Kapolei Packaging Facility Opens, Employing Leeward Coast Residents

NEWS RELEASE

KYMBERLY MARCOS PINE
COUNCILMEMBER, DISTRICT 1
(808) 768-5001
(808) 768-1217 (fax)
e-mail: kmpine@honolulu.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2014

Kapolei Packaging Facility Opens, Employing Leeward Coast Residents

(HONOLULU) — The leading supplier of corrugated and packaging materials in Hawaii opens its new facility in Kapolei tomorrow, July 1st, bringing jobs to residents on the Leeward Coast. Over 60% of Rengo Packaging, Inc.’s new hires for the 160,000 square foot facility located in Campbell Industrial Park reside in West Oahu, giving these employees an improved quality of life as they work closer to home. Jobs filled included general labor positions, machine operators and production workers. There are 43 employees at the new facility, some of whom previously worked in the downtown Honolulu area. Rengo Packaging is one of over 50 employers who participated in the 2nd Annual Hire Leeward Job and Career Fair earlier this year that had over 3,000 Leeward job-seekers in attendance.

Councilmember Pine presented a congratulatory certificate to Mr. Robert Cundiff, President, Rengo Packaging and Mr. Kiyoshi Otsubo, Chairman, President & CEO, Rengo Co., Ltd.

In 2012, Councilmember Pine launched a five-year “Hire Leeward” campaign: “Connecting Leeward Residents with Leeward Jobs.” The campaign’s goals include encouraging Leeward residents to seek Leeward jobs, encouraging better coordination with Leeward job employers and job seekers, holding job training events, reducing traffic congestion to town and improving the quality of life for Leeward residents.

Councilmember Pine meets with the family of a new Rengo Packaging, Inc. employee that resides in Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

“I am excited to see businesses like Rengo Packaging bringing jobs to the Leeward Coast,” says Honolulu City Councilmember Kymberly Pine. “Our goal is to make residents aware of these opportunities, and the 53,000 jobs on the leeward coast, so they can get out of traffic and spend more time with their families.”

Councilmember Pine recently partnered with the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce and Workforce Development Round Table to further expand the Hire Leeward Initiative including plans for another job and career fair in 2015.

“The Kapolei Chamber’s goal is to help Kapolei grow as a major job center so we welcome the new jobs created by Rengo and appreciate Councilmember Pine’s leadership with Hire Leeward because it allows more people to work closer to where they live,” said Theresia McMurdo, Executive Director for the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the Job and Career Fair, Leeward Coast jobs are posted weekly on www.hireleeward.com, and employers can submit Leeward Coast job opportunities through the Office of Councilmember Kymberly Pine at (808) 768-5001.

Councilmember Pine represents residents of District One (Ewa, Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Honokai Hale, Ko Olina, Nanakuli, Maili, Waianae, Makaha, Keaau, Makua).

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Councilmember Pine and Mr. Jim Keller, Managing Director, Rengo Packaging

Mr. Scott Werny, Senior Designed, Rengo Packaging, demonstrates the latest packaging technology.