Is Already in High School
We're building Hawaii's future automotive workforce—and inviting employers to help shape it from the very beginning.
Meet motivated students, strengthen your future hiring pipeline, and help prepare the next generation of technicians before they enter the workforce.
Explore Partnership
We heard you.
Finding qualified technicians gets harder every year. Shops across Hawaii are competing for the same shrinking workforce, while many students never realize automotive can become a rewarding career.
AutoSTART was created because the industry told us something needed to change. Together, we're building a stronger pipeline that connects motivated students with employers long before graduation.
Built With Industry
Instead of hoping qualified technicians appear, we're building them.
AutoSTART and YATA were designed alongside employers to introduce students to the industry early, develop real workplace skills, and create a clearer path from high school to careers in Hawaiʻi's automotive workforce.
The Pathway We’re Building
AutoSTART
ExploreJunior Year
Pre-ApprenticeshipYATA / HonCC
ExperienceSenior Year
Youth ApprenticeshipYour Shop
LaunchWork-ready
College experience + industry preparationStudents explore early. They gain real experience. You help launch their future.
Built Differently
Not just another school program.
AutoSTART is more than career exploration—it’s a coordinated workforce initiative built through a partnership between Honolulu Community College, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education, industry employers, and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation.
Great technicians aren’t built in classrooms alone. They’re shaped by experienced professionals who open their doors, share their knowledge, and model the skills that make exceptional employees.
As an employer partner, you’ll meet motivated students before they enter the workforce while helping shape future employees who understand professionalism, communication, and the expectations of today’s automotive industry.
Motivated Students
Students earn their place through a competitive application process and are ready to explore careers in the industry.
Industry-Aligned Training
Curriculum is developed alongside industry partners and aligned with current automotive standards.
Professional Skills
Students develop communication, teamwork, reliability, and workplace professionalism alongside technical knowledge.
Employer Collaboration
Help shape tomorrow’s workforce through mentorship, real-world exposure, and meaningful industry partnerships.
Get Involved
Start Small. Make a Big Difference.
Getting involved doesn’t have to begin with hiring.
Whether you have an hour to host a shop tour or you’re ready to mentor future technicians, every partnership helps students better understand the industry while strengthening Hawaiʻi’s workforce.
Choose the level of involvement that works best for your business.
Host a Shop Tour
Introduce students to your workplace through a short guided visit.
Offer Job Shadowing
Give students firsthand exposure to daily life in a professional shop.
Guest Speak
Share your experience and inspire the next generation of technicians.
Stay Connected
Join our employer network and hear about future partnership opportunities.
Build the Workforce That Builds Hawaii.
Every great technician starts somewhere.
By partnering with AutoSTART and YATA, you'll help prepare motivated students for successful careers while strengthening the future of Hawaii's automotive industry.
Let's build the next generation—together.