Especially in a tough job market.
As Hawaii teens wrap up the school year and prepare for summer, those with contacts - usually through parents or friends - will ease into the workaday world. But those without face a rougher road.
"The sad thing is in Hawaii, it really is who you know," said Nick Houtman, executive assistant for Mayor Jeremy Harris.
Houtman hopes a city initiative - to be announced today - challenging Oahu's major employers to hire students will give a chance to teens at the bottom of the economic ladder. Hawaii's top 1,000 businesses were to receive letters today from the city and the Oahu Private Industry Council asking each to hire at least one student.
The campaign to enlist private industry help will supplement the city's WorkHawaii program that trains and places economically disadvantaged youth from 14 to 21 in part-time positions with public-sector and nonprofit organization employers (it's already filled for this summer). After a budget scare early this year, the federal government came through with roughly $1.2 million to fund the annual project.
This year, WorkHawaii will spend 60 percent of its allotment on 14- and 15-year-olds, Houtman said. "We're lopsiding it because these are the kids just (entering) the job market," he said.
The program will serve more than 400 teen-agers hired at $4.25 an hour, the federal minimum wage.
"It's really valuable," said Houtman. "To me it's one of the federal programs that really ought to be continued and expanded.... Kids who aren't employed may fall into gangs and drugs."
A companion program also funded by the Department of Labor, is administered by Alu Like for economically disadvantaged Hawaiian and Native American youth. The Employment and Training Program received $1.6 million from the federal government to train and place 1,400 teens in jobs with both public and private employers statewide this summer. Under terms of the program, Alu Like subsidizes the positions through participating employers. The youth, from 14 to 21, earn minimum wage, said administrator Winona Whitman.
Alu Like will also give some students an opportunity to attend school and work part-time. The Summer Enrichment Program offers participants a lump sum "incentive allowance" at the end of the session based on their achievement, Whitman said.
Eligibility for both WorkHawaii and Alu Like is determined by household income - not to exceed $25,860 for a family of four, $20,950 for a family of three.
Those teens trying to find employment on their own could be in for a tough summer.
"I think with the economy and downsizing and layoffs, there aren't going to be a lot of jobs for youth," said Patrick Stanley of the state Employment Services.
Stanley said summer job vacancies - even in the traditionally wide open fast-food trade - are few and far between this summer.