Looking for work

[David M]

Lindsey
As I read your post I immediately thought of a person we'd met last winter, she'd been looking for a job for 3 months with results just as you wrote. Difference was, she was a local, at least a born and raised on Oahu local, but had spent the previous 10 years on the mainland (ca) before moving to Hilo. She couldn't believe that noone would hire her. One of her problems was salary history, as in noone was offering what she'd made in past. She was not very successful convincing the local employers that she'd be happy at local pay rates. The good news is we saw her again a couple months ago, she had gotten a job and appeared quite happy.

Here is another suggestion to persue locally:
If you haven't already, go to 50's Cafe there in Laupahoehoe and meet Larry, talk story about your situation - he may be able to offer a suggestion or even know someone looking for help. Wide range of regular clientele. You might even post a "Job Wanted" notice on their bulletin board. There's also a women's networking group that lunches there usually Thur.

Best of luck and don't give up. Pele's tests take many forms...

David

Ninole Resident

[HiloHaole]

When I related my experiences, I was replying to a request to mention some. Without reservation, my wife and I have experienced wonderful, wonderful locals. Some have become dear, very dear, friends and for life. As my heritage is in the rural South (U.S.), Puna is somewhat laid back as the rural South. I hope it never changes. None the less, I would like to see more commitment to agreements, etc., than seems to exist currently. Overall, I would suggest that haoles encounter locals with an attitude that everyone has good points and not prejudge anyone because of color or race. I would also like to compliment the people that posts on this website for their great attitudes, being non-judgmental and being so positive and helpful.

[Hotzcatz]

The Minute Stop in Laupahoehoe has a "Help Wanted" sign in the window. It isn't clerical work, but it is work. Otherwise, I know folks looking for coffee pickers in the worst way.

[onelocal]

Howsit Lindsey, well from your post on this forum, it doesn't sound too good. I am from Hawaii, but I had to live on the mainland because my parents moved there. In those days on the mainland, my ethnic type wasn't very welcome. Things like why do you eat bait for a meal, does your family have a furniture account (locals in the islands are perceived to be fat), put your shoes back on and much worse. When I lived on the mainland, I lived by mainland rules. I moved back to Hawaii and I live by Hawaiian rules. I have many friends in Hawaii who aren't from here. Their ethnic background doesn't matter to me. What matters is who they are in their hearts. However, not all the locals think as I have stated above. You're in Hawaii and the reality is that the food chain here is structured somewhat different than maybe where you came from. My daughters didn't have any local work experience when we moved back. I didn't help them find jobs because they told me that they wanted to find them without my help. OK they're big girls now, "go fo broke" I told them. What they did have were excellent resumes, work experience, letters of recommendation from their former employers, and excellent interviewing skills. They found jobs almost immediately in skilled positions such as what you're looking for. If you were to see them on the street and not know who they are or thier last name, you'd think they weren't locals.
Lindsey, just keep trying. Someone will open a door for you as far as getting a job. Yeah, sometimes your going to be dinged because of the way you look, just like sometimes I was dinged living on the mainland. Your in Hawaii, some of the rules are different. It's that way no matter where you go or what you look like.
Just one local's viewpoint