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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / FEB. 2
Junior Achievement of Hawaii has sent students to workplaces including banks. Their new 13-week program will involve product development and funding.
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Budding Hawaii student entrepreneurs are preparing to dive into a tank of sharks this weekend.
Student teams from Farrington and Kaiser high schools will be vying for startup capital from four Junior Achievement of Hawaii "mano" sharks who will evaluate the business plans of the 11th- and 12th-graders at Saturday’s inaugural JA Hawaii "Mano" Shark Tank Event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hawaii Prince Hotel’s Mauna Kea Ballroom.
JA Hawaii is one of the first JA chapters to launch the 13-week program where high school students learn how to start a company, create product development and get funding from a "shark" investor. Students also will compete for the "biggest shark" award, which will be given out in May to the JA shark with the highest theoretical return on investment.
The four "sharks" are Jeff Higashi, First Hawaiian Bank senior vice president and area manager of the University branch; Joel Johnson, Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki & Golf Club director of human resources; Arnold Santayana, American Savings Bank first vice president of customer experience; and Blaine Kimura, Zero Bubble Venture Group managing partner.
Six FHB bankers also volunteered their time and expertise with two Farrington High teams to get them ready for their "company pitch." Altogether there will be eight Junior Achievement student companies participating in the event.
The program has students working with real products and services, and generating real capital and sales. All proceeds and net income will go to a JA Scholarship Fund where students who participate in this program are able to apply for college scholarships.