AASHTO Journal - Hawaii DOT Holds 16th Annual Student Career Event

The Hawaii Department of Transportation held its 16th annual “Hawaii Construction Career Days” event for middle and high school students September 19-20 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.

[Above photo by Hawaii DOT]

The agency said its yearly “Construction Career Days” event aims to provide students a “practical and valuable” firsthand look at career and educational opportunities available in Hawaii’s construction industry.

“Our department is happy to give back to our community,” explained Ed Sniffen, director of the Hawaii DOT, in a statement. “Our young people will be able to see the wide range of jobs available in the construction field. This is a chance for us to reach out to our future leaders to keep Hawaii’s construction industry thriving and strong.”

[Editor’s note: The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials offers the AASHTO STEM Outreach Solutions program to promote an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM disciplines among middle and high school students; a program that includes the annual AASHTO Bridge Challenge competition.]

The agency noted that the event received funding from the Federal Highway Administration, along with several corporate and construction union sponsors as well.

The Hawaii DOT said students attending the event receive backpacks filled with personal protective equipment – hard hat, safety goggles and earplugs – that they use as they steer through the event area to help ensure their safety.

The event offers students the chance to navigate and explore heavy construction equipment – such as excavators, a crane simulator, a scissors lift, and other units – under close supervision.

Meanwhile, the “trades” area of the event featured representatives from several unions, representing carpenters, painters, electricians, sheet metal workers, masons, plumbers, and roofers, among others, which provided students with the chance to become familiar with and utilize hand tools associated with those specific construction trades.

Representatives from the University of Hawaii’s College of Engineering and the Honolulu Community College also attended the event to provide students with information about their specific programs as well as the broader educational opportunities available in the construction field.