Movers & Shakers: Acculturating your newly relocated leaders to Hawaii

Description

Moving to a new place for work, especially Hawaii, can be difficult. Many companies, especially in the construction and engineering industries, have seen turnover with newly transferred leaders because oftentimes they realize Hawaii isn't for them. Additionally, many companies in Hawaii have employee orientation programs but very few have community orientation programs.

Join us as we hear from Nicole Lim, Executive Director of Movers and Shakas' 6-week Hawaii Talent Onboarding Program (HITOP) and what they do to help companies retain and empower newly relocated leaders, increase workplace effectiveness and help new transplants better understand Hawaii to build a sense of belonging as new members of the community.

Every year, companies and organizations welcome newly relocated executives, leaders and employees to Hawaii especially in the construction and engineering industries. While some may acculturate into their new home easily, others have difficulty navigating through cultural nuances and understanding why Hawaii is so different from the rest of the world.

Last year, Movers and Shakas launched the Hawaii Talent Onboarding Program (HITOP) as a place-based immersion program to help employers retain talent hired from the continent and help new transplants better understand Hawaii and build a sense of belonging as new members of the community. The six-week program includes community workdays with partners such as Kako‘o ‘Ōiwi, Institute for Human Services and The Pantry by Feeding Hawaii Together, as well as leadership training workshops, networking events and talk-story sessions through partnerships with ‘Iolani Palace, community leaders and cultural practitioners.

For employers, the program accelerates leadership effectiveness and boosts retention while lowering turnover costs. For the State, the program bridges economic and community needs, integrates newcomers into the community, and grows the state's talent pool and economy. For participants, the program helps build a sense of kuleana for Hawaii's people and land.

Moving to Hawaii can be difficult not just for the transfer but for their family as well. HITOP encourages employers to allow their leaders to bring their partner along because spouses also need to develop a sense of belonging in order to call Hawaii their new home.

To date, HITOP has successfully completed three cohorts and acculturated more than 80 participants from organizations such as Bank of Hawaiʻi, Bowers + Kubota, Booz Allen Hamilton, First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaiʻi Department of Education, Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, Hawaiian Airlines, HMSA, The Howard Hughes Corporation, Kaiser Permanente, Kamehameha Schools, Outrigger Hospitality Group, Punahou School, Queen’s Health System, Servco Pacific, University of Hawai‘i Foundation, U.S. Army, YMCA of Honolulu and more.

Based on surveys, 100% of participants improved their understanding of the host culture and 89% improved their sense of Hawai‘i as home. 90% of participants improved their work effectiveness and deepened their sense of belonging in Hawai‘i. Additionally, many of the companies that participated in the inaugural cohort enrolled new leaders in Cohort 2 and 3.

For new construction and engineering industry leaders in Hawaii, it’s important for them to understand our Island home better because this is now their home. As new members of the community, understanding Hawaii, its history, culture and people will ensure a successful journey.

Registration is now open for HITOP’s Cohort 4 which will commence in September. For more information, visit www.moversandshakas.org/enroll and email info@moversandshakas.org to enroll.

Nicole Lim
Executive Director of Movers and Shakas