Latest news with #DepartmentofAccountingandGeneralServices
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hawaiʻi's Eternal Flame Memorial burns once again
HONOLULU (KHON2) — After nearly a week of work, the flame in the Eternal Flame Memorial is burning once again. Army removes, reposts website documenting Japanese-American WWII soldiers On Friday, March 28, the Department of Accounting and General Services announced the flame was temporarily out due to a blocked gas line, something they said is a rare occurrence. Even though the blocked line did not pose a threat to the public's safety, state officials turned off the gas for the time being. After further investigation, officials determined that the interior of the copper tubing had flaked off, causing a blockage and preventing gas flow from reaching the from DAGS and Hawai'i Gas Co. worked tirelessly to remove the copper tubing and replace it with a 3/4″ galvanized pipe. 'DAGS credits Hawaiʻi Gas for working quickly alongside our crew to ensure the memorial works properly to best honor the memory of the military service members the flame burns for.' DAGS Director and Comptroller Keith Regan reminds the public that the Eternal Flame burns in remembrance of the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and honors those who lost their lives defending our freedom. Check out more news from around Hawaii The sculpture was created by Kaua'i sculptor Bumpei Akaji, a 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran and is part of the collection of the Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hawaii officials preparing for tariff effects on construction
HONOLULU (KHON2) — State officials are closely monitoring the potential local impacts of tariffs, especially on construction. The Department of Accounting and General Services said some projects may have to reduce their scope to stay on budget. How tariffs could impact Hawaii DAGS' budget for current projects in design is about $1.8 billion and that budget can not change, but costs will have to be cut if if national-level tariffs increase the price of local goods. 'So always our first choice when we have to cut costs is to cut the scope of the project. Typically, our projects are sized to provide the spaces necessary to provide services to the people of Hawaii,' said DAGS Public Works administrator Gordon Wood. The director of DAGS said tariffs on steel and aluminum could have the most severe impact on local construction — especially projects that are not yet in the construction phase. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 It is not clear when prices could spike. 'That's a really great question. I think that's the billion dollar question, right. As it relates to tariffs and how it's going to impact us. We simply don't know. Right? Because until something is finalized and, you know, the tariffs are either in play or they're not in play, really speaks to that question,' said DAGS comptroller Keith Regan. Supporters of the Trump Administration policy argue that tariffs would be reciprocal and an example of fair trade. What are tariffs and how do they work? 'So what you charge us, we'll charge you. That's fair trade. If they want it to be free trade, which would be ideal for everyone, then they should remove their tariffs on us,' said House Minority Floor Leader Rep. Diamond Garcia. 'Foreign companies from across the globe is now moving to America to invest and build and operate. That's good for America's economy.' DAGS added that planned, large-scale projects like a new prison on Oahu and a new Aloha Stadium will require a lot of metal products and it is a wait-and-see game to learn about impacts on those. 'We're already struggling with the budget on that and there's going to be a lot of steel there,' Wood said, 'even the new stadium there will be a lot of steel and so as the prices of materials go up, that stadium is going to get smaller.' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news 'There's a track record. President Trump served for four years previously and he implemented tariffs and the economy did not suffer the way that the media currently is painting it out to be,' said Rep. Diamond Garcia. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unemployed federal workers in Hawaii seek work at state job fair
MICHELLE BIR / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER August Barrozo searched job postings online Friday at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations hiring fair. 1 /2 MICHELLE BIR / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER August Barrozo searched job postings online Friday at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations hiring fair. MICHELLE BIR / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER Chelsea Miyasato, center, shared information about employment at the state Department of Accounting and General Services with prospective employees Friday at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations hiring fair. 2 /2 MICHELLE BIR / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER Chelsea Miyasato, center, shared information about employment at the state Department of Accounting and General Services with prospective employees Friday at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations hiring fair. MICHELLE BIR / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER August Barrozo searched job postings online Friday at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations hiring fair. MICHELLE BIR / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER Chelsea Miyasato, center, shared information about employment at the state Department of Accounting and General Services with prospective employees Friday at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations hiring fair. A job fair held Friday to tackle the state's labor shortages and assist workers affected by federal layoffs, resignations and job transitions drew about 100 attendees within the first 30 minutes, officials said. Hosted by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the event initially focused on filling positions within DLIR's divisions, offering job-seekers the chance to meet hiring managers, participate in on-the-spot interviews and receive job-matching and application assistance. However, interest from other state agencies led to a broader effort, incorporating multiple departments into the fair as part of Operation Hire Hawaii, a targeted outreach initiative aimed at streamlining the state's hiring process by fast-tracking qualified candidates into government jobs across Hawaii, providing opportunities for those affected by layoffs, funding cuts and other employment challenges. State Department of Accounting and General Services Deputy Comptroller Meoh-Leng Silliman said the department is building on DLIR's efforts to connect job-seekers with employment opportunities. While the hiring and job postings are aimed at federal employees who were laid off, the department also welcomes federal workers uncertain about their job status, as well as members of the public, to explore vacant positions. Two former U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service employees, Terri Dux and Kathryn Hong, were abruptly terminated Feb. 13 and attended the hiring fair to explore new job opportunities. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Dux, a former management analyst for the public affairs department, said she had worked as a contractor for four years before being offered a full-time federal position just eight months ago. 'I had my quarterly review that morning at 10 a.m., and my boss—who didn't know anything about what was going to happen—walked in and said, 'You're an excellent employee, I don't know what else to say, ' and then at about 6 p.m. I saw I got an email with the subject 'Termination, '' Dux said. Hong, who served as an executive assistant to the director, said she was at work when she learned about the email. She was at her desk when she heard a co-worker crying and went over to ask what had happened, only to find out the co-worker had received a termination letter in the middle of the workday. At first, Hong thought it might have been a mistake—but a few hours later she received one herself. Dux and Hong told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that 22 people in their office left, with some opting for early buyouts while about 15 were laid off Feb. 13. The email from the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center—the overarching HR department for the USDA—stated, 'Today was your last day … you're not a valued employee, you do not serve.' It also cited performance issues and claimed they did not serve the public interest. 'I was so shocked, everyone was so shocked. My boss was so shocked, ' Dux said. 'After that I just deep-dived into depression.' The layoffs were communicated solely via email, and Dux said there was no guidance on health insurance, which was set to end this week, or unemployment benefits. She received only the SF-8 form—a document used by federal employees to initiate unemployment claims—a week ago. Hong said she has about six years before she can retire and is at a loss about what to do after being laid off from the job she had always wanted and was happy to have. She attended the hiring fair to explore what the state has to offer and see whether any positions matched her experience. She picked up applications from the state Department of the Attorney General and the state Department of Taxation. 'They give you a way in, like an entry-level job, but it's up to you to work your way in, right ?' Hong said. 'So it definitely helps for us being here while unemployed because we have to log where we are, what we're doing and what we're inquiring about. That's exactly what we're doing here.' Caleb Weeks, an investigator in the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, has been in his role for about three years and was not affected by the recent layoffs. However, he attended the job fair to explore opportunities in case their situation changes. 'I feel like we just kind of have to stay on our toes with what's going on, ' Weeks said. 'Unlike some agencies, we weren't directly targeted. There's some anxiety and uncertainty but we're definitely hopeful.' Francis Amankwah, Weeks' colleague, explained that attending the job fair gives him a chance to see what positions are open and what might be of interest, even though he's not actively job hunting. Given the uncertainty around federal employees' jobs under the Trump administration, he said it doesn't hurt to explore.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unemployed federal workers seek work at state job fair
MICHELLE BIR / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER Chelsea Miyasato, center, shared information about employment at the state Department of Accounting and General Services with prospective employees Friday at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations hiring fair. 1 /2 MICHELLE BIR / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER Chelsea Miyasato, center, shared information about employment at the state Department of Accounting and General Services with prospective employees Friday at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations hiring fair. MICHELLE BIR / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER August Barrozo searched job postings online Friday at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations hiring fair. 2 /2 MICHELLE BIR / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER August Barrozo searched job postings online Friday at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations hiring fair. MICHELLE BIR / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER Chelsea Miyasato, center, shared information about employment at the state Department of Accounting and General Services with prospective employees Friday at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations hiring fair. MICHELLE BIR / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER August Barrozo searched job postings online Friday at the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations hiring fair. A job fair held Friday to tackle the state's labor shortages and assist workers affected by federal layoffs, resignations and job transitions drew about 100 attendees within the first 30 minutes, officials said. Hosted by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the event initially focused on filling positions within DLIR's divisions, offering job-seekers the chance to meet hiring managers, participate in on-the-spot interviews and receive job-matching and application assistance. However, interest from other state agencies led to a broader effort, incorporating multiple departments into the fair as part of Operation Hire Hawaii, a targeted outreach initiative aimed at streamlining the state's hiring process by fast-tracking qualified candidates into government jobs across Hawaii, providing opportunities for those affected by layoffs, funding cuts and other employment challenges. State Department of Accounting and General Services Deputy Comptroller Meoh-Leng Silliman said the department is building on DLIR's efforts to connect job-seekers with employment opportunities. While the hiring and job postings are aimed at federal employees who were laid off, the department also welcomes federal workers uncertain about their job status, as well as members of the public, to explore vacant positions. Two former U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service employees, Terri Dux and Kathryn Hong, were abruptly terminated Feb. 13 and attended the hiring fair to explore new job opportunities. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Dux, a former management analyst for the public affairs department, said she had worked as a contractor for four years before being offered a full-time federal position just eight months ago. 'I had my quarterly review that morning at 10 a.m., and my boss—who didn't know anything about what was going to happen—walked in and said, 'You're an excellent employee, I don't know what else to say, ' and then at about 6 p.m. I saw I got an email with the subject 'Termination, '' Dux said. Hong, who served as an executive assistant to the director, said she was at work when she learned about the email. She was at her desk when she heard a co-worker crying and went over to ask what had happened, only to find out the co-worker had received a termination letter in the middle of the workday. At first, Hong thought it might have been a mistake—but a few hours later she received one herself. Dux and Hong told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that 22 people in their office left, with some opting for early buyouts while about 15 were laid off Feb. 13. The email from the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center—the overarching HR department for the USDA—stated, 'Today was your last day … you're not a valued employee, you do not serve.' It also cited performance issues and claimed they did not serve the public interest. 'I was so shocked, everyone was so shocked. My boss was so shocked, ' Dux said. 'After that I just deep-dived into depression.' The layoffs were communicated solely via email, and Dux said there was no guidance on health insurance, which was set to end this week, or unemployment benefits. She received only the SF-8 form—a document used by federal employees to initiate unemployment claims—a week ago. Hong said she has about six years before she can retire and is at a loss about what to do after being laid off from the job she had always wanted and was happy to have. She attended the hiring fair to explore what the state has to offer and see whether any positions matched her experience. She picked up applications from the state Department of the Attorney General and the state Department of Taxation. 'They give you a way in, like an entry-level job, but it's up to you to work your way in, right ?' Hong said. 'So it definitely helps for us being here while unemployed because we have to log where we are, what we're doing and what we're inquiring about. That's exactly what we're doing here.' Caleb Weeks, an investigator in the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, has been in his role for about three years and was not affected by the recent layoffs. However, he attended the job fair to explore opportunities in case their situation changes. 'I feel like we just kind of have to stay on our toes with what's going on, ' Weeks said. 'Unlike some agencies, we weren't directly targeted. There's some anxiety and uncertainty but we're definitely hopeful.' Francis Amankwah, Weeks' colleague, explained that attending the job fair gives him a chance to see what positions are open and what might be of interest, even though he's not actively job hunting. Given the uncertainty around federal employees' jobs under the Trump administration, he said it doesn't hurt to explore.
Associated Press
18-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
The Hawaii state Capitol could be closed for years to fix aging systems
A major upgrade of the Hawaiʻi State Capitol to refurbish core functions of the historic structure could cost as much as $100 million and keep the building closed for a prolonged period of time. State Comptroller Keith Regan said basic building infrastructure such as the electrical, water and wastewater systems in the Capitol are outdated and aging, and components of the air conditioning system also need to be replaced. 'The internal guts of the building, the mechanical and the electrical systems, are beyond their life and need to be replaced so that we prevent any sort of potential major building failure and shut down,' he said. Regan said estimates of the total cost range from $50 million to $100 million, but it is not yet clear when construction will start or how long the work will take. The project will require the Legislature and the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor to temporarily relocate. Gov. Josh Green's proposed budget for the next two years includes $2 million for preliminary planning for the project, including identifying alternate sites where lawmakers, the top executive branch leadership and their staffs could operate during construction. Previous Repairs Didn't Fix Everything The Capitol building was originally built for $25 million and dedicated in 1969. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978, and features striking design components such as the two cone-shaped structures that symbolize volcanoes rising out of the ocean. The building was designed to be open and welcoming to the public, with a wide lanai on each floor where politicians and community members have traditionally mingled during the legislative sessions. The building underwent major renovations in the 1990s that cost more than $69 million, and included costly work to remove asbestos from inside the structure. But Regan said important electrical and other infrastructure was not replaced as part of that project. 'Unfortunately, I mean, we're really just looking at the things that hadn't been addressed during the '90s, that should have been addressed in terms of infrastructure,' he said. The backbone infrastructure in the building wasn't replaced as part of the 1990s renovation, according to the Department of Accounting and General Services, because there was not enough funding to do so. In the last two decades the state has spent more than $56 million on an array of smaller repair projects such as replacing roofing and ceiling components, renovating the elevators and refurbishing cooling systems. The Capitol's reflecting pools, a major architectural feature of the building, are now being replaced as part of yet another $63.1 million project to resolve longstanding problems with leaks into the offices and parking facility below. That project will include waterproofing the pools, replacing the water feature with a glass-like surface, and associated construction. 'At the end of the day, what we want to do is address all of the lingering issues that have existed in that facility for decades that we just have not been able to address,' Regan said. 'Imagine during the middle of a session if the system, the electrical system failed, and what kind of impact that might have, right?' Regan said. 'I mean, it would be very, very disruptive, and we don't want to go down that path.' The state also needs to upgrade the data systems in the building to support the rapid expansion in video conferencing and streaming in the wake of the pandemic. Where To Move The Legislature? But moving lawmakers and the governor's office to locations where they can continue to function — and the public can participate — is complicated. To prepare for the Capitol renovations in the 1990s, the state developed the Leiopapa A Kamehameha Building — better known as the State Office Tower — at 235 South Beretania St. to house the Legislature, governor and other agencies. That tower is now 100% occupied. Regan is not ruling out the possibility the state might do something similar this time around. Finding a suitable place may involve buying or leasing a downtown office building, he said, or perhaps redeveloping a site such as the land under the Kīnaʻu Hale building at Punchbowl and Beretania streets. That structure now houses the state Department of Health. Green's request that lawmakers earmark $2 million would allow them to hire a consultant to develop those kinds of options. How the relocation issues are resolved would partly drive the timeline for the rest of the Capitol project. In a written statement, Green said: 'The state Capitol sorely needs critical renovations amounting to a major overhaul of systems including electrical, water, sewer, air conditioning systems and certain elevators. Failing to do so will put the facility at risk for forced closure.' Asbestos Was A Headache Before, And Could Be Again The last Capitol renovation project 30 years ago proved to be a major headache for former Gov. John Waiheʻe's administration, in part because removing asbestos from the building triggered change orders and delays that drove up the cost of the project. More than three decades later, 'it's the same thing. I mean, the Capitol has to be renovated again,' Waiheʻe said. Asbestos was a commonly used fire-retardant in the 1960s that was banned in building construction in 1978. It had been installed throughout the Capitol building, and safely dealing with it dramatically increased the cost of even simple work such as changing out a light fixture, Waiheʻe said. Finally 'we had to do it. I mean, there's a point where you've got to do it,' he said. 'You know, we're not the best place when it comes to maintenance — real, active, continuous maintenance,' Waiheʻe said, referring to Hawaiʻi generally. He cited the examples of the Hawaiʻi Convention Center's leaking roof and the closure of the deteriorating Aloha Stadium. Waiheʻe said he was assured all asbestos had been removed from the Capitol during the project in the 1990s, but 'perfection always is a difficult standard.' He acknowledged more might be discovered once work gets underway. Regan said the planned Capitol project involves 'extensive work that has been held off for literally decades. And things don't get cheaper.' 'So this, this is a long project. This is going to be a complex project. It's probably going to end up being a very costly project,' Regan said. 'But you know, this is such an important piece of our community, this asset, the facility itself. 'The Capitol really is the people's place, and we need to care for it that way.' ___
