At the October 11th Full Council meeting, City Councilmembers adopted Resolution 17-261 which encourages the City to lease space at the City’s Waiʻanae Multi-Service Center and allow for use by organizations specializing in economic development on the Waiʻanae Coast.
(L-R) Back row: Carol Pelekai, Verna Landford-Bright Front Row: Joe Lapilio, Councilmember Pine, Ginger Fuata. Members of WEDC came to Honolulu Hale to testify in support of Resolution 17-261 at the City’s Business, Economic Development & Tourism Committee.
Mahalo to members of the Waiʻanae Economic Development Council (WEDC) for driving this issue, and continuing its mission to bring more economic opportunity to the Waiʻanae Coast.
The idea began when WEDC members met with Councilmember Pine to discuss the idea of establishing the Wai`anae Satellite City Hall facility as a Business, Economic, Development and Employment Resource Center. Residents also expressed an interest in utilizing the space for workshops and community meetings, office space for residents, craft fairs, community events and other activities to market Waiʻanae made products, and a site to facilitate collaboration and coordination with community providers.
Lastly, residents shared a need for space to provide Westside financial services such as financial literacy information, microloan programs, classes, workshops, and financial consultations.
In August 2017, Councilmember Pine met with members of the Waiʻanae Economic Development Council to discuss community interest in utilizing the space at the Waiʻanae Satellite City Hall for Economic Development.
Now that Resolution 17-261 has been adopted, I look forward to working closely with WEDC to fulfill some of our shared initiatives as we continue to encourage the growth of economic growth throughout the Waiʻanae Coast.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at kmpine@honolulu.gov.
In June 2017, my office in partnership with the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce organized the 5th Annual Hire Leeward Job & Career Fair, where over 2,000 job-seekers attended & 80 businesses were seeking to fill thousands of job openings throughout Kapolei, Ewa and Waiʻanae. The job fair was a success, as many residents walked away with job offers that day.
Embassy Suites by Hilton – Kapolei, one of the newest hotels coming to Kapolei, participated in June’s job fair. As an ongoing partner of the Hire Leeward Initiative – “Connecting Leeward residents with Leeward Jobs”, this hotel is eager to connect and provide job opportunities to residents of West Oʻahu. Together, we are working to inspire economic development in our community, as well as encourage residents to reduce commute times, spend less time waiting in traffic, and cherish more time with their families by finding a job closer to home.
At the 2017 Hire Leeward Job Fair, General Manager Reid Yoshida informed me that the new hotel was looking to fill nearly 100 positions in anticipation of their fall 2017 opening in Kapolei. What better way to fill those positions than to seek talent right from our own Leeward coast?
Last month, Embassy Suites by Hilton – Kapolei geared up for their September 28th Grand Opening by setting the final arrangements and training their newly hired team. A couple weeks ago, I attended the Kapolei hotel’s soft opening & I was astounded to learn that over 90% of the hotel staff are Leeward residents who have found a job closer to home!
Congratulations Embassy Suites by Hilton – Kapolei on your new home on our Leeward Coast and mahalo for providing job opportunities for our residents so that they can continue to live, work and play in West Oʻahu!
If you or a family member in Leeward Oʻahu is looking for a new opportunity to work closer to home, fall is a perfect time to explore the thousands of job opportunities in Kapolei, ʻEwa and along the Leeward Coast! To learn about career opportunities at businesses in Leeward Oʻahu, please visit my free job engine at www.HireLeeward.com, which is updated with Leeward job postings weekly. Additionally, Leeward employers can list their job openings for free through the “Post-a-Job” Function on the website.
If you have any questions about Hire Leeward or would like to learn more about how you or your business can get involved, feel free to reach me at kmpine@honolulu.gov or 768-5001.
On July 12th, the Council adopted Resolution 17-176, CD1, approving exemptions that would allow Ohana Ola O Kahumana (a transitional housing program for local families on the Waianae Coast) to expand a community kitchen and workforce programming on their premises located in Lualualei, Waianae.
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| Pictured above: Councilmember Kymberly Marcos Pine shares a smile with Kahumana Organic Farm & Cafe Community Chief Operating Officer Father Phillip Harmon (left) and Executive Director Tom Mcdonald (right). |
The proposed accessory kitchen will provide job training for the residents of Ohana Ola O Kahumana and other participants in the housing programs on site, improving their ability to successfully enter the workforce and transition to permanent housing and self-sufficiency.
Additionally, Ohana Ola O Kahumana is proposing to build solar panels which will generate electricity and allow them to reduce operating expenses and the proposed footbridge will allow residents direct access to the kitchen.
Leeward community members gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the the new U.S. Renal Care Center located on 889 Kamokila Blvd (located in the former Simply Organized building). In attendance was the honorable former Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka, who is also a strong advocate with the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii.
On January 27, 2017, our community celebrated the Grand Opening of Ilima at Leihano – A Kisco Senior Living Community. Located right in the heart of Kapolei, this new senior assisted living facility will give our Leeward kupuna a sense of ohana, community, independence, and peace of mind.
On January 13, 2017, Councilmember Kymberly Marcos Pine along with community leaders and residents celebrated the groundbreaking of the future Aloha Kapolei Office building, right in the heart of Kapolei.
This future building is planned to be located centrally, a block over from Kapolei Hale, and will be mixed commercial use for business owners who want an office on the Westside.
Councilmember Pine joined the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce for their annual holiday luncheon on December 2, 2016 at University of Hawaii – West Oahu. As the Keynote speaker, she gave a presentation on City projects, legislative updates, and new developments to look forward to in 2017. Steve Kelly, VP of Development — James Campbell Company also delivered a presentation regarding current and future projects in the planned expansion of the Kapolei region.
If you are interested in learning more about the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce, or would like to attend a future event, please visit www.kapoleichamber.com.
Councilmember Pine joined Coral Crater Adventure Park on December 8, 2016 for their blessing ceremony. After Uncle Shad Kane performed a traditional Hawaiian blessing over the grounds, Coral Crater staff led us on a fun, interactive tour of the new adventure park.
There are so many activities to do here including zip lining, ATV, mountain bikes, climbing walls, giant swings, and more. This is the perfect place for families, friends or even offices and organizations to stop by for a day of thrilling fun.
On November 28, 2016, Councilmember Pine honored to join State & City officials, distingushed leaders of University of Hawaii – West Oahu, and Leeward community members in celebrating the groundbreaking of the UHWO Allied Health/Administration Building. The future building will serve as a new addition to the UHWO campus, allowing the University to continue fostering growth and expansion within our Kapolei region.
