{"id":223383,"date":"2025-10-09T12:53:39","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T22:53:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=223383"},"modified":"2025-10-13T10:34:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T20:34:17","slug":"kapiolani-hospitality-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/09\/kapiolani-hospitality-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Kapi\u02bbolani CC<\/abbr> leads new Hawai\u02bbi hospitality industry training"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Group
Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>, Kahala Hotel & Resort, and HARIETT<\/abbr> gather to commemorate the partnership agreement.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kapiʻolani<\/span> Community College<\/a> is launching a transformative workforce development initiative aimed at bolstering Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s hospitality industry. The Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Place-Based Hospitality Professional Development Training Program, a 7-week cohort program set to begin in spring 2026, will enroll employees from Kahala Hotel & Resort for a pilot that integrates leadership, Hawaiian values, cultural traditions and global sustainability practices.<\/p>\n

The training is focused on non-supervisory and managerial staff who are interested in upskilling to comfortably share the “aloha spirit” and the stories of the place they work and live in.<\/p>\n

\"Standing
Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Place-Based Hospitality Professional Development Training Program instructional team<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Kapiʻolani<\/span> Community College is proud to partner with industry leaders to reimagine workforce training for Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s hospitality industry,” said Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi. “We are excited to lead this training initiative, knowing that we are fulfilling our kuleana (responsibility) to Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s workforce and communities.”<\/p>\n

Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s hospitality sector faces mounting pressures, from labor shortages to evolving expectations of global visitors. Coupled with the outmigration of young professionals, these trends demand innovative approaches that attract, retain and grow talent. Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>\u2019s new pilot training aims to cultivate a more resilient, future-ready workforce by instilling confidence, pride and a deep connection\u2014embedding Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s values into the next generation of industry professionals.<\/p>\n

Honoring people and place<\/h2>\n
\"Group
From left: Laura Burke, Joe Ibarra, Misaki Takabayashi, James Hardway, N\u0101wa\u02bba Napoleon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“This program is an investment in our colleagues,” said Joe Ibarra, vice president and general manager, Kahala Hotel & Resort. “It equips them with the skills and confidence to deliver authentic Hawaiian hospitality and build meaningful careers right here in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.”<\/p>\n

The pilot program is a collaboration among Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Hospitality and Tourism (HOST<\/abbr>)<\/a> faculty, who will develop the curriculum and provide instruction, Kahala Hotel & Resort, Hotel and Restaurant Industry Employment and Training Trust (HARIETT<\/abbr>), and Banquet Solutions Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, Inc<\/abbr>. Their combined efforts work to ensure hospitality leadership in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> remains culturally, environmentally and socially responsible.<\/p>\n

“Rooted in leadership, Hawaiian culture, and world-class hospitality, this pilot empowers UNITE HERE! Local 5 members to serve visitors in ways that honor both people and place,” said James Hardway, executive director, HARIETT<\/abbr>. “This helps realize Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s goal of regenerative tourism, where travel contributes to the well-being and renewal of local communities.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pilot program blends Hawaiian culture, leadership and sustainability to advance hospitality careers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":223381,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[982,1613,63,1635,73,74,71,603],"class_list":["post-223383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-hospitality","tag-hospitality-and-tourism","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-professional-development","tag-sustainability","tag-tourism","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-workforce-development","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t