State of Recruiting – Piʻikū Co. Panel
Let's be honest— the job market is rough right now. 🚮🔥Applications disappear into the void, AI is muddying up who's human vs a robot, and for those of us in Hawaiʻi, there's that lingering question: are there actually opportunities here, or do we have to leave to build the career we want?
Let's unravel this together.
As part of Piʻikū Co.'s Speaker Series, we are bringing together recruiters, hiring leaders, and career strategists who are working in this reality to have an honest conversation about the job market: what's broken, what's working, and what local job seekers actually need to know to move forward.
We'll talk about what recruiters are really seeing on their end: how they're navigating a flood of AI-generated applications, how they're distinguishing humans from noise, and what still makes a candidate worth a conversation. We'll hear from the employer side about what tech looks like here on the islands, what local companies are actually hiring for, and how to get on their radar. And we'll get into the harder questions: Is there a real future in tech in Hawaiʻi? What are the trade-offs of staying versus leaving? And what do you need to do— starting now, to position yourself for either path?
What to expect:
🎤 45-minute panel — Honest, unfiltered talk on the hiring landscape, AI's impact on the job search, and what it actually takes to stand out right now.
Moderated by May Sermonia, Operations Director at Piʻikū Co.
Panelists:
Tim Kamanā — Technical Recruiter, Candid Health; born and raised on Oʻahu, on the front lines of hiring engineers in a post-AI job market
Sarah Guay — President & CEO, Hawaiʻi Employers Council; the voice of 800+ local employers on what they're hiring for and why
Evan Leong — CEO, Brain Gain Hawaiʻi; boutique executive recruiter specializing in local placement and bringing Hawaiʻi talent home. He sits on both sides of the hiring table and sees what's really standing between candidates and the jobs they want
👀 60–75 minutes of talk story/networking in the Hawaiʻi Inspiration Museum event space. Enjoy drinks as you connect with your community.
Who Should Attend: Job seekers, career changers, engineers, designers, students, and anyone trying to figure out what their next move looks like in this market.
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About Piʻikū Co.: Piʻikū Co. is a nonprofit based in Hawaiʻi that runs workforce development and innovation programs rooted in local culture. We believe in building tech for our community by elevating kamaʻāina and kānaka voices, creating pathways into tech, and shaping futures where Hawaiʻi leads.
About Hawaii Inspiration Museum: The Hawaiʻi Inspiration Museum is a planned interactive space that celebrates the stories of local leaders, past and present, highlighting the power of homegrown leadership—igniting pride, possibility, and purpose in the next generation. Designed to be a space for learning, reflection, and connection, its mission is to invite visitors to see themselves as part of Hawaiʻi’s ongoing story of innovation and impact.
Parking:
Aliʻi Parking Garage offers low cost municipal parking and $3 parking in the evening (cash only).