Over 500 High School Students and 30 Businesses to Participate in St. Louis School’s First-Ever ClimbHI Exposure Fair and Hiring Blitz Today
By Teddi Anderson | President, TLC PR
March 14, 2025
Freshman and Sophomore students will participate in the Exposure Fair starting at 8:30 a.m., and Junior and Senior students will participate in the Exposure Fair starting at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Hiring Blitz from 10:30- 11 a.m. The event is focused on providing high school students with a better understanding of workforce opportunities in Hawai‘i.
“Exposure Fairs help engage students throughout junior high and high school, so they have the tools to select career pathways that help them reach economic self-sufficiency and achieve their dreams,” said Julie Morikawa, President of ClimbHI.
More than 30 businesses and organizations are participating, representing a variety of industries. Exposure Fairs offer hand-selected businesses and organizations the ability to present to students in short “speed-dating” style segments. These events are designed to provide students with information and connections and are followed by additional opportunities such as a ClimbHI Hiring Blitz. The Hiring Blitz expedites next steps for many students who are building relationships with local businesses and organizations throughout middle and high school in Exposure Fairs, ClimbHI LEI, as well as connections through ClimbHI’s Bridge portal.
James Tokioka, Director of the Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT), will meet with students at the event.
“Our local graduates are such a vital part of our state’s economic success, and DBEDT is pleased to support ClimbHI’s efforts to help them learn about and prepare for success in the workforce or in their continued educational goals upon graduation,” he said.
Reimagining and streamlining the hiring process creates much greater interest and more connections than a typical career fair. Importantly, these events link students up with career paths that offer economic self- sufficiency with a clear progression plan.
“We are excited to partner with ClimbHI on this Exposure Fair and Hiring Blitz,” said Keenan Meyer, College & Career Counselor at St. Louis School. “This event is a pivotal opportunity for our students to connect with industry leaders, explore career pathways, and even secure employment. We are also proud to welcome our alumni back to the slopes of Kalaepohaku, fostering connections that inspire and empower future generations. We are grateful to ClimbHI for their support in empowering our students with invaluable real-world experiences.”
ClimbHI is inviting teachers, businesses, associations and nonprofit organizations to sign up for the free ClimbHI Bridge online portal for workforce development and classroom engagement opportunities, volunteer hour tracking and communication tools, and more. This portal is used by hundreds of schools and businesses statewide, reaching nearly 300,000 students since it was launched in 2021.
About ClimbHI: Founded in 2009, the Hawai‘i-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit ClimbHI seeks to inspire students to finish high school and proceed to post-secondary education or employment by exposing them to future career paths and the steps necessary to achieve those goals. For more, visit climbhi.org.