Three Hawaiʻi programs take national IT award honors

Three Hawaiʻi state departments were honored at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) 2024 State IT Recognition Awards in New Orleans Oct. 1 for their technology project entries, including one taking the top award in the Emerging & Innovative Technologies category.

NASCIO received more than 120 submissions from its member states and territories which showcase the use of information technology to address critical business problems, more easily connect citizens to their government, improve business processes and create new opportunities that improve the lives of citizens.

“The NASCIO judges thoroughly review all submitted projects to see what technology solutions can actually make a difference in the lives of residents,” said state Chief Information Officer (CIO) and head of the Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) Christine Sakuda. “The nationwide competition is tough and these awards show that Hawaiʻi’s IT programs are right there among the best.”

The Hawaiʻi State Energy Office’s (HSEO) “Geospatial Decision Support System” (GDSS) tool was recognized by NASCIO as the National Award Recipient, its highest distinction for technology excellence in state government, in the Emerging & Innovative Technologies category.

The tool was developed with a Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Grant in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, the Office of Homeland Security, Statewide GIS Program, technology company ICF and various energy businesses including Hawaiian Electric Company, PAR Hawaiʻi, Island Energy Systems, Aloha Petroleum, Hawaiʻi Gas and Hawaiʻi Fueling Facilities Corporation.

The GDSS is a web-based mapping and data exploration tool that was built to provide end users the ability to explore, query and understand critical energy infrastructure, community lifeline key customers, and hazard geospatial data compiled throughout the development of the energy hazard mitigation project.

“Enhancing the resilience of Oʻahu’s energy infrastructure is critically important to our ability to secure our energy supply during an all-hazard emergency response and recovery,” said HSEO Chief Energy Officer Mark Glick. “Advanced assessment, using state-of-the-art GIS visualization tools such as the GDSS, allows us to map interdependencies and prioritize risk mitigation strategies and investments.”

The state Department of Human Services (DHS) was selected as an Award Finalist in the Business Process Innovations category for its entry “AI-Powered Statewide Branch Services Desk” (SBSD).

The SBSD is focused on custom technical solutions built on an AI-driven platform, balanced with people-centered attention, to integrate advanced technology into service delivery, which paves the way for streamlining several processes and maximizing efficiencies for both DHS and its clients. Having a virtual agent available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, allows clients to easily access information.

Selected as an Award Finalist in the Cross-Boundary Collaboration & Partnerships category was the “Hawaiʻi’s Career Acceleration Navigator” (HI CAN) which was developed by a cross-agency team of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Department of Human Services and ETS.

Working with the National Governors Association Workforce Innovation Network, the team developed a comprehensive and user-friendly online service delivery hub in partnership with Research Improving People’s Lives (RIPL). HI CAN is a virtual one-stop website that leverages cloud technology to provide job seekers not only with customized pathways to employment but also connects them to other services provided by the state of Hawai’i that can help support them and their families while looking for work.

To see the award submissions visit: https://www.nascio.org/awards/