑JOB TRAINING, YOU NEED TRAINING HOURS SIGNED OFF BY A JOURNEYMAN.

WHO IS GOING TO PROVIDE THAT?

WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THAT?

HOTELS NOT ANXIOUS TO GO DOUBLE THEIR STAFF.

SO THEY CAN TRAIN SOMEBODY.

WHO GOING TO PAY FOR CHILD CARE, DAY CARE, TRAINING?

ALL THOSE THINGS NEED TO PROVIDED BY SOCIETY IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE EMPLOYERS WHO WANT TO HIRE PEOPLE.

AND SO IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO JUST LOOK AT MICRO.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE MACRO.

>> ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

TRUE.

OUR INDUSTRY, MY WORKFORCE IS 75 PLUS PERCENT OF IMMIGRANTS.

NOBODY IN HAWAII MADE IMMIGRATION RULES.

THAT PIPELINE IS CUT.

WE SEE IMPOSSIBLE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY IN WORK FOR US REPLENISHED BY THE IMMIGRATION PIPELINE.

>> THAT'S BEEN CUT.

LABOR SHORTAGE AND SO THESE BIG POLICY ISSUES DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR EVERYONE ON BOTH SIDES OF TABLE.

PEOPLE WILL WORK.

I THINK IF THEY HAVE, IF IT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM ECONOMICALLY.

BUT IF THEY GET TO PAY SOMEBODY ELSE TO WATCH THEIR DAD AND THEIR KIDS, IT'S LIKE, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK.

THOSE JOBS NEED TO BE UPGRADED.

PRESCHOOL TEACHERS, ARE LIVING IN POVERTY.

HOW CAN WE INFLICT THAT ON THE WORKFORCE AND YET INSPECT PEOPLE TO GO WORK?

HE'S TALKING ABOUT FUNDAMENTAL SHIFTS SORT OF HOW WE OPERATE AS A SOCIETY.

SOME OF THAT IS IN PLAY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE INVESTMENT PRESCHOOL EDUCATION.

BEING WORKED ON.

THOSE CLASSROOMS ARE NOT GOING TO OPEN FOR SOME TIME.

IN THE MEANTIME, YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS CAR ACCIDENT.

WE ALL WENT THROUGH.

HOW DO WE UNTANGLE HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THE ROAD TO CLEAR?

>> SO THE ROAD IS ACTUALLY WAY MORE CLEAR THAN WE REALIZE.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN HAWAII.

OVER THE LAST SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS.

THE LABOR MARKET HAS HEALED SIGNIFICANTLY.

BUT ALL THE ISSUES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, MANY OF THEM ARE VERY LONGSTANDING.

HEALTH CARE, CHILD CARE, ADULT DEPENDENT CARE, COST OF RENTS, COST OF NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE BRAND NEW.

WEREN'T CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC.

IT JUST BROUGHT THEM TO LIGHT.

AND SO THERE IS I THINK, SOME REASON FOR OPTIMISM THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

AND THAT IS PARTLY BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE PROPOSALS THAT WE'RE SEEING AT THE LEGISLATURE, GOVERNOR'S GAP PLAN THAT WORK ON THIS PRETTY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN OPTIMIZE THIS WITH THINGS SUCH AS PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH ASSISTANCE ON RENT.

>> PROVIDING THEM WITH ASSISTANCE ON CHILD CARE AND ON DEPENDENT CARE.

SO IF YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF YOUR PARENTS, CAN GET SOME TAX RELIEF THERE.

NOT SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONEY.

CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE ON HOUSING.

>> I THINK THE BIG TAKEAWAY ON HOUSING IS THAT IS ISSUES WITH HIGH COST OF HOUSING HAVE BEEN IN HAWAII SINCE BEFORE ANY OF US WERE BORN.

AND IF WE KEEP DOING THINGS THE SAME WAY WE'VE BEEN DOING THEM, WE'RE GOING TO GET THE SAME RESULT.

AND SO THE PROBLEMS ARE SO WIDESPREAD, YOU SAID EARLIER, YOU SAID TAKES TEN YEARS TO BUILD A BUILDING.

TAKES ABOUT A YEAR TO BUILD A BUILDING BUT TEN YEARS TO GET IT PERMITTED.

WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE ALL OF THAT.

AND HAVE TO CHANGE THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT BUILDING MULTIFAMILY HOUSING ANYWHERE IN THE STATE BECAUSE IT'S NOT PERMITTED.

>> NOT ALLOWED.

MOST PARTS OF OUR ISLAND.

WE'RE NOT A ALLOWED TO BUILD HIGHRISES.

>>Yunji: TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE STRUGGLES.

TELL US WHY HAWAII IS A GOOD PLACE TO GROW UP.

DON'T WANT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM.

CALL IT HOME.

ALL INVESTED.

HOPEFULLY ALL LIFERS HERE.

IF YOU WILL.

YOU TALK TO ENTREPRENEURS, MIGHT SAY THIS WOULD BE A LOT EASIER IF THE LABOR WAS CHEAPER IF I COULD OUTSOURCE THIS OR THAT.

WHY IS HAWAII A GOOD PLACE TO BE IN BUSINESS?

>> MENTIONED EARLIER, SEEING A LOT OF COMPANIES ARE GROWING.

MASSIVE TAIL WIND HAPPENING WITH TRENDS.

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR HIGH QUALITY GOODS WITH CAN ACTUALLY FLIP OVER THE PACKAGE.

WHAT'S IN IT.

I CAN READ THE INGREDIENTS.

GROWN IN HAWAII.

I TRUST THAT.

ANYTHING GROWN IN HAWAII, IS MAGICAL POWERS.

RIGHT?

JOKING ASIDE, AMAZING PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

SUCH A CLOSE KNIT OHANA AND COMMUNITY REALLY CARES FOR EACH OTHER.

MENTIONING EARLIER, HAVING MORE LOCALLY HEADQUARTERED COMPANY.

SAW DURING PANDEMIC, EUROPES BUSINESS OWNERS ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES SHIFTING GEARS PIVOTING PUTTING HAWAII FIRST.

ALWAYS DONE.

ALWAYS BEEN WONDERFUL WAY OF HAVING THAT SUPPORT WHERE YOU MAKE A WRONG MOVE, GOT THAT SUPPORT TO JUMP BACK UP.

OR YOU ALWAYS HAD THAT HOBBY.

TIME TO PURSUE IT.

SEEING MASSIVEAMOUNTS OF ENTREPRENEURS POPPING UP THE START UP FORMATION.

ALSO NEED TO WORK ON MAKING IT EASIER DO BUSINESS HERE.

JOB CREATORS, JOB CREATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE THE TWO ASPECTS OF WORK FORCE THAT ARE KEY TO HAVING A HEALTHY WORKFORCE.

WE ARE SEEING GREAT START UP FORMATION.

SEEING GREAT COMMUNITY.

THAT SUPPORTING.

WE'RE SEEING HAWAII AS THIS MODEL FOR THE FUTURE.

I THINK WAS SOMETHING MAYBE NOT TEN OR 15 YEARS AGO.

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO US FROM SUSTAINABILITY STANDPOINT.

ASPIRATIONAL BRAND.

ASPIRATIONAL PLACE.

ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE ACTUALLY MOVING AT MOMENTUM FOR A LOT OF COMPANIES HERE TO HAVE THAT LEG UP TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE NOW OR MAYBE THAT IS DIFFERENT.

ALSO, TECHNOLOGY.

>> ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY.

MAY BE ISOLATED CHAIN MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC, HAVE CHALLENGES BUT ALSO, A LOT THEM ARE SHIFTING AND REMOTE WORK BEING ABLE TO ACCESS PEOPLE THAT MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT SPECIFIC SKILL SET THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HERE.

BUT ALSO, LOOK AT LOGISTICS AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT WITH SHIPPING THAT IS ABLE TO KIND OF LEVEL THAT PLAYING FIELD.

IT IS VERY EXCITING.

AND WE'RE SEEING THAT.

>>Yunji: YOU SPOKE ABOUT FRIENDS WHO MOVED TO SEATTLE.

FRIENDS HAVE GONE TO OTHER PLACES.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE AS A WORKER IT STAY HERE AND YOU'RE DOING THE 9 TO 5, WORKING YOUR WAY UP THE LADDER.

WHY IS HAWAII A GOOD PLACE AS A WORKER DO YOU THINK?

>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.

THIS IS MY HOME.

FAMILY IS ALL OVER HERE.

VERY FAMILIAR FOR ME.

AND TO BE HONEST, I THINK AT LEAST WORKING IN HOTELS, WORKING IN HOSPITALITY, TOURISM IN GENERAL IS I WENT TO SCHOOL STUDIED TRAVEL INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT.

VERY LUCRATIVE INDUSTRY TO KIND OF BE A PART OF IT.

SEE MYSELF GROWING IN IT.

>> BUT I THINK BIG REASON THAT I PERSONALLY AM IN HAWAII AND I'M, MY GOALS ARE.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> CHANGES THAT EVERYONE IS SAYING LIKE I THOUGHT ONE OF THE BIG CONSENSUS THAT EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, WAS SHIFT TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY, IMPORTANCE OF BRINGING IN THAT LOCAL CULTURE, AND THAT IS KIND OF WHAT MAKES EMPLOYERS WANT, OR SOMETHING THAT EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO WANT TO LOOK FOR IN EMPLOYER.

MY GOAL IS I THINK HAWAII BEFORE OR THE TOURISM INDUSTRY BEFORE WAS VERY FOCUSED ON, GET AS MUCH TOURISTS HERE AS POSSIBLE.

AND TRY TO MILK THEM FOR AS MANY MONEY AS THEY CAN.

HOPING WE CAN CHANGE PERSPECTIVE TO MAKE HAWAII DESTINATION THAT REALLY FOCUSES ON HAWAIIAN CULTURE AND AUTHENTICITY THAT HAWAII HAS TO OFFER.

ALL THE NATURAL BEAUTY.

I WOULD LOVE TO BE LIKE IN A ROLE.

MOVE UP INTO MY POSITION, CORPORATE LADDER OF HOTELS.

MANAGEMENT.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH THOSE EMPLOYEES AND MAKE HAWAII A BETTER PLACE.

>>Yunji: HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

SHRINKING DOWN, YOU TALKED ABOUT, SORT OF WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.

>> WE SAW THAT AS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT, REDUCE OUR FOOTPRINT, WHICH WAS TOLD ME IN 2019, WE WERE GOING TO REDUCE OUR FOOTPRINT BY 30 TO 40%, STILL HAVE OUR BEST YEAR EVER.

WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU WERE CRAZY.

MAKESHIFT AND PIVOTS INTO THINGS WE NEVER THOUGHT WE WOULD DO.

I'M JUST SO EXCITED.

>> LITERALLY, I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK AND REPORT WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT.

BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY GREAT IDEAS.

SO MANY GREAT THINGS.

SO MUCH HOPE FOR HAWAII AND FOR THE BUSINESSES HERE.

VERY EXCITING.

>> I SEE YOU NODDING THERE.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> FOR MYSELF?

T&C SURF.

LOCALLY OWNED FAMILY BASED.

BEEN AROUND 51 YEARS.

DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

I'M JUST PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE COMPANY.

I'VE BEEN A PART OF THE COMPANY FOR 25 YEARS.

I LOVE EVERY BIT OF IT.

>>Yunji: GO AHEAD.

>> I GUESS I WOULD SAY WHAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

IS TO BUILD WORKFORCE ENERGY AND ECONOMY AROUND LOVE FOR HAWAII.

IF WHAT YOU WERE PASSIONATE ABOUT, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE IS TO LOVE HAWAII, THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO DO THAT THAN HERE IN HAWAII.

AND OF COURSE, WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT IT FROM KUPU PERSPECTIVE, THINKING ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY, CONSERVATION, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, IT'S ALSO ABOUT COMMUNITY.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT PEOPLE.

THAT CONNECTEDNESS.

SO YOU KNOW, THIS CAN SOUND LIKE A TOUCHY FEELY SORT OF THING.

BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ECONOMY THAT REFLECTS OUR VALUES AND WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THIS PLACE.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BUILD OUR ENERGY AROUND WHAT WE CAN DO TO BUILD A WORKFORCE AND ECONOMY THAT LOVES HAWAII ACTIVELY.

>>Yunji: WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE LEFT.

GIVE CELINE LAST WORD TONIGHT.

WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT, IS REALLY SOUNDS LIKE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

THAT CONNECTION TO THE CULTURE, TO THE AINA.

>> DEFINITELY.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN ME.

I WAS NODDING DEFINITELY.

I BELIEVE THAT IF MORE OPPORTUNITIES ARE GEARED TOWARDS ALOHA AINA, LOVING, WHERE WE ARE, THAT WAY, WE DON'T NEED TO GO OUT AWAY FROM HAWAII TO PURSUE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL.

YEAH.

I WISH EVERYONE LUCK.

YOU GUYS CAN DO IT.

>>Yunji: OKAY.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

OUR GOAL IN THESE 90 MINUTES IS NOT TO SOLVE HAWAII’S WORKFORCE CHALLENGES ‑ THAT IS SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE IN THIS FORUM OR TIMEFRAME ‑ BUT WE DO BRING TOGETHER SOME OF THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST IN THE COMMUNITY TO UNPACK AND EXPLORE THIS ISSUE, SO WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND IT, AND MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.

MAHALO TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS FOR SHARING THEIR EXPERTISE ‑ AND TO THOSE OF YOU AT HOME FOR BEING A PART OF TONIGHT’S DISCUSSION.

WE’LL BE BACK NEXT MONTH FOR ANOTHER KAKOU, TO TALK ABOUT HAWAII’S DISAPPEARING BEACHES.

THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING, AND OUR SHORELINES ARE CHANGING ALONG WITH IT.

THERE’S A LOT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT.

WE HOPE YOU JOIN US THEN.

I’M YUNJI DE NIES, UNTIL NEXT TIME…ALOHA.