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Summer shortage
A robust job market is bad news
for park programs
CITY parks officials are getting a firsthand lesson in work-force economics as they struggle to fill relatively low-paying Summer Fun student aide positions in a state with the nation's lowest unemployment rate.
Some children had to be placed on waiting lists for the summer child-care program because of the staff shortage, but officials say they expect that to change as college students return home and University of Hawaii students wrap up their spring semester.
"I know we're having a hard time finding people. That's unusual," said Les Chang, director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
The Summer Fun programs are held at city parks and recreation centers throughout the island. Last week, 50 student aide positions were unfilled. By yesterday that number had dropped to 22. About 900 student aide workers are hired, Chang said.
Six student aide positions have yet to be filled in District 2 (Makiki to Aiea), six in District 3 (Pearlridge to Wahiawa, including the Leeward Coast) and 10 in District 4 (Waimanalo to Waialua and the North Shore).
The vacancies potentially affect 550 kids, based on the 25-to-1 ratio of children to student aide workers. Each worker is provided an average of two junior leaders, who work on a volunteer basis.
Park officials believe the vacancies could be attributed to better employment opportunities, summer school or the pay and stress of the position. Job seekers have plenty of options in Hawaii, where the April jobless rate was 2.9 percent, the lowest in the nation and well below the national average of 5.2 percent.
"It could be the pay," said Bert Koide, district recreation supervisor for District 2, noting a job at McDonald's might pay a little less than what the city offers, but the responsibility differs.
"Some of them are put under a lot of pressure," Koide said. "They have 25 children they are immediately responsible for. The 25 children are the apples of 50 parents' eyes. Anybody who deals with children service has to really be alert and aware and be on it all the time."
First-time student aide workers are paid $7.50 an hour, while those who return are paid $8.50 an hour. Workers log more than 330 hours, earning an estimated $2,500. Student aides need a minimum of 24 college credit-hours to qualify.
At Makiki District Park, the waiting list was reduced to 55 from 80 after the recent hiring of an aide.
"Without them we wouldn't be able to run the program," said Susan Yamasaki, recreation director at the park, whose Summer Fun program filled its 125 slots on the first day of registration.
Koide said he is optimistic all vacancies for District 2 will be filled by Wednesday. Workers undergo two weeks of training before the program starts on June 13.
The number of children accepted into each Summer Fun program is based on facility and personnel availability. Some facilities have a cap of 125 children, while some parks, such as Mililani and Manoa Valley district parks, take up to 425 youths.
Manoa has been one of the locations known to fill up quickly. Recreation director Elizabeth Tsuruda said they normally fill their slots on the day of registration, and have about 45 youths on their waiting list. That list is not based on a shortage of workers.
Some parents stayed overnight at Manoa Valley District Park before the day of registration to ensure their children were enrolled, after they heard that McCully District Park and Manoa Valley Church were not offering Summer Fun programs this year.
Nuuanu resident Brian Costales said his wife, Kristen, arrived at the park at 4:30 a.m. on the day of registration a couple of weeks ago and was shocked to see about 300 people already lined up. The couple heard from other parents that the closure of Summer Fun programs at McCully and the church might have created a panic.
"About two years ago, there was 150," Brian Costales said.
"We were worried that he wasn't going to get in," Costales said of their 9-year-old son, Jon.
About 150 children normally enroll at the McCully District Park, while about 100 children enroll in the Manoa Valley Church's Summer Fun program. Parks near McCully, such as Sheridan Community Park, Stevenson Recreation Center and Kapaolono Community Park, are still accepting children for their Summer Fun programs.
Summer options plentiful
Anyone interested in applying as a student aid worker can pick up an application at these city Department of Parks and Recreation offices:
» West Honolulu District Office, 1527 Keeaumoku St.
» Leeward Oahu District Office, 94-230 Paiwa St.
» Windward Oahu District Office, 45-660 Keaahala Road
For more information, call 692-5854.
Alternatives to city
Summer Fun program
YMCA
The organization offers an array of activities at various locations during the summer. Fees for each program vary.
» Central: 941-3344
» Kaimuki-Waialae: 737-5544
» Kalihi: 848-2491
» Leeward: 671-6495
» Mililani: 625-1040
» Nuuanu: 536-3556
» Windward: 261-0808
An application can be downloaded at www.honoluluymca.org.
Kamaaina Kids
The organization offers activities that include aquatics, music and crafts. Fee for registration varies from $120 to $860 based on the length of the program.
Registration deadline: Tuesday
Contact: 262-4538
An application can be downloaded at www.kamaaianakids.com.
Boys and Girls Club
The organization offers a summer fun program at the Papakolea Community Center at 2150 Tantalus Drive and the Charles C. Spalding House at 1704 Waiola St.» The summer fun program at the Papakolea Community Center will be held from June 16 to July 23 from noon to 6 p.m. Cost is $140 per child, which covers registration and excursion costs (lunch not included). For more information, call Donnie Hoover at 294-4898.
» The summer fun program at Charles C. Spalding Clubhouse will be held from June 13 to July 29 from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $350 per child, which covers registration, lunch and excursion costs. For more information, call Lei Mahoe at 942-5111.
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