At 20 years old, Jacob Salazar is already building a life filled with purpose and pride. His journey began at Kaiser High School, where he joined Project SEARCH, a HIDOE program that gives students with disabilities a full year of work-based learning to develop essential job skills and explore career paths. During the program, representatives from Lanakila Pacific visited Jacob’s class to share information about employment opportunities at Hale Aina Dining. That connection helped lead to his first full-time job as a Lanakila Pacific employee at the Hale Aina Dining Facility.
Jacob’s position is part of the AbilityOne Program, a national initiative administered by SourceAmerica that connects individuals with disabilities to meaningful employment through nonprofit agencies like Lanakila Pacific. These partnerships help create pathways to independence and long-term success.
“Doing a training program can be scary and a lot of work,” Jacob said. “But if I can do it, you can do it too.”
His mom reflected on their shared journey with a mix of emotion and pride. “At first, I was worried about Jacob’s future. But Project SEARCH and Lanakila Pacific gave him the tools to grow and become more independent.”
“We had to learn to be independent without each other,” she said. “But it was worth it. His comprehension has improved, and now he’s happy. That’s the most valuable thing to me.”
Jacob’s story reflects the impact of strong partnerships, practical training, and steady encouragement. With support from his family, job coaches, and coworkers, he’s found a workplace where he feels confident, productive, and proud.