Kauai interns no longer
just type and file

In previous summers, interns working with the Kauai County government did the work no one else wanted to do, such as filing, typing and answering phones. Not this year.

The 40 or so high school and college students employed by the county are working on some large projects, some of which will have long-term benefits for the county and the students, according to Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste.

One such six-week project for the Kauai Fire Department has two college-age residents building a large-scale map detailing response times to all parts of the island, and targeting areas where future development might lengthen the time it takes for Kauai fire personnel to get to the scene.

"We're utilizing them for projects that can be used throughout the year, not just for filing," Baptiste said last week.

The mayor said the project will be used in other ways as well: to map possible fire station renovation, future water and infrastructure needs and Police Department response.

Two students, Ryan Delos Reyes and Marc Shibata, pored through the records of nearly a half-dozen county agencies to gather information for the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

"I think (the project) will help me later on, when I do research and have to make my own decisions, said Shibata, a 2005 Kauai High School graduate who will be attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the fall.

"Although my goal is to become an (emergency medical technician), it's interesting to learn about both sides of the Fire Department," said Delos Reyes, a Kauai Community College student who will be transferring to Kapiolani Community College this year.