FROM THE GOVERNOR: HAWAI‘I'S FUTURE BEGINS WITH US

In these turbulent times, it’s easy to be cynical about the future. But many of us still say “Lucky we live Hawai‘i.” With the Ige team working to keep us safe, our biggest hopes remain with our keiki, including our Little League world champions, and our community values. This month’s newsletter focuses on advances made in education — what Governor Ige calls “the most important function of government” — and other priorities for clean energy and the environment. These hallmarks of his administration will help to define us and our state’s future for generations to come. (Read more)

MILOLI‘I: AN ‘OCEAN CLASSROOM' FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

"To be more pono for future generations.” That vision is what drove a dedicated group of community members to work with the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and other organizations to develop administrative rules to protect ocean resources along 18 miles of coastal waters on Hawai‘i island. (Read more)

AS COAL PLANT CLOSES, MAJOR SOLAR FARM COMES ONLINE

Governor Ige, state officials and community stakeholders celebrated the launch of O‘ahu’s first utility-scale solar and battery project from Clearway Energy Group. The 39-megawatt solar project comes online at a time the state is shutting down its last coal plant and will help advance the state’s goal of 100% clean, renewable energy for electricity by 2045. (Read more)

EDUCATION BILLS MOVE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES FORWARD

Governor Ige called it “the largest state investment in pre-kindergarten education in Hawai‘i’s history . . . our first big opportunity to make progress in this area.” The legislation — HB 2000, now Act 257— provided $200 million for pre-K construction and helps deliver on a vision the governor described in his 2019 State of the State address. (Read more)

CHARTING A COURSE FOR SCHOOL INNOVATION, EMPOWERMENT

“Public education is the great enabler of dreams.”   — Governor David Ige

This vision of what Hawai‘i’s public schools and the University of Hawai‘i system could be has been at the heart of Governor Ige’s mission to improve education. Back in 1987 as a first-term legislator, the governor worked with newly elected Gov. John Waihee to establish the first of two public Hawaiian immersion programs at Waiau Elementary. (Read more)

EMBARKING ON A VISION TO EXPAND PRE-K FOR OUR KEIKI STATEWIDE

Life-changing . . . monumental.” That’s how Chad Keone Farias, the state’s new School Facilities Authority (SFA) executive director, described Act 257, the historic piece of legislation Governor Ige recently signed into law to support his and the legislature’s vision of expanded early childhood education. (Read more)

GETTING IN GEER: LIGHTING THE SPARK FOR HAWAI‘I STUDENTS

From leadership development and small business partnerships to natural resource management, art kits and genome sequencing — the 31 projects, supported by $8.1 million in the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund, run the gamut in innovation. But they also revolve around hands-on, real-world learning — challenging students and teachers to look at issues in new ways. (Read more)

UH AWARDED $16 MILLION FOR HIGH-DEMAND JOB TRAINING

Thanks to a three-year, $16.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, some 3,000 Hawai‘i workers will be trained for high-demand jobs in clean energy, creative industries, health care and technology sectors statewide over the next three years. The “Resilient Hawai‘i: Good Jobs Challenge” initiative includes a coalition of more than 70 employers, training providers and community-based organizations to get local residents back to work or increase their skills for new employment. (Read more)

IGNITING OUR DIGITAL FUTURE AS A STATE KNOWN FOR LEARNING

Imagine a Hawai‘i where 100% of our workforce is digitally literate and can adapt as technology evolves, learning the skills needed to succeed in a changing job market. That’s the vision of a forward-thinking Hawai‘iteam of state and local organizations dedicated to digital equity. The team has developed a five-year plan for advancing digital training for the state’s workforce. (Read more)

THE BIRTH OF HAWAI‘I'S BLUEPRINT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION

“How do we create a public education system that prepares graduates for their futures — not our past?”  — Governor David Ige
 
If it takes a village to raise a child, it took a whole state to come together on Governor Ige’s “Hawai‘i’s Blueprint for Public Education.” (Read more)

EXTENDING THE REACH OF GOODWILL AND ‘OHANA READERS

Once a teacher, always a teacher — even if you’re also the wife of the governor.  As a former educator, First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige has supported groups that help people transform their lives. Her work with Goodwill Hawaii is one example. She said what has impressed her most about the organization is its ability to diversify. “Some think of Goodwill as stores where you can find a bargain, but it’s so much more,” Mrs. Ige said. (Read more)

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Click Here to view the Complete Hawaii Governor David Y. Ige Capitol Connection Newsletter - September 2022.