A mix of more than 100 professionals and University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu business and cybersecurity students recently gathered on campus for the Kūkulu Networking Event, which provided participants a chance to talk story for the benefit of networking, job placement, and learning more about the local industries.
The first-time event — held on Nov. 9 in the Campus Center multi-purpose room — was co-organized by UH West O‘ahu’s Dr. Katie Landgraf, Assistant Professor in Accounting, and Marnelli Joy B. Ulep, Program Development Manager for the Business Division.
“The overall goal of the event was to showcase our amazing UH West O‘ahu students to local professionals,” Landgraf said. “We see how hard they are working to earn their degree, so we want to give them opportunities to find local jobs to help fulfill their future career goals. We also created an environment to enhance their soft skills and present them in a professional manner.”
Ulep added that the name of the event is significant and reflects the event’s purpose.
“We chose the name ‘Kūkulu’ because it refers to growth and building, horizons, along with connection,” Ulep said. “The committee felt that it captured the goal of the event, to encourage students to make connections so that they can build their horizons to impact their future success.”
Kūkulu drew about 40 professionals from various industries, such as accounting, finance, hospitality and tourism, marketing, and cybersecurity, as well as about 75 UH West O‘ahu students, including one from Maui and three from Kaua‘i.
Student AJ Antonio, a Waipahu resident who is majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, plans to graduate in spring 2024 and aspires to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
“A lot of renowned companies are here, so whether it’s to learn something from them, to network with them, or just to get to know the companies a little bit more, not only does it help me, but this is an opportunity for everyone,” Antonio said, adding, “When I decide to apply for an internship or for a job, maybe they could direct me in the right path.”
Among the professionals who attended Kūkulu was Nikki Tamayo, Overnight Resort Assistant Manager at the Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko Olina.
“The students benefited from this event in many different ways because they were able to network with many different professionals gathered in one room,” Tamayo said. “This opportunity was an important one for them because there isn’t just one company out there, there are millions of companies out there with many job opportunities. You could be having a nice chat with a professional and if the opportunity presented itself, they could potentially be offered a position, or an opportunity through another company they may feel might be a good fit for them.”
Tamayo, who graduated in fall 2017 from UH West O‘ahu with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Hospitality and Tourism, said it would have been nice to attend an event like Kūkulu while she attended UH West O‘ahu.
“This event allowed me to connect with the students and give them encouragement and guidance,” she said. … “It was an opportunity I could not pass up.”
Another professional who attended Kūkulu was ETS Cyber Security Analyst Alysha Camille Leano, who also graduated from UH West O‘ahu. Last year, Leano received her Bachelor of Applied Science degree with a concentration in Information Security and Assurance.
“I think it was very beneficial for the students to have alumna like me attend the event — people who have recently been in their shoes and now have made a career out of the experience gained while in school,” she said. “I think it’s important for college students to hear about how professionals ‘did it,’ because honestly there is never a right way to do anything, especially searching for a job post-grad.”
Leano continued, “I believe my personal experience gave a lot of insight on what resources and paths are possible, have been successful, and the routes that weren’t as successful. Anecdotes like this give space for honest conversation and help build bonds that can be used to their advantage when the time comes. I know I’m looking forward to hearing from a few students who may intern with our office come next semester.”
Following the event, Landgraf received a thank-you note from a student who said “the Kūkulu Networking Event was awesome!”
“I loved that it wasn’t just booths and people walking around like the usual events that I’ve been to … ,” the student shared. “With the table setting, I feel that everyone was more comfortable and could be themselves and get the most out of each other. I really enjoyed it!”