At the conclusion of the presentations and the end of the event, DeSilva and Nakamura praised the students for their enthusiastic participation. In a gesture of thanks the four students sang a song in Hawaiian expressing their appreciation for their day in the corporate life — a fitting end that seemed to exemplify what DeSilva said — “Hawaiian values correspond to Fairmont values.”
BY JILL JUSTICE
SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII TODAY
Kalama Freitas recognizes the importance of being friendly and caring when working in the hospitality industry.
“In her job, my aunty got to know a guest so well that she was invited to go with him to the Grammies,” the 16-year-old Kealakekua resident said.
That positive attitude and aloha spirit was demonstrated recently when students met the corporate world of hospitality.
Four students from the Kealakekua-based Hawaiian language immersion school Ke Kula o Ehunuikaimalino spent the day experiencing the world of hospitality at The Fairmont Orchid on the Kohala Coast. The students, who were from teacher Heather Wickersham’s English class, were able to interview in a professional setting, as well as experience a real employment situation.
Hosting the event were management executives from the resort’s human resources department, as well as the hotel manager. Doreen DeSilva, human resources manager, served as activity coordinator, while Barbie Nakamura and Leslie Geiger, both human resources generalists, were the day’s facilitators.
The students had already been taught how to make resumes, but Wickersham wanted them to have the experience of presenting those resumes to an actual employer. She learned of an ongoing program at the resort that would allow her students just such as opportunity.
The Orchid has been managed as a Fairmont property since 2007. According to DeSilva, the Fairmont corporation has had a long-standing commitment to forming relationships with its local communities. The benefit to The Fairmont has been that it can recruit area employees who are committed to the success of their communities. In turn, guests are treated to more authentic and caring service. DeSilva said this Big Island property ranks in the top 10-20 in the Fairmont Corporation annually for customer service satisfaction and friendliness.
How does all this resonate with four students whose interests vary from auto mechanics to track and field? Surprisingly, quite well.
Matelita Taumoefalau, 18, of Keauhou, has been setting her sights on playing sports while attending college on the mainland, but said she may look for employment at one of the resorts.
She agreed the respectful and friendly service mentality sought after at The Orchid has been learned through her relationships with family and friends and at school. While she still planned to attend college, Taumoefalau considered the hospitality industry a possible career path.
This path was encouraged by resort hotel manager Noelani Cashman, who said “college education is a must” for successful navigation in this industry.
Responsibilities and performance standards are also important in the working world, DeSilva said.
Wickersham understood the day’s activities tied into their school learning by fulfilling various objectives from the school’s Career and Technical Learning program. However, more importantly, she believed the students would benefit from “real world” experience. Although she feels she has built trust and rapport with her students, they might take a “Fairmont employee more seriously than just getting the information from their teacher,” Wickersham said.
That “real world” experience ranged from interviews with management executives to property tours of guest rooms and “back of the house.” Dropping the apprehension they felt earlier in the day, the students were chattering excitedly in Hawaiian and taking copious pictures and videos on their phones while touring rooms with Geiger.
Freita, a junior, said he was nervous and needed experiences like this so he could learn to relax and present himself in the best possible light when it was time to actually apply for a job.
Also participating in the day’s events were seniors Kawika Hashimoto, 18, of Hookena and Kealakekua resident Kaleookekai Ruedy, 18. Both students seemed to enjoy the final activity of the day, which was building their own Fairmont hotel. Their task was to design and name a hotel/resort with a target clientele in mind, and create aspects of the property that would make it unique and desirable to their imagined guests. They were given a budget and asked to present these projects to DeSilva using display boards.
At the conclusion of the presentations and the end of the event, DeSilva and Nakamura praised the students for their enthusiastic participation. In a gesture of thanks the four students sang a song in Hawaiian expressing their appreciation for their day in the corporate life — a fitting end that seemed to exemplify what DeSilva said — “Hawaiian values correspond to Fairmont values.”