Page 4 - MidWeek Kauai - June 1, 2022

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4 KAUA‘I MIDWEEK JUNE 1, 2022
T he day after his grad- uation from Kaua‘i High School in 2018, Jaykob Naka‘ahiki-Young woke up early to start his 7 a.m. shift at Marriott’s Kaua‘i
school students to potential careers and provides college students with hands-on ex- perience through internships. This is the 10th year of LEI events.
In April, the Royal Sones- ta hosted more than 110 high school students for Kaua‘i’s first in-person LEI program in two years, which included a video welcome by Naka‘ahi- ki-Young. The fast-paced schedule of activities includ- ed an Amazing Race-style competition, during which students learned about cus- tomer service; the job appli- cation and interview process; food and beverage; the value of the hospitality industry in Hawai‘i; and more. They also attended a luncheon and career fair, where they net- worked with local business professionals.
says Naka‘ahiki-Young.
He had interned with Marri- ott during his junior and senior years in various roles as part of Kaua‘i High School’s Acade- my of Hospitality and Tourism
program.
After pursuing postsecond-
ary studies and professional interests in nursing and foot- ball in Chicago and Hawai‘i, Naka‘ahiki-Young became the recreational supervisor at the Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort in November. He expects to graduate from Kaua‘i Com- munity College in the fall.
LEI events were held state- wide in April, reaching more than 800 students.
“I was inspired by my old- er sister’s experience in the AOHT program under the guidance of business teacher Charlene Navarro, so I thought I would give hospitality a try,”
Students from Kaua‘i High School participated in ClimbHI’s LEI (Leadership, Exploration, Inspiration) program. PHOTO COURTESY HICLIMB
Hawai‘i businesses and organizations are encouraged to participate in future LEI events by emailing info@ climbhi.org.
Inspiring Youth To Soar In The Tourism Industry
Julie Morikawa, president of ClimbHI
Beach Club’s front desk. “Even my parents won- dered where I was going, they couldn’t believe I was work- ing the day after graduation,”
he says. “Ms. Navarro encour- aged me to participate in the ClimbHI LEI (Leadership, Exploration, Inspiration) pro-
gram. That’s where I made my first connection with Marriott. Things took off from there.”
Authority-sponsored work- force development project created by ClimbHI to inspire Hawai‘i’s youth to pursue ca-
reers in the state’s visitor in- dustry by providing them with the means to achieve success. The program exposes high
LEI is a Hawai‘i Tourism
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