Kevin Aki Jr.
WIOA Specialist, Hawaiʻi County Workforce Development Board
Kevin's Story
Kevin Aki Jr. serves as a Workforce Development Specialist for the County of Hawaiʻi within the Department of Research and Development, working alongside the Hawaiʻi County Workforce Development Board (HCWDB) to plan, execute, and monitor island-wide workforce initiatives.
Kevin’s journey in workforce development is a story of continuous growth from the ground up. His connection to the system began as a participant in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program (Goodwill Hawaii - Ola I Ka Hana Program), where he experienced firsthand the transformative power of dedicated career navigation and barrier-reduction support. Following his time as a participant, Kevin entered the workforce system as a front-line staff member at the American Job Center Hawaiʻi (AJCH) in Hilo. Working directly on the front line with job seekers, local employers, and community members gave Kevin an invaluable, deep understanding of daily center operations, intake workflows, and customer service needs. Through hard work, technical skill, and a passion for public service, he steadily advanced into his current role as a WIOA specialist.
In his role today, Kevin specializes in the complex technical, administrative, and data management side of WIOA Title I governance. He translates intricate federal and state statutory requirements into actionable local procedures—overseeing program data integrity, system compliance, and HireNet Hawaiʻi case management validation. Combining administrative oversight with technical IT expertise, Kevin also manages the underlying technology, network infrastructure, and digital operating environments for the AJCH Hilo office, ensuring secure, reliable data processing for staff and digital access for community job seekers.
Beyond core technical compliance, Kevin leads major operational and event logistics across the island, including managing stakeholder engagement, speaker coordination, and resource logistics for initiatives such as the Project Pilina Workforce Development Summit.
Deeply committed to continuous professional development, Kevin regularly represents Hawaiʻi County at regional, statewide, and national industry events, including the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) conference and statewide AI and workforce innovation symposia. Engaging with national workforce leaders allows him to bring cutting-edge strategies, technological insights, and best practices back to Hawaiʻi Island.
In recognition of his inspiring career progression from youth participant to front-line AJCH worker to specialist, alongside his technical dedication and impact on the local workforce system, Kevin was honored by the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) and the Workforce Development Council as a 2024 Hawaiʻi Island Workforce Development Hero.
Drawing on his personal history as a youth participant, his practical experience on the AJCH front line, and his expertise in technical WIOA administration, Kevin remains dedicated to maintaining high-quality workforce standards, removing systemic barriers, and opening doors for the next generation of workers across Hawaiʻi County.