Galvanizing the local creative industry – During the pandemic with people hunkered down at home, demand for online entertainment skyrocketed. Hawai‘i became one of the safest spots in the world to film. DBEDT’s Creative Industries Division and the Hawai‘i Film Office worked with unions and producers to create “The Safe Way Forward,” a plan with ...
Read More New tech opportunities in a Hawai‘i 2.0 future
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The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation has been an essential part of the state’s COVID-19 response — from helping to improve the travel experience at airports and making sure goods kept flowing through the state’s harbors to keeping highways in good repair throughout the state. Of major significance are the several modernization projects completed this past ...
Read More Investing in infrastructure for an enduring legacy
After decades of relying on antiquated, paper-based systems, the Ige administration has modernized many government operations across multiple state departments to better serve the public. The Department of Taxation’s (DoTAX) new software upgrade is more user-friendly, more secure and speedier. DoTAX also went after noncompliant vacation rentals, collecting $33.7 million in taxes, interest and penalties. ...
Read More Modernizing state government for better public service
In a pandemic, what kind of help matters most? For First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige, the answers have been food for families and books for children. The reach of Kaukau 4 Keiki and ‘Ohana Readers — two of the projects she championed over the past year — has been impressive. But what’s even more gratifying, she ...
Read More Nourishing families, keiki in ways that matter
Public schools welcome back students – The smiles said it all as students, teachers and staff finally returned in person to campuses statewide. The DOE worked closely with the DOH to ensure public schools could reopen safely. Many schools launched student vaccination efforts and provided case counts for parents and the public. All students received ...
Read More Schools, colleges stay strong for a new generation
December 2021 From the governor: A new phase and climate action November 2021 From the governor: ‘Cautious optimism’ for the road ahead October 2021 From the governor: Vaccinations, testing to save lives September 2021 From the governor: It’s up to all of us to stop the surge August 2021 From the governor: Vaccinations more important ...
Read More Capitol Connection 2021
If Hawai‘i is going to survive climate change, it will be up to us and future generations to lead the way. Much of the work falls to the state’s natural resource specialists who sometimes risk their own lives to protect “the rarest of the rare” native species. From hiking Maunakea’s frigid slopes and rappelling Waimea ...
Read More Protecting Hawai‘i – from the mountains to the sea
Congratulations, Hawai‘i! We’ve survived another year of COVID-19, managed the Delta surge and vaccinated nearly 71.1% (adjusted on 11/29) of our state’s population. Although we need to stay vigilant, Hawai‘i continues to have one of the lowest COVID-19 infection rates in the nation. We’ve worked hard together to reach this point, with the hope of ...
Read More From the governor: A new phase and climate action
The state Department of Health’s push for free COVID-19 vaccinations continues, especially among children recently approved to receive the Pfizer vaccine. “The priority right now is getting those 5 to 11 years old vaccinated to help further mitigate the spread of COVID in our community and help us get back to where we want to ...
Read More DOH urges vaccinations for keiki and boosters for adults