My team and I visited Maui last month to commemorate the one-year mark of the Maui Wildfires. During my visit, I had the opportunity to connect with numerous members of the community. Listening to their stories and sharing in their grief was a profound experience.

The tragic events from a year ago remind us of the importance of community, compassion and solidarity. Each life lost in the wildfires was an indispensable part of our community. Their absence is keenly felt and we will always remember them as family. (Read more)

Governor Josh Green, M.D., his Federal Funds Team and the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT), in collaboration with Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation, federal agencies and the White House, hosted a three-day federal funds summit in July. The summit was a part of the Governor’s Investing in Hawaiʻi’s Future initiative to maximize federal funding for the state. (Read more)

The Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD) hosted a Health and Social Services Job Fair at Leeward Community College in August to support recruitment efforts for registered nurses, social workers, human service professionals and social service aids and assistants. These four classes of workers predominantly assist Hawai‘i’s residents through various professional and support services at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Department of Health, the Department of Human Ser­vices and Leeward Community College Human Resources Office. (Read more)

HAWAI‘I RECEIVES GREEN LIGHT FOR BROADBAND EQUITY, ACCESS AND  DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM

The National Telecommunications and Information Admin­istration (NTIA) of the Department of Commerce has given the green light to Hawai‘i’s Initial Proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which is a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative. This approval allows Hawai‘i to apply for funding and begin the implementation of the BEAD program, which marks significant progress in bridging the digital gap and working toward the President’s objective of providing affordable, dependable, high-speed Internet access to all Americans. (Read more)

HSEO LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE WEB PAGES FOR 2023 DECARBONIZATION REPORT 

HSEO has launched three interactive web pages that bring the 2023 “Pathways to Decarbonization” report to life. The  “Report Development, Assumptions and Methods” page allows visitors to dive into a comprehensive overview of the report's creation. On the “Results and Key Findings” page, users can explore the detailed quantitative and qualitative results. Users can also discover actionable recommendations to drive our decarbonization efforts forward on the “Recommendations and Follow-up Actions” page. (Read more)

UH BREAKS EXTRAMURAL FUNDING RECORD FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE  YEAR WITH $615.7M IN FY 2024

The University of Hawaiʻi (UH) set another extramural funding record with $615.7 million in fiscal year 2024 (FY 2024). This marks the third consecutive year that UH has topped half a billion dollars in funding with a record-setting total that is a $99.8 million or a 19.3% increase over UH’s previous record of $515.9 million set in FY 2023. Governor Josh Green, M.D., attended the August 12 news conference at UH Mānoa where UH officials made the announcement. (Read more)

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR HIGHLIGHTS!

Congratulations to our Department of Budget and Finance Deputy Director Sabrina Nasir for being accepted into the Hawai‘i Leadership Forum Omidyar Fellows program. 

Also, congratulations to Erica Yamauchi, the Office of Wellness and Resilience director of Communi­cations and Engagement, for receiving the prestigious Presidential Leadership Award at the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) 41st annual Koa Anvil Awards! (Read more)