#Workforce Development

Kupu, Hawai‘i’s leading conservation and youth education organization, today announced that applications are now open for the Conservation Leadership Development Program and Kupu ʻĀina Corps. Recent high school graduates, college graduates and young professionals looking to establish a career in conservation are strongly encouraged to apply by Sept. 12, 2026. 

Maui County officials have launched an initiative aimed at overhauling human resources practices across county departments, the Department of Management announced. The initiative, called Align HR, will update HR-related administrative rules, policies and procedures while developing a long-term strategy to support the county’s workforce, according to the department. Mayor Richard Bissen said the effort reflects […]

The Construction Industry of Maui will hold its fourth annual golf tournament Sept. 19 at The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course, with proceeds benefiting construction and skilled trades education programs for Maui County residents.

Mayor Richard Bissen signed into law Friday morning an approximately $1.61 billion fiscal year 2027 budget, officially closing a public and Maui County Council review process that began March 25.

State House District 14 candidate Sne Patel announced that he has earned the endorsement of the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters, marking additional labor support for his campaign. 

Junior Achievement of Hawaiʻi has launched a search for its next president and chief executive officer following the announcement that David Earles, who has led the organization for four years, plans to leave to relocate out of state.

State House District 14 candidate Sne Patel announced that he has earned the endorsement of four labor organizations: the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association (OPCMIA) Local 630, Teamsters Local 996, SMART Local 293 (Sheet Metal Workers) and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 50.

The University of Hawaiʻi has officially posted the job description for a highly anticipated, newly created position: the associate vice president (AVP) for workforce development. Serving as the primary architect for a cohesive workforce strategy across all 10 UH campuses, this leader will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between academia and industry to meet the pressing labor needs of the State of Hawaiʻi.

Surrounded by supporters on May 18, 2026, Keoni Kuoha formally announced his candidacy for the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives, District 12, representing the Maui communities of Makawao, Hāliʻimaile, Pukalani, Kula, Pūlehu, ʻUlupalakua, Kanaio and Kahikinui.

The Lahaina Energy Partnership (LEP) invites Lahaina community members to participate in the next Community Co-Design Workshop on Monday, May 18, 2026, at the Lahainaluna Cafeteria. Doors open at 5 p.m., with the program beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The Bissen 2026 campaign announced the endorsement of Mayor Richard Bissen by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1186, representing more than 3,000 members across Hawaiʻi’s electrical and skilled workforce.

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means advanced the State Budget Bill, HB1800 HD1 SD1, Wednesday. “As the Senate strives to preserve future income tax cuts for working families, the budget reflects a multi-pronged approach that captures underutilized funds to prioritize resources for essential public services,” according to the Hawaiʻi State Senate Majority.

Several bills advanced by the House Committee on Labor address priorities set by the House Majority at the outset of the 2026 Legislative Session, particularly relating to workforce shortages, preserving the social safety net, and diversifying and strengthening the state’s economy.

The Hawaiʻi State Legislature will convene in regular session on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, marking the second year of the 33rd Legislature. As the legislative session begins, the House Majority Caucus has outlined its top priorities for the upcoming year.

The Hawai’i Senate Majority today announced its 2026 legislative priorities in advance of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature’s Opening Day on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.

Maui’s only free live-in career training program for young adults is calling on the community to help spread the word: Maui Job Corps Center in Makawao is open, enrolling and needs new students to stay active.

Katie Taladay, director of Workforce Development at the Maui Economic Development Board, is the Maui winner of the 2025 Workforce Development Hero Award, the Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced.

US Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted in full Committee on Tuesday against the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that he says cuts core assistance programs by $23.9 billion, or 11%, from current FY 2025 funding.

More than 800 high school students across 15 campuses statewide earned workforce development credentials during the 2024–25 academic year through the ClimbHI Service Excellence Certificate.

Maui Economic Opportunity will be suspending a three-decade-old on-the-job training program for Maui County kupuna on June 30 after receiving notification Monday that its contract had been terminated due to the uncertainty of federal funding.