Hawaii News Now: Program connects kamaaina on the U.S. continent with Hawaii companies to fill local jobs
June 18, 2025
By Annalisa Burgos
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – As recent college graduates face a challenging job market — with nearly 6 percent unemployed — the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is expanding a program that helps kamaaina on the continent return to fill local positions.
Brain drain has long put a strain on Hawaii’s economy, with young local talent leaving the islands for better opportunities on the continent.
Hawaii’s business community is working to reverse that by expanding a program that makes it easier for kamaaina to come home.
After graduating from the University of Hawaii, Cole Pelayo moved to the epicenter of aerospace engineering in California to kick off his career.
