Industrial & Engineering Technology: Machinist
Industrial & Engineering Technology
Machinist:
Kanoe Lauriano
by Brian McInnis
Kanoe Lauriano, 27, of Kapahulu, never imagined she'd fix submarines for a living…
…But that's exactly what she does today, as an apprentice machinist at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. Kanoe's just about at the halfway point of the training process to become a full-fledged machinist, and she can honestly say that she loves her line of work.
Tough Croud
Kanoe had to get through the Marine Large Equipment Engineer admittance exam for the apprenticeship at Honolulu Community College, involving math, reading, and writing, that only about 100 of 3,000 applicants pass. She says she was as surprised as anyone when she heard she got through. The next part, then, was following up on her successful audition. "It was something different," Kanoe said. "And actually until I got in, I never realized how much I love it. Honestly, I never thought I'd be fixing submarines." She laughs.
Being Hands On
"(My favorite part of the job) so far would be actually just turning the wrench. That's what we call it," the Kalani High School grad said. That's a very good thing, because it's also what she does day-in and day-out in her line of work. With the staggering amount of different systems within a single submarine - there are separate "gangs" or crews to work hatches, shafting, painting, welding, and many more - Kanoe and her fellow machinists become specialized in particular areas. Her gang, the outside mechanics, do several tasks inside the subs. "There's just so much and a lot of us will never actually learn everything there is to know. I like to go on the boat every day and do work in different areas versus just staying in the shop and working on hydraulics."
Use All The Tools At Your Disposal
Sometimes a machinist must use their mind to scale a problem that sheer strength cannot solve. In fact, Kanoe's comrades have a motto for just such a thing: "work smarter, not harder." She explains, "there are times when I can't pull the wrench, but you give me a pipe and you put it on the end of the wrench, then you have the leverage and it's no problem. So you just have to think more. I know I can't swing a 15-lb. sledge like (the guys) can, but if it takes two hands, then you use two hands. Work smarter, not harder." While that's all well and good for most situations, a team approach is needed for some of the trickier or more demanding mechanical tasks. "There are times, I admit, when I've struggled and they've came and are like 'what are you doing?'" Kanoe laughs. "I'm trying, I'm trying, and then they help me. It helps me for the times I'm alone and I don't have anyone (else there)."
What's In A Ratio
In her line of work, Kanoe is used to being the only woman in a crowd of guys. She's also totally used to it. "The ratio from men to women in our shop, we have probably over 400 people and there's no more than 25 women. (The women) know all the women because there's so little of us." So do they hang out when they get the chance? "No, because there's so little of us and we're so spread out. We may not even see each other. But (the men) are very good, very professional. It's a lot of fun."
Keep Your Options Open
Kanoe realizes that if she hadn't taken a chance, she wouldn't be in a position to do the job she loves. In other words, roll the dice, and you never know what could happen. "Just be very open minded - I was," she said. "I never thought I'd love it, but I do. If you do like working with your hands, fixing things, then I would definitely say try it. And even if you're not, I don't see what's the harm in trying it, like how I did. I don't know what I'd be doing right now if I didn't get in here." She'll make about $25 per hour once she completes her apprenticeship.