People with unemployment benefit issues will be able to meet in person with staff at state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) offices on every island starting Sept. 7, director Anne Perreira-Eustaquio has announced. Staff will handle walk-in claimants in the mornings and scheduled appointments in the afternoons. DLIR will continue its call center ...
Read More DLIR offices to open Sept. 7
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Graduating at 17 during the pandemic, Morning-Glory saw her senior year of high school cut short, and she felt unsure about what to do next. Hearing this, a family member referred her to Goodwill Hawaiʻi in Hilo for support. Within a few days, Morning was able to get a job at a fast-food restaurant but ...
Read More Finding a career path through Remote Ready Hawai‘i
Like so many businesses and non-profits, Goodwill Hawai‘i had to pivot for the first time in its history to online shopping when its stores closed during the pandemic. “We were amazed at the response,” said CEO Katy Chen of the https://www.goodwillhawaii.org/shop-online/ site. “We’re on track to break $1 million in sales — our first full ...
Read More Goodwill and other nonprofits pivot in a pandemic
When COVID-19 hit the state, one frustration for those looking for help was applying to multiple — and separate — state programs — many for the first time. To address this, the governor’s office, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Department of Human Services, and the Office of Enterprise Technology ...
Read More Hawai‘i among first to receive NGA workforce grants
The multiple benefits of electrifying vehicles in Hawai‘i took center stage with the recent signing of three bills by Governor Ige. The bills promote electric vehicle adoption and reinforce the state’s role as a leader in reducing the impacts of climate change. Legislators, state officials and other clean energy advocates joined in celebrating the progress ...
Read More State commits to promoting electric vehicle adoption
When it comes to climate change and protecting our environment, actions speak louder than words. That message of collective action was delivered last month when Governor Ige signed a suite of bills into law addressing local food production, sea level rise and economic diversification. “I applaud the Legislature’s focus on sustainability issues this session,” the ...
Read More Taking action on Hawai‘i 2050 Sustainability Plan
All students at Hawai‘i’s 257 public schools will receive free breakfast and lunch for the 2021-2022 school year, thanks to a nationwide waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Federal funds will reimburse state education departments for meal costs. The waiver aims to minimize the possible spread of COVID-19 at schools by eliminating meal payment ...
Read More State’s public school students to receive free meals
The state Department of Health doesn’t want you gambling with your life — or the lives of others. That’s why they’re leading the charge to get as many people in Hawai‘i vaccinated as possible. “Ninety-eight percent of the COVID-19 cases we’ve seen recently are in unvaccinated people,” said DOH spokesperson Brooks Baehr. “The goal of ...
Read More First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, governor and health officials urge getting vaccinated
With the eviction moratorium expiring at 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 6, renters and landlords are being urged to familiarize themselves with Act 57, a new law that changes eviction procedures for non-payment of rent and incentivizes mediation for both renters and landlords. “The state, counties, Legislature, Judiciary and service providers are working together to keep ...
Read More New law provides for mediation for renters, landlords
We’re not out of the woods yet. Just when we thought we could relax our guard, the new Delta variant of COVID-19 has led to a spike in cases and made the push for vaccinations even more urgent. State, county and community partners can only do so much. It’s up to all of us to ...
Read More From the governor: Vaccinations more important than ever