What began as a job fair for out-of-work Aloha Airlines employees yesterday quickly turned into a happy reunion for the survivors of one of the worst mass layoffs in Hawai'i history.

Groups of Aloha co-workers clustered around the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall, which was filled with recruiters hoping to fill vacancies in one of the nation's tightest job markets.

The job fair gave former co-workers a chance to catch up with one another while taking tentative steps toward new careers — and further from their beloved company that abruptly shut down its passenger service on March 31 after 61 years of flying.

The last time former flight attendant Marissa Vasper saw so many co-workers was at an employee rally outside U.S. Bankruptcy Court on March 31, where the mood was more like a wake.

Yesterday, Vasper hugged and kissed former Aloha employees, who were dressed in interview attire instead of their Aloha uniforms.

"It's definitely nice to see people smiling instead of in tears," Vasper said. "Outside of Bankruptcy (Court), people were hugging, crying, really sad."

Vasper, 31, was one of several former Aloha workers who said the job fair represented yet another realization that they will never go back to the Aloha Airlines they knew.

"I'm setting into the idea that Aloha is gone," Vasper said.

Former Aloha flight attendant Pua Jumawid, 28, was a step or two behind Vasper.

"It hasn't quite hit me hard yet," Jumawid said. "It's like I'm in denial."

For every job application and resume, there seemed to be just as many emotions.

Don Horner, president and CEO of First Hawaiian Bank, received hugs, handshakes and kisses as he greeted people into the exhibition hall, along with Mayor Mufi Hannemann.

"They're just saying thank you for this," Horner said. "I'm crying. This is very emotional. This is their family and they're just trying to get through the mourning period."

SPREADING ALOHA

The city and First Hawaiian Bank quickly organized yesterday's job fair for 1,900 former Aloha employees, 35 out-of-work ATA employees and 85 workers from Weyerhaeuser Co. who will lose their jobs at the Iwilei box production plant in May.

Despite rain and a line of cars trying to get into the packed Blaisdell parking lot, 1,662 job candidates filled the hall.

"We want you to know we care," Hannemann told the crowd at the start of the job fair. "Today should be the beginning of a new chapter ... so that you don't have to leave here. You can stay and take care of your families."

There was a waiting list of recruiters wanting booth space and organizers were irritated that four groups that had booths didn't show up.

Otherwise, the mood on both sides of the recruiting table was unlike any other job fair.

Before the doors opened, Honolulu police Sgt. David Do was unsure whether the department would be a good fit for former ramp workers, cargo handlers, customer service agents and other airline workers.

HPD always needs to fill dispatch and officer vacancies. But only 4 percent to 6 percent of recruits make it onto the force — after a recruiting process that can take more than six months.

"We know these people need jobs pronto," Do said. "We'd love to have them because we know there are quality people with Aloha Airlines. But I'm not sure what we can do."

Hours later, Do still didn't know if HPD would work for most former Aloha workers. But he was certainly impressed with those he met.

"Quality people, definitely quality people," he said. "You can see their love for Aloha and the loyalty they have for the company. That speaks volumes. Our hearts are going out to them."

CAREER DECISIONS

One of the most popular spots was Hawaiian Airlines' booth. Hawaiian has about 100 openings in 20 job categories — along with the side benefit of remaining in the airline industry in Hawai'i (people must apply at www.hawaiianairlines.com).

But at age 65, former flight attendant Helen Sham said she was done with the airline industry after 41 years at Aloha.

"I do love working with people or I wouldn't have stayed in flying all these years," Sham said. "I'm picking up a lot of good ideas — concierge or social activities at a hotel. But I'm going into retirement and headed toward 66. So I'm not ready to jump into something this week."

Many of the former Aloha workers were disappointed that some jobs require college degrees, certifications or advanced training. Those that didn't often paid $9 to $10 per hour.

"I'm sure there were lots of $9 jobs," said Beth Busch, who puts on the state's largest job fairs and volunteered her time as a consultant yesterday. "There were also midlevel management jobs that pay $50,000 to $70,000."

Busch urged the job hunters to consider switching to healthcare, especially nursing.

"They should retrain and become nurses," Busch said. "They'd be employed for the rest of their lives and make $70,000, $80,000. That's good money."

Most of the recruiters worked hard to show the former airline employees that their existing skills can easily translate to different jobs.

"We fix ships," said Bob Lillis, who was staffing the popular Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard recruiting table. "Good aircraft mechanics make good marine machinery mechanics."

Jami Lee Britt of Hawaii Pacific Health — which includes Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Straub Clinic & Hospital and Wilcox Hospital on Kaua'i — emphasized to former Aloha workers that they don't need advanced medical training to get good jobs in healthcare.

"I tell them that I don't have any medical background at all," Britt said.

While she hoped to fill dozens of openings, Britt was constantly reminded of how hard it was for former Aloha employees to even show up.

"I know they have a lot of uncertainty," Britt said. "But I tell them there's a lot of hope, too."