BYU–Hawaii Career Services is focusing on innovation, teamwork, and a stronger commitment to helping students prepare for life after graduation. The team of leaders, advisors, and student supervisors aims to reach more students and improve their support. Career Services is not just a resource; it is a place where future leaders gain the skills, confidence, and a sense of purpose they need to succeed.
New Beginnings
With the restructuring of the department late last year, Careers Service is stepping up and into new avenues. BYU–Hawaii alumnus, Ikaia Nawahine, career planning and placement manager, oversees career operations, which includes the marketing, data, and internship teams. Nawahine works directly with companies and organizations to create internships and job opportunities for BYU–Hawaii students. He also collaborates with other campus departments to plan and execute information sessions, career fairs, and employer engagement events.
One of Nawahine’s recent professional highlights was leading his team’s efforts for the Asia Pacific Career Conference (APCC), which aims to help students find employment opportunities throughout Asia and the Pacific.
"We built systems to track student and employer engagement, resulting in 90 job offers, nearly 200 internships, and over 500 interviews in just two days," shares Nawahine, "Seeing students lined up, résumé in hand, ready to meet potential employers, was unforgettable."
Nawahine believes that student ownership is a guiding principle for success: "We can provide the resources, but students must take the initiative to prepare for their careers." He states, “My goal is for organizations worldwide to seek out BYU–Hawaii graduates because of their skills, values, and readiness to compete for high-quality positions.”
Meeting the Students' Needs
Whether students are in their first or fourth year, preparing for life after graduation is never too early or too late. The Career Services department works to actively support students in preparing for their next step. The counseling team is dedicated to training, mentoring, and guiding students eager to stay a step above the rest. Students can participate in hands-on workshops on resumes, internships, and mock interviews, all designed to build skills and confidence.
Students can start by setting up an appointment with the counseling team to begin their steps into career preparation.
The counseling team plans its services based on the needs of students each semester and works to meet them where they are. That means sending personal emails, collaborating with campus club presidents, and keeping their social media pages active. Their efforts are working, and event attendance has quadrupled.
Nalia Tollefsen, a junior from Laie majoring in health and human sciences, serves as the student supervisor of the counseling team, "The best part of my job is seeing that ‘lightbulb moment’ in a student's eyes. Sometimes they come for the free food, but by the third workshop, they're showing up for the content," she shares. "Watching them gain clarity and confidence makes every bit of effort worth it."
To Live and Lead
Career planning and placement advisor Melanie Kauvaka believes every student can achieve their fullest potential if they receive the right guidance and resources. Kauvaka has been at the university for the past four years and joined Career Services six months ago. Although the team is relatively new, they are deeply committed to preparing students for life after graduation. "My hope is that the work we do will help students live and lead in their families, communities, chosen fields, and in building the kingdom of God in their respective countries," Kauvaka shares.
In her role, Kauvaka focuses on developing the Career Services team to become leaders now. Each semester, the team hosts a boot camp for their student employees, so they’re prepared to support other students' growth. "One of my favorite events is 'Live and Lead Day,' where we connect students with alumni who exemplify our mission in the real world," she says.
To Kauvaka, success is when students desire to be lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. That aspiration drives everything Career Services does. As they continue to build and dream, Kauvaka feels honored to assist students in discovering their calling—not just in their careers and chosen fields, but also in Christ-centered service to the world.
Career Services is ready to provide guidance and support to every student ready to take charge of their path. Stop by their office on the first floor of the Lorenzo Snow Administration Building and follow them on social media to stay up to date on the latest activities and workshops to get career-ready.
