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KGMB9 News at 10
Neighbors in Need: The Kawai Family Print E-mail
Written by Tim Sakahara - tsakahara@kgmb9.com   
July 08, 2008 06:22 PM

 
More signs of a slumping economy, in the month of May more than 23,000 people in Hawaii were unemployed. That's 7,000 more than last May. A big reason is because of the Aloha Airlines and Molokai Ranch closures.

One of those unemployed people is Suzanne Kawai. She worked for Aloha Airlines nearly half her life. Kawai always knew she wanted to work in the airline industry. At 16 she joined the Aloha Airlines Explorer Program and at 18 she was hired full-time as a flight attendant. She loved her job which is why she hated losing it.

"It was painful because it made me who I am today. It's all I knew. It's like a family. For me it wasn't like going to work it was like going to work with my friends and actually for a lot of us going to work was like getting away from the stresses of life. It was great to go to work,” said Kawai, as she fought back tears. "For 16 years there wasn't a day that I wasn't grateful for where I was."

Now she worries about providing for her kids. Her daughter Kiley is two and a half and son Emmitt is 14 months. Her husband Sean is a special education teacher and his salary alone is not enough.

"It's really hard for me to build a resume when I just have flight attendant, 16 years," said Kawai.

A proud family already on a tight budget, it was difficult to ask for help so Suzanne starting selling her possessions like jewelry and her beloved canoe.

"To me it was kind of sentimental because I worked so hard and saved and waited to get that one man canoe. It was such a big part of me but I had to give it up, I couldn't keep it because I knew maybe this thing I loved so much could take care of my family that I love the most and I need to take care of," said Kawai.

Still they are coming up about $600 short each month. Helping Hands Hawaii paid their electric, phone and gas bills but they know the help won't be their forever which is why they'll keep working at finding another job to get through these turbulent times.

Kawai has applied to Hawaiian Airlines and has also looked outside the airline industry to sales and clerical jobs but so far she has not been hired.

Helping Hands Hawaii is collecting donations for our neighbors in need. So far $87,176.91 has been raised. That money is not only going to Aloha Airlines employees but anyone laid off between March 1 to May 31, 2008. That includes Molokai Ranch employees.

To find out how you can donate click here.


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Last Updated ( July 08, 2008 06:22 PM )
 

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