When Mili was a student at Kailua High School, she got her first job experience at the school’s coffee cart. She was excited about working after graduation, but like many students entering the workforce for the first time, she wasn’t sure what to expect from a new job.
Lanakila Pacific Employment Services helped Mili take the next steps. The program works closely with local high schools to help students prepare for life after graduation, ensuring they continue to receive guidance, training and employment opportunities as they transition into the workforce. Through its partnership with Kailua High School and continued support beyond high school, the team coordinated opportunities for her to explore career interests, develop new skills and gain hands-on experience. Her first Paid Work Experience brought her to Lanakila Pacific Custom Products, where she learned screen printing and production skills.
Lanakila Pacific later connected Mili with Aloha Cut + Cloth, where she completed six months of industrial sewing training before joining the company as an employee. Today, she works for both Aloha Cut + Cloth and Custom Products, sewing garments for production clients while continuing to put her screen printing experience to use. Sewing clothes is her favorite part of the job.
Aloha Cut + Cloth co-founder Camille Heung has seen Mili progress from training to becoming a skilled member of the production team. She describes Mili’s sewing as consistent and precise, and once Mili understands an assignment, she can work independently for nearly her entire shift.
Mili sees her own progress in practical ways. She has learned to stay focused and pay attention, takes pride in being on time and knows how to earn and save her own money.
During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Mili’s journey highlights the value of a clear pathway from school to employment for people with disabilities. From her first experiences at Kailua High School to contributing independently on a production floor, each step gave her the confidence and experience to move forward in Hawaii’s workforce.