Gov. Josh Green signed an executive order Tuesday implementing a new employment initiative that promises to expedite the state hiring process and fast-track qualified candidates for jobs across the state.

What You Need To Know

  • Under the new Operation Hire Hawaii initiative, candidates will be referred immediately to hiring agencies for consideration
  • The state is seeking candidates in engineering, information technology, planning, accounting, human resources, nursing, investigation and other fields
  • The governor’s order specifically references the Trump administration’s recent efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce and the opportunity this provides the state
  • Department of Human Resources Development director Brenna Hashimoto said her department will work closely with other state agencies to make it faster for qualified candidates to find employment

 

“The state of Hawaii is committed to respecting and valuing its employees,” Green said. “As we witness the very quickly changing landscape of the federal government, federal workforce and federal policies, this order directs state agencies to review candidates and make a conditional job offer within 14 days of receiving an individual’s application.”

Under the new Operation Hire Hawaii initiative, candidates will be referred immediately to hiring agencies for consideration.

The state is seeking candidates in engineering, information technology, planning, accounting, human resources, nursing, investigation and other fields.

The governor’s order specifically references the Trump administration’s recent efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce and the opportunity this provides the state.

“Many of the displaced employees possess expertise in areas of great importance to Hawaii, including environmental protection, public health, infrastructure development, cybersecurity and economic policy, which align with the strategic priorities of the state,” the executive order stated.

“The recruitment of skilled professionals who have been impacted by federal funding cuts presents an opportunity for Hawaii to strengthen its workforce, enhance the capacity of state government agencies and fill critical skill gaps in state operations,” it stated.

Department of Human Resources Development director Brenna Hashimoto said her department will work closely with other state agencies to make it faster for qualified candidates to find employment.

 “We are eager to welcome those impacted by the changes at the federal level to our workforces, as we believe they will make an immediate, positive impact,” she said.

Further information on Operation Hire Hawaii will soon be available on the DHRD website.


Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.