"We're all fishing from the same pond," said Honolulu police Sgt. David Do. "It's so much more difficult because (job seekers) have so many choices."

Brandon Kotter, the 35-year-old assistant general manager of the Ala Moana California Pizza Kitchen, came to the Blaisdell because "I just wanted to see what's out there."

BRANDON KOTTER

"It's real promising," Kotter said. "People definitely want what I have to offer."

More than a dozen other potential job seekers declined to be identified, saying they don't want their bosses knowing they are even considering other positions. And at lunch time, one of the largest lines of the day formed at the Blaisdell box office as people in work clothes paid their $2 to get into the fair.

"I'm not supposed to be here," one woman said.

Kiinani Dodge, human-resource director for Paradise Cove Luau, looked over the throng and said, "This is probably one of the biggest sick days on the island."

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann agreed with the fair's organizers that the mix of employees who showed up yesterday reflects an expanding economy and a hot Hawai'i job market that has led the country seven of the past nine months.

The floor of the Blaisdell exhibition hall was filled with representatives of hotels, tour bus operators, government agencies, Mainland companies and a handful of businesses that came for the first time.

At 2.9 percent unemployment, economists say, Hawai'i is running below what is considered full employment of 3 percent.

"It's a good problem to have," Hannemann said as he walked around the Blaisdell. "The economy is very strong right now."

The city is one of the fair's sponsors but Hannemann joked that "I actually came to look for a less stressful job."

Keith Horita, president and CEO of Paradise Cove Luau, set up a recruitment booth for the first time to try and fill some of the company's 25 to 30 openings in 14 job categories — from bartenders to hula dancers to tour guides.

In a nod to the tight job market, Paradise Cove in the past six months has begun cross-training employees in various jobs to help cover vacancies. The company bumped entry-level pay 5 percent to 7 percent over the $6.25 minimum wage and kicked in 5 percent toward employees' 401(k) plans.

Ross Stores also came for the first time to try to fill 30 to 40 positions, on top of the 90 people hired in just the past month, said district manager Don Hettrick.

Ross also recently raised entry-level pay $1 above minimum wage just for Hawai'i workers, Hettrick said.

"We have to be competitive," he said.

On the other side of the recruiting booth, dozens of job seekers were pleased with the feedback they got from employers.

Amanda Jeffris, 23, of Kaimuki, said she "nailed" a brief meeting with ABC Stores and will have a follow-up interview tomorrow.

"I'm sure I'll get a job from somebody here," Jeffris said.

On the other end of the Blaisdell, Karan Asuncion held her 4-month-old daughter, Chanel, and looked over a pile of applications for her field as a certified nursing assistant.

"They said they have lots of openings," Asuncion said. " 'Just fill out the application.' "