HONOLULU, HI – For former Hawaii residents living in Washington, Oregon and Nevada, coming home could be the next step in their career.

The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is taking Kama‘āina Come Home® on the road this fall, traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada; Seattle, Washington; and Corvallis, Oregon, from September 29 through October 14 to connect former Hawaii residents with career opportunities and employers in Hawaii.

The Kama‘āina Come Home® Roadshow will meet potential returnees where they live, work and study, with representatives participating in university career fairs and a community event in the Las Vegas area. By participating in career fairs that reach current college students, jobseekers and alumni, the Roadshow creates opportunities to connect with Hawaii talent at different stages of their careers.

The goal is simple: Help former Hawaii residents discover opportunities to build their careers back home and make a return to Hawaii a possibility.

“Every person who leaves Hawaii takes their talent, skills and experience with them, and bringing some of that talent home is an important part of strengthening our workforce,” says Lord Ryan Lizardo, Vice President of Education and Workforce Development at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. “Kama‘āina Come Home® has grown tremendously, and we’re excited to take the program on the road for the first time and bring that same connection directly to former Hawaii residents living on the continent. This initiative is about more than filling jobs. This is our way of helping to build meaningful career pathways and give people an opportunity to see what’s possible when they bring their skills and experience home. When we can attract skilled workers back to Hawaii, we strengthen our businesses, our communities and our economy for generations to come.”

The Roadshow will include participation from Hawaii employers and partners, including Presenting Sponsor Hawaiian Electric, Premier Travel Sponsor Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, Premier Lodging Sponsor Boyd Gaming, Kokua Sponsors Bank of Hawaii and Teach For America Hawaii, and our program partners at Zippy’s.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (Sept. 29-Oct. 1)

Sept. 29 | Business, Engineering, Science & Tech (BEST) Career Expo

2- 6 p.m. PT
Advanced Engineering Building
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas, NV

Sept. 30 | Fall 2026 UNLV Career Fair
9 a.m.- 2 p.m. PT
UNLV Student Union, 2nd Floor
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas, NV

Oct. 1 |  Kama‘āina Come Home® Las Vegas

5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

ZIPPY’s Arroyo Crossing

7095 Badura Avenue, Las Vegas

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (Oct. 6-7)

Oct. 6 | 2026 Engineering Hiring Expo
Noon – 3:30 p.m. PT
Husky Union Building (HUB) Ballrooms
4001 E Stevens Way NE, Seattle, WA

Oct. 7 | UW Seattle 2026 Fall Job & Internship Fair
11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. PT
Husky Union Building (HUB), 2nd Floor Ballrooms
4001 E Stevens Way NE, Seattle, WA

CORVALLIS, OREGON (Oct. 14)

Oct. 14 | 2026 Fall STEM Industries Career & Internship Fair
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. PT
CH2M HILL Alumni Center
725 SW 26th St., Corvallis, OR 97331

Each university career fair has its own audience and eligibility requirements. Interested attendees should check the host university’s event information for details before attending. The October 1 Las Vegas community event is open to the broader kamaʻāina community. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP and learn more about the event HERE: (https://luma.com/4s9f1njo)

Former Hawaii residents interested in exploring career opportunities and a potential return home can complete the Kama‘āina Come Home® interest form at www.cochawaii.org/kamaaina.

Kama‘āina Come Home® is a job placement program trademarked by and used with permission from the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board. The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii administers the program to connect Hawaii’s talent living away from the islands with career opportunities and employers at home. Through the Roadshow and other outreach efforts, Kama‘āina Come Home® strengthens connections between Hawaii and its former residents and creates pathways for those ready to return. The program works in coordination with the Chamber’s Sector Partnerships, which bring together employers, educators and workforce partners within key industries to identify workforce needs, strengthen career pathways and connect talent with opportunities in Hawaii.