The Kamaʻaina Come Home program, spearheaded by the Engineering Sector Partnership and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, is tackling Hawaiʻi’s pressing engineering workforce needs by helping engineers return home to the islands.
Launched as a key initiative of the partnership’s talent and recruitment workgroup, the program offers an exclusive LinkedIn group, networking events, informational resources and a 1:1 mentorship program that matches Hawaiʻi-born engineers with local professionals.
“Having been an employer most of my career, I tend to see the kind of potential employee our industry partners are looking for with a slightly different lens than the traditional academic approach might have, and the engineering sector partnership helps serve as that bridge to communicate the skill sets and readiness employers would like to see in our graduates,” University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka said.
Ikaika Kincaid, Pacific District Manager at CONSOR Engineers and Talent Recruitment and Retention workgroup lead, added, “We want to take advantage of our technology and social networks to establish a ‘one-stop shop’ for people at all levels of experience seeking to return to Hawaiʻi. With industry representatives leading the initiative, the program will be tailored to the needs of local firms and help in finding the right people who want to serve Hawaiʻi.”
‘Cradle-to-career’ for aspiring engineers
The Engineering Sector Partnership was born out of a July 2020 summit convened by UH and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. Business leaders and educators collaborated to examine the state’s engineering talent pipeline, ultimately setting a goal of creating a cradle-to-career system for aspiring engineers.
Today, graduates of the UH Mānoa College of Engineering fill 73% of Hawaiʻi’s engineering positions. However, the remaining 27% presents a significant challenge for the state. The Kamaʻaina Come Home program is stepping in to fill that gap by recruiting engineers with ties to Hawaiʻi and providing career support tailored to their needs.
UH is proud to partner with employers and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii to help fill local workforce needs, and address one of the UH System’s four strategic imperatives.
“The Kamaʻaina Come Home program is a shining example of how we can work together to address Hawaiʻi’s workforce challenges by leveraging the unique talents of kamaʻaina who are eager to contribute to their home state,” Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Vice President of Workforce Development Vanessa Rogers said. “This initiative reflects our commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships that strengthen Hawaiʻi’s economy and provide opportunities for our local talent.”
