Inspiration comes full circle

Students in the Senior Field Experience Class helped organize an event to help high school students learn more about working in Hawaii’s tourism industry, yet the experience resulted with the Chaminade students becoming inspired themselves by the people they encountered.

One of 16 students with the University’s School of Business and Communication Senior Field Experience class, Elizabeth Devine ’24  helped organize and lead an event that was both high-energy and deep-diving. The event was the Exposure Fair at the Hawaii Convention Center, which opened doors to the tourism industry and post secondary opportunities for more than 550 high school students. The fair was a highlight of LEI (Leadership Exploration Inspiration) 2024, which brought public high school students from 20 schools to the Hawaii Convention Center on April 22. 

LEI is a partnership between ClimbHI and the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), and is a workforce development project that aims to inspire Hawaii’s youth to select careers in the Hawaii visitor industry by providing them with the necessary means to achieve success. For students, LEI represents an opportunity for leadership, exploration and inspiration. For the hospitality industry, LEI provides an opportunity to Lead, Expose and Inspire Hawaii’s youth.  In addition to Oahu, LEI 2024 events took place on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, and included more than 100 businesses.

“Participating in the 2024 LEI Program was an enriching experience on multiple fronts,” said Gabriela Galarza ’24. “Not only did it prove beneficial for the local high school students involved, but it also left a lasting impact on all of us who coordinated the event.”

At the Exposure Fair, students heard guest speakers—such as Gov. Josh Green, ClimbHi Founder Julie Morikawa and Hawaii Tourism Authority Board Chair Mufi Hannemann—and attended Hawaiian culture and sense of place presentations. They also took field trips to different hotels for an overview of the hotel industry, including a dining etiquette piece for lunch. Students then returned to the Hawaii Convention Center for the career Exposure Fair, during which they heard from various representatives from the hospitality industry, as well as post-secondary education opportunities. 

“Having this opportunity really helped me gain a better understanding and perspective of how to attack my future and find a job, wherever it may be,” Devine said. “Overall I am grateful for the experience, and I am glad I got the opportunity to work with ClimbHI and such a great group of classmates”

No wonder these Chaminade business students came away from class with such positive experiences. Their teacher, Dr. Wendy Lam, is an Associate Professor of Business and has been teaching since 1986. She has more than 20 years of professional experience in food manufacturing and retail business with clients from major airlines and hotels. She also conducts training programs and prepares marketing plans for major corporations in the United States.

Teaching is more than a career to her. It is her life passion. Lam has presented at various domestic and international conferences, and published in the field of tourism, marketing and education. She is active in the business community and serves as a board member of several nonprofit organizations in Honolulu.

“It was amazing to learn from the local companies here on the island,” said Ross Reeves ’24, Silversword Male Athlete of the Year. “Graduating this May, I am thankful to have heard from experts in different industries. The main takeaway I learned was to not overstress the job search and to do what you love. The businesses emphasized that when you do what you love, you are going to be good at what you do because of the passion that you have.”