{"id":217177,"date":"2025-06-05T09:23:53","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T19:23:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=217177"},"modified":"2025-07-07T15:38:21","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T01:38:21","slug":"good-jobs-piiku-partnership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/06\/05\/good-jobs-piiku-partnership\/","title":{"rendered":"Good Jobs Hawai\u02bbi, Pi\u02bbik\u016b Co. connect students to tech careers"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> < 1<\/span> minute<\/span><\/span>

\"people<\/p>\n

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> is playing a key role in preparing local students for careers in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s growing technology sector. Through Good Jobs Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, a statewide workforce development initiative supported by UH<\/abbr>, students gained hands-on experience in user interface (UI<\/abbr>), user experience (UX<\/abbr>) and graphic design, thanks to a partnership with local creative agency Piʻikū<\/span><\/a> Co. and Zippy\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\"Zippys<\/p>\n

With few tech firms based in the islands, many aspiring designers are forced to move to the continental U.S.<\/abbr> to gain entry-level experience. Piʻikū<\/span> Co. aims to reverse this trend by equipping kama\u02bb\u0101ina with practical skills tailored to the needs of local companies. Rather than outsourcing its design work, Zippy\u2019s partnered with Piʻikū<\/span> Co. to bring Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> students in-house to support its digital and signage projects, giving students real-world exposure while strengthening Â鶹´«Ã½\u2019s<\/span> tech pipeline.<\/p>\n

\"people<\/p>\n

Michelle Tran, a local graduate of Kailua High School, struggled to find tech work after returning to Oʻahu<\/span> from Claremont, California. That changed when she completed an eight-week internship through Piʻikū<\/span> Co. She now works as a full-time UI\/UX<\/abbr> designer on Oʻahu<\/span>.<\/p>\n

“The Piʻikū<\/span> internship played a very important role in my UX<\/abbr> journey,” said Tran. “It was my first time working directly with a client, and I learned so much about client management.” <\/p>\n

Programs like these directly support the UH<\/abbr> System Â鶹´«Ã½<\/a>, which prioritizes workforce development and aims to reduce brain drain by keeping talent in the islands.<\/p>\n