Maui students gain hands-on experience at inaugural Career Exploration Day

High school students from across Maui County explored careers in health care at the inaugural Career Exploration Day, hosted by Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi in partnership with Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks™ program. Held at the Kaiser Permanente Maui Lani Medical Office, the event provided students with hands-on learning experiences led by medical professionals.

Kaiser Permanente physicians, providers, nurses, and other clinical staff guided students through interactive stations in orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology, radiology, cardiology, and surgery.

Students learned how to apply casts and splints, observed echocardiograms in action, explored MRI imaging, and practiced suturing techniques. Throughout the event, medical professionals shared insights into their careers and answered students’ questions about entering the field.

“We’re proud to host our first-ever Career Exploration Day, giving students an up-close look at the many career paths available in health care,” said Chris Martin, MD, Hawaiʻi Permanente Medical Group, Maui Assistant Area Medical Director at Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi. “Hawaiʻi’s shortage of health care professionals is an ongoing challenge, and this event is one of many helping students consider careers in this field and supporting them in taking the next steps.”

The event helps further MEDB’s mission to support workforce development and strengthen Maui Nui’s economy. Through its STEMworks program, MEDB empowers students with resources, technology, and real-world learning experiences that help them develop skills for Hawaiʻi’s workforce.

“Health care careers offer meaningful and flourishing pathways for our students to make a direct impact in their communities, and Hawaiʻi needs their talents and dedication,” said Leslie Wilkins, President & CEO of Maui Economic Development Board. “We’re pleased to partner with Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi to invest in a robust education-to-workforce health care pipeline, not only empowering our homegrown talent to succeed locally through health care professions but also strengthening the wellbeing of our communities and Hawaiʻi’s economic resilience.”

The need for health care professionals remains urgent across Hawaiʻi, particularly on neighbor islands like Maui.

According to the 2024 Healthcare Workforce Initiative report, Maui previously had one of the highest vacancy rates in the state at 36%, underscoring the ongoing challenges in recruiting and retaining medical workers. While vacancy rates have improved statewide, critical shortages persist in patient-facing roles, including diagnostic imaging, medical assistants, and other essential fields.

Initiatives like Career Exploration Day are part of longer-term strategies to address these gaps by introducing local students to high-demand medical professions, building a stronger pipeline of future health care workers for the state.

For more information about health care volunteer and internship opportunities, visit https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/hawaii/pages/notices-updates/volunteer-opportunities or https://kpinhawaii.org/careerexplorations.