Kama‘aina Come Home™ is a job placement program and is trademarked by and used with permission from the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board. With funding from the County of Maui and Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, this initiative is a collaboration between Maui Economic Development Board and Ka`amaina Careers (a Hawaii job referral company based on the West Coast).
The program has helped more than one homesick kama’aina find his or her way home.
“After getting my Electrical Engineering degree at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, I really had this desire to come home. I missed the beaches and my family,” Sesame Shim said. “I was unaware that there were opportunities on Maui for Electrical Engineers just starting out. I thought I had to work for a couple years before even thinking of finding work at home.”
MEDB and the Kama’aina Come Home initiative connected Sesame with Oceanit, one of Hawaii’s largest and most diversified science and engineering companies. Today she is employed as an engineer, working and surfing at home.
Interested kama’aina are encouraged to register online at www.kamaaina-careers.com. Registered job seekers also have the option to submit a resume that will be directly forwarded to companies with matching interests. There is no charge for this service.
Kama`aina Careers was founded in 1998 by Hilo native Jon Sakurai-Horita. He has over 20 years experience assisting employers with their employment needs, as well as directing the Career Centers at Santa Clara University and the University of San Francisco.