Latest news with #DepartmentofAccountingandGeneralServices
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Hawaii law creates broadband office to close connectivity gap
COURTESY OFFICE OF LT. GOV. SYLVIA LUKE Beth Rasmussen, a participant in the original digital navigator pilot program, shared Monday how one-on-one support helped her learn to manage files, respond to emails and build a resume. COURTESY OFFICE OF LT. GOV. SYLVIA LUKE Beth Rasmussen, a participant in the original digital navigator pilot program, shared Monday how one-on-one support helped her learn to manage files, respond to emails and build a resume. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, serving as acting governor while Gov. Josh Green is out of state, on Monday signed two bills into law aimed at closing Hawaii's digital divide by establishing a centralized state Broadband Office and expanding digital literacy services. House Bill 934, now Act 201, officially establishes Hawaii's Broadband Office within the state Department of Accounting and General Services. The legislation empowers the office to lead broadband infrastructure development statewide, coordinate funding programs, and ensure high-speed internet access reaches underserved communities—from urban public housing to remote rural areas. 'With the signing of House Bill 934, Hawaii is taking a necessary step toward a future where every resident, regardless of geography, regardless of age or income, can connect to and use affordable, reliable broadband internet to access education, health care and economic opportunity, ' Luke said during the bill-signing ceremony. The new office will be responsible for administering federal and state broadband grants, overseeing deployment of internet infrastructure, and working with the public and private sectors on Hawaii's connectivity goals, state officials said. The legislation also funds six new 'digital navigator ' positions based at public libraries statewide, which officials say builds on the success of a 2023 pilot program. The digital navigators will help residents with using devices, connecting to the internet, and using online services, including telehealth appointments, job applications and government programs. Luke said the state's efforts are 'about giving more internet options to that tutu in Pa 'uilo who cannot rely on her spotty internet connection for her health care … It's about a job seeker in Hanapepe trying to fill out an online application but gets stuck because the website only accepts a specific file format. And it's about an uncle in Waimanalo who just got a brand new tablet and wants to go online to do online banking, but doesn't know where to start.' According to state officials, the 2023 digital navigator pilot served residents at seven libraries. The state has opened a formal Request for Proposals for the Hawaii Community Digital Navigators Project, which would place trained navigators in all 51 public library branches. Proposals are due by June 30 at 2 p.m. and are available online at State Librarian Stacey Aldrich highlighted the program's success, saying that residents were able to book one-on-one sessions with staff to learn or update essential digital skills. She said the pilot was highly effective and that the state is working to expand the program statewide. 'We know that in this digital age, we have to be invested in making sure everybody has connectivity—but also that they have the skills that they need to connect to the world around them. And so for public libraries across the state, we're dedicated to helping our communities, ' Aldrich said. At Monday's ceremony, state House Speaker Nadine Nakamura underscored how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed serious connectivity gaps in her own community on Kauai. 'Residents of Hawaii who were laid off from jobs and could not access unemployment insurance benefits, people who could not access other state and county benefits, and also for students who either did not have access to the internet or whose families could not afford the cost of that internet connection, ' Nakamura said. 'This bill is so important, because it helps to level the playing field. It helps to lift families up and have access to resources over the internet that we, many of us, take for granted.' Luke also signed House Bill 1052 into Act 202, which ensures that critical public alerts—such as weather warnings, health advisories or emergency notifications—are accessible to all residents, including those with disabilities or low print literacy. The law mandates that state communications be designed to reach more people regardless of their ability to read or access traditional formats, strengthening inclusivity across government messaging systems. See more : 2 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
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.
