Happy New Year! In preparation for the 2024 legislative session, I submitted an Executive Supplemental Budget for the fiscal biennium 2023-2025 to the House and Senate last month. The proposal allocates funds for addressing Maui’s recovery from the August 2023 wildfires and reducing the risk of future wildfire disasters across the state. While supporting Maui is top of mind, I remain dedicated to pursuing all my key initiatives to help our financially struggling families through tax breaks, creating more housing, easing homelessness, expanding access to health care, improving education, and mitigating the effects of climate change. (Read more)

The Hilo and Waimea Family Courts conducted a ceremony to unite 22 Hawai‘i island keiki with their “Forever Families.” The annual “Forever Families” event occurs on the Friday before Thanksgiving. To celebrate the keiki and families, courtrooms were turned into magical winter wonderlands, adorned with blue, silver and white balloon arches and displays, and shimmering backdrops. (Read more)

The Hawai‘i Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) received the Top Cybersecurity category award from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers at its 2023 State IT Recognition Awards this past October in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Selected from nearly 100 submissions, the award recognizes the ETS project named “Surfing the Cyber Risk Monster Wave,” which presents the state of Hawai‘i Cyber Risk Scoring System (CRSS). (Read more)

DHS MEDICAID/MED-QUEST DIVISION HONORED WITH 2023 NAMD AWARD

“Doing the right things in the right way at the right time.” This is what Hawai‘i Medicaid Director Judy Mohr Peterson said when she used the word “pono” to describe her team as it received the annual Spotlight Award given by the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD). This distinction is awarded to states that demonstrate the best of Medicaid leadership and illuminate the path forward toward continuous improvement for the program. (Read more)

OWR AIDS MAUI'S HEALING JOURNEY

In partnership with Hui Ho‘omalu and Laukanaka, Kamehameha Schools, Maui Arts & Cultural Center (MACC), and the hotel shelters, the Office of Wellness and Resilience (OWR) has been coordinating weekend gatherings at the Hyatt Regency Maui and Royal Lahaina Hotel since early October, including music, cultural, and family activities. Kūkākūkā (talk story) and mental health support are also available for individuals and in group settings from local licensed mental health professionals who have had both specialized post-disaster mental health and cultural training. (Read more)

HEROES AND HELPERS EVENT BRINGS JOY TO 100 KEIKI

Amid the holiday shopping season, 100 keiki visited the Hilo Target store early in the morning on December 9 for the Heroes and Helpers event. Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Target, and first responders partnered to bring joy to the local community. Target stores across the country and in Hawai‘i have hosted ‘Heroes and Helpers’ events for more than a decade. (Read more)

When Aunty stopped by Emergency Management Reserve Corps Specialist Randall Duldulao’s station at the Lahaina Disaster Recovery Center, he didn’t know he would be profoundly affected by the experience. All he saw was a person who needed help, and he was there to provide it. (Read more)

About the Newsletter Design:

Created by longtime local design firm Eric Woo Design Inc., the newsletter header, or nameplate features symbolism that represents the title, “A New Path Forward.” The background color transitions from dark to lighter green as a metaphor for moving toward a goal, or light. The lei encircling our major islands represents both the giver (Governor Green’s Administration) and the recipient (the people of Hawai‘i) and shows the connection guided by affection and respect. The repeated, orange triangular ‘ohe kapala design visualizes a path to the future and reflects that forward movement is rarely perfectly straight.