About The Kaʻū Calendar

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Hawai'i Police Department has launched continuous recruitment. This is the 96th graduating class
from Dec. 30th last year. Pay starts at $69,940 per year. Photo from HPD

HAWAI'I POLICE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHED CONTINUOUS RECRUITMENT on Wednesday. HPD also announced that it may start new recruit classes as often  as quarterly. It's "part of our recruitment efforts to make it easier for individuals to serve as police officers," said the HPD statement.
    Previously, those interested in becoming a police officer could only apply twice a year during a ten-day application window. Now, applicants for an entry-level police officer can apply year-round via the County website: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/countyhawaii/.
Police Officer of the Year, named in March, was
 Michael Sailer, left, with Chief Ben Moszkowicz.
Photo from HPD
    
    As part of the new recruitment process, Hawai‘i County Department of Human Resources will hold monthly tests for qualified applicants. The first test is slated for June 26. About a week before the test date, DHR will close the continuous recruitment (to finalize the list for June test-takers) and then immediately reopen the Police Officer Recruit job announcement with new test dates for each subsequent month.
    Starting salary for Police Officer I positions is $68,940 a year with benefits, including paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, military leave, health insurance, group life insurance, a uniforms and equipment stipend, automobile subsidy, and retirement.
    “In addition, we will soon begin hiring new officers early through a pilot program with the County,” says Chief Ben Moszkowicz. “Once potential new officers have completed the background check, polygraph, psychological, and medical aspects of the process and are ready to be hired, we will be extending job offers, with recruits officially starting their one-year probation when they start the academy.
    “This is different than before, when new recruits used to have to wait until a recruit class started, sometimes several months after they applied. By using this early-hire model, we hope to get people acclimated to the department’s culture, help them to find a mentor in the department, and get them physically working out with the existing recruit classes. Then, their one-year probation period will begin when the recruit class starts.
    “We’ll also be increasing the number of recruit academy classes per year,” adds Chief Moszkowicz. “Once the department has between 10 and 20 candidates to fill a recruit class, roughly every four months, police officer recruits will undertake six months of academy training five days a week. After successful completion of academy training, new recruits will transition from an academic setting to four months of field training where they are paired with an experienced officer and gain hands-on experience, forming the foundation of their career.
    “While we’re making it easier to apply to be a police officer, the department remains committed to its rigorous screening and training program that graduates highly qualified officers,” added the Chief.
Interested applicants must meet the following requirements:
    Graduated from high school or obtained a GED.
    Knowledge of grammar, spelling, and word usage.
    Possess a valid driver’s license.
    Be at least 20 years of age at the time of filing, and at least 21 years of age by the time of graduation from the Police Academy.
    Be qualified to carry and/or possess firearms or ammunition in accordance with state and federal laws.
    Must not have any misdemeanor or felony domestic violence convictions.
    Meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations, such as have a correct ratio of weight to height; possess good eyesight and good physical condition and agility according to standards set by the County of Hawai‘i.
    For more information, visit the Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Police Officer Recruitment page at www.hawaiipolice.com. Hawaiʻi County is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

FEWER PEOPLE QUIT THEIR JOBS IN HAWAI'I THAN IN ALMOST EVERY OTHER STATE, according to a WalletHub report released Wednesday. With Americans quitting their jobs at high rates during the so-called Great Resignation, even in the face of high inflation, WalletHub reported on 2023's States With the Highest Job Resignation Rates.
WalletHub ranked the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on how frequently people are leaving their places of employment. Hawai'i ranked eighth in the fewest people leaving their jobs. Resignation rate in Hawai'i during the latest month was 1.80%. Resignation rate in the past 12 months was 2.41%. Overall rank was 8th lowest in the country. To view the full report, visit:https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-highest-job-resignation-rates/101077. See analysis  from an MIT Sloan School of Management professor and other experts at https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-highest-job-resignation-rates/101077#ex
pert=Lotte_Bailyn.
    States with the highest number of people quitting jobs were Louisiana, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas, Alabama Maryland and Tennessee.
Places with fewest people quitting jobs were Massachusetts, New York, District of Columbia, New Jersey,  Pennsylvania, Connecticut, California, Hawai'i, Michigan and Washington.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

Mitsuko Shikuma in 1962. She worked for Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
Photo from NPS History Collection
MISUKO TANAKA SHIKUMA, who worked at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, is featured this May in the National Park Service's online celebration of #AsianAmericanPacificIslanderHeritageMonth.
    She was born on Sept. 15, 1929, in Hawai'i to Iano and Kinuko Tanaka. Her father was born in Japan and her mother was born in Hawai'i. She was one of three children and grew up speaking Japanese. She attended Hilo High School. By 1950 she was working as an office clerk for a local newspaper. She
married Stanley Ichiro Shikuma in August 1952. They had three children together.
     Mitsuko Shikuma (known as "Mitzi") began working as a uniformed information receptionist at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park in 1962. The Park reports that "Her fluent Japanese was an asset in her job at headquarters and the visitor center. She was promoted to park technician in 1970. She attended an eight-week training course at the NPS Albright Training Center that year and was one of four women in the 38-member class." The training included law enforcement classes and Shikuma occasionally worked as a "police matron" at Hawai'i Volcanoes. Shikuma retired from the NPS in 1982.
See more at #npshistorycollection #nps #npshistory

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

HAWAI'I KEIKI RODEO, with some sponsors from  Kaʻū, hosted nearly 400 keiki, ranging from two to 17 years old at Pana'ewa Equestrian Center. Hawai'i Police Department issued a rodeo wrap-up statement on Wednesday, saying the keiki "displayed the paniolo spirit " during the event held on Saturday, April 29,
A Keiki Rodeo recently involved
Hawai'i Police Activities League.
Photo from HPD
and Sunday, April 30. It was organized by Hawai'i Keiki Rodeo Association in collaboration with HPD’s Hilo Community Policing Section.
    Hawai'i Police Activities League donated 15 belt buckles to contestants in different categories, and Community Policing Officers made keiki identification cards. The officers also interacted with participants, providing an informal way for kids and adults alike to get to know their district officers while enjoying the competition.
    HPD's statement thanks "all the families that attended the event, as well as all those who made it such a success. HPD also extends a hearty mahalo" to sponsors. Sponsors included: HPM, Kai's Trucking, JR Dereis Tires, South Point Buckers, Kaiwi Farms, Hawai'i Community Federal Credit Union, Ainaola Mart, Hoomau Ranch, Menino Farms, Kelonukai Ranch, Mattos 'Ohana, Demattos Plumbing, JSC Services, Serge Mamone, Ryan Napoleon, Kelvin Andrade, Mike Smith, Robert Camacho Ohana, R&C Hauling, Kulana Foods, Burkes Services, Russel Strong, and Cresside Painting.
    Community organizations interested in hosting an HI-PAL event contact Hawai‘i Police Department’s Community Policing Section at (808) 961-8849.