Why now is the time for Hawaiʻi to act boldly on workforce investment

Over the next decade, more than 167,000 young people in Hawaiʻi will enter the workforce. Whether they are able to find meaningful, well-supported career pathways—or face limited options that force them to leave their home communities—depends on the choices we make today. In our From Crisis to Opportunity report, we outlined the stakes: a generational challenge that demands coordinated investment and long-term vision.

The good news is that momentum is already building. Across Hawaiʻi, public and private partners are aligning around the vision set forth in the State Unified Plan, led by the Workforce Development Council. Sector partnerships are expanding, new earn-and-learn models are emerging, and community-based leaders are stepping up to co-design solutions. But if we want to turn this progress into lasting change, we need better information to guide our efforts. The newly released 2023 Hawaiʻi Workforce Funding Review offers a starting point—a baseline to help us understand how workforce dollars are currently being spent, where the gaps lie, and what it will take to build a system that truly works for Hawaiʻi’s people.

🚀 New Opportunity from Vibrant Hawaiʻi: Hawaiʻi Island’s KōCreate Initiative Launches in August with a Bold Vision for Community-Led Futures.

Looking to level up your leadership and design skills? Check out Koʻokua CoCreate, an innovative six-month learning journey grounded in seven core themes that prepare participants to lead with clarity, connection, and purpose. These include visionary communication, relational leadership, and strategic design—equipping participants to inspire action, hold inclusive spaces, and design community-rooted initiatives focused on human-centered design, equity-based facilitation, and community innovation.

Open to all who want to reimagine systems and create lasting change in Hawaiʻi 🌱

🔗 Learn more + sign up: vibranthawaii.org/kocreate

We’re proud to share that the Hawai‘i Workforce Funders Collaborative (HWFC) will be participating in a plenary panel session at the upcoming Hawai‘i Conservation Conference (HCC), taking place July 2025.

Hosted by the Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance (HCA), this annual gathering brings together conservation professionals, researchers, and community leaders to advance collaborative efforts in protecting Hawai‘i’s unique natural resources.

HWFC’s Executive Director Matt Stevens will join the panel to share insights on how cross-sector collaboration and workforce investment strategies are strengthening conservation career pathways in Hawai‘i. We’re honored to be included alongside partners such as:

• Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance

• Natural Resource Sector Partnership

• Kupu Program Youth Alumni

• Emerging Youth Leaders in Conservation

🔍 Plenary Spotlight: “Hawai‘i Local Natural Resource Workforce Panel”

📍 Session Location: Room 316 B/C, Hawai’i Convention Center
📅 Date & Time: Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm 
🗂️ Session Type: Plenary
🏆 Alliance Award Presented: Conservation Innovation

Ready to level up your leadership skills with local support?
We’ve got just the thing.

In partnership with Good Jobs Hawai‘i and the City & County of Honolulu, the University of Hawai‘i – Kapi‘olani Community College’s Community Education and Workforce Development program is launching a dynamic hybrid leadership course for managers, running from July 17 to August 5, 2025.

This short course blends in-person and online sessions focused on real-world leadership tools, essential workplace skills, and strategies to help you lead with confidence and clarity.

📝 Limited spots available!
Click the flyer to learn more and apply today.

From Crisis to Opportunity: Shaping Hawaiʻi’s Workforce Future

Hawai‘i is at a turning point. Of the 170,000 youth entering the workforce in the next decade, nearly 1 in 3 may face limited options to build a sustainable future here.

To change that, HWFC released the From Crisis to Opportunity report in January 2025—a bold call to action that lays out a collaborative vision: by 2035, all working-age residents should have access to family-sustaining, future-ready careers.

The report offers a strategic path forward—backed by data—to dismantle barriers, align investments, and build a workforce system where local talent thrives.

🎙 Join us for a fireside chat with Matt Stevens our Executive Director, at the HEC Talent Summit on July 11 to explore how employers can lead with equity, innovation, and impact.

👉 Register now and be part of Hawai‘i’s workforce transformation.

Registration Now Open: Workforce Synergy Summit II

We’re excited to share that registration is now open for the Workforce Synergy Summit II, hosted by the Hawai‘i Workforce Development Council. Join us for this half-day event focused on strengthening collaboration, aligning strategies, and advancing a shared vision for Hawaiʻi’s workforce future.

📅 When: Wednesday, July 9, 2025 | ⏰ 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM 📍 Where: Honolulu Community College, Loui Room – 2nd Floor, Building 2 (Parking available in Lot #1)

At this summit, our Executive Director Matt Stevens will debut the 2023 Workforce Funding Review Report—a new tool that not only maps how workforce dollars are being spent across programs and partners, but also offers valuable insights for future planning and investment. This data snapshot will help ensure resources are effectively aligned with Hawai‘i’s evolving economic and workforce needs.

Following the successful launch of the first summit in December 2024, this second gathering will continue momentum around Hawaiʻi’s State Unified Workforce Development Plan. Attendees can look forward to:

• Key updates from our Pillar Catalyst Teams

• Thought-provoking dialogue on emerging workforce challenges

• Data-informed conversations around metrics of success

• A look ahead at Hawai‘i’s Workforce Development North Star—our bold, collaborative vision for the future

🎟 Space is limited. REGISTER HERE to secure your spot.

Opening Doors: Reflections from the Symposium

We were honored to attend the Pathways to Meaningful Work Symposium on June 25th, hosted by Chaminade University of Honolulu’s Prison Education Program. This powerful, day-long gathering brought together a diverse group of stakeholders—educators, workforce leaders, justice system partners, and community organizations—with a shared purpose: to explore how we can create more education-to-employment opportunities for justice-impacted individuals in Hawai‘i. The event highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration in building systems that not only reduce barriers to reentry, but also open up real pathways to meaningful, sustaining work. It was an inspiring space for learning, storytelling, and envisioning a more inclusive workforce future—where opportunity is truly accessible to all. Mahalo to Chaminade University for convening such a timely and transformative conversation.

📍 For more details on the symposium and Chaminade’s Prison Education Program, click here.

Big news! HWFC is featured in the April 2025 issue of Hawai‘i Business Magazine! The article highlights real stories, local workforce challenges, and insights from our Executive Director Matt Stevens, on the strength and power of cross-sector collaboration. We’re proud to be part of this movement to build a more resilient, equitable future for Hawai‘i’s workers.

Read it here: How to Fix a Core Problem: https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/how-to-fix-a-core-problem.../

Learn how you can join us in this important work—visit our website

#HawaiiWorkforce #FutureOfWork #HWFC

We’re excited to share this exciting panel discussion from our partners at the Hawaii Workforce Development Council and the American Job Centers of Hawai’i.

BREAKING BARRIERS: REAL TALK FROM REAL EMPLOYERS

Whether you are an employee, a workforce development advocate, a non-profit professional, or an educator, this session is for you! Learn directly from three organizations which have successfully partnered with the American Job Centers (AJCs).  They will share their real-world experiences, lessons learned, and practical advice on how they navigated the system and overcame initial concerns.

We’re excited to invite you to an insightful panel discussion hosted by the Employer Engagement Committee, which is chaired by Derek Kanehira, Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Alexander and Baldwin. The panel discussion will be facilitated by Mark Menard of the American Job Center Oahu.

The panel will be held on:

Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 1:30 pm over Zoom. 

See flyer for additional details. Please note: You do not need to pre-register for this event. Access the live session via the zoom details below.

• Zoom LInk: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87933808655?pwd=JTa9AGG4LoZboCDkISk2TkaKDSs1RG.1

• Meeting ID: 879 3380 8655

• Passcode: 55723

For More Information about the event: Contact evan.palmer@hawaii.gov

About the Hawaii Workforce Development Council: An attached agency of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations with 41 members, serving as the policy and planning advisor to the State and Governor on workforce issues. Federally mandated, the Hawaii State Workforce Development Council brings together leaders in the business, labor, education and public sectors to advise the Governor on workforce issues.

Join us on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 8:30 am HST for a special LinkedIn LIVE podcast with our partners at the National Fund for Workforce Solutions as part of the their re-imagined “State of Our Workforce: Unpacked” podcast series!

We’re excited to help kick off their brand-new podcast spinoff from their original “State of Our Workforce” monthly podcast series —diving deeper into workforce innovation happening across the country.

The Hawaiʻi Workforce Funders Collaborative (HWFC) is honored to be invited to launch the inaugural episode, where we’ll explore key insights from our From Crisis to Opportunity: Building Hawaiʻi’s Workforce Resilience report and how it’s shaping real-time solutions in Hawaiʻi’s workforce development landscape.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL FUND FOR WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS:

The National Fund works closely with Network Partners who bring deep, place-based knowledge of workforce challenges and a clear understanding of how racial inequities impact the communities they serve. Their local insights are essential to advancing shared, equitable workforce solutions nationwide.

We’re proud to be part of this dynamic network—both to uplift Hawaiʻi’s innovative practices and to bring back new ideas, connections, and opportunities that help us grow a more resilient and sustainable workforce here at home.

We’re excited to share this upcoming learning opportunity from our partners at the Hawaii Workforce Development Council.

Join us for an insightful webinar exploring economic trends affecting Hawaii's workforce and future prosperity.

This virtual event features local economist Seth Colby, who will offer fresh perspectives on economic challenges and opportunities facing Hawaii.

Monday, April 28, 2025

2:00 pm to 3:30 pm HST

REGISTER HERE for this free event.

For More Information about the event: Contact evan.palmer@hawaii.gov

 About the Hawaii Workforce Development Council: An attached agency of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations with 41 members, serving as the policy and planning advisor to the State and Governor on workforce issues. Federally mandated, the Hawaii State Workforce Development Council brings together leaders in the business, labor, education and public sectors to advise the Governor on workforce issues.

A Webinar on the Wastewater Industry Workforce in Hawaiʻi by Gabby Saba Zimmer of Wasterwater Alternatives & Innovation (WAI).

Expanding Hawaiʻi’s Water Workforce—Opportunities & Innovations

Join us for an in-depth presentation on strengthening Hawaiʻi’s workforce through WAIʻs Work-4-Water initiative and the EPA Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program. This webinar will build on insights shared by Gabby at the recent Pacific Water Conference, with added focus on workforce-specific challenges and solutions, including:

✅ Hawaiʻi’s Job Market & Sector-Specific Shortages: Addressing critical workforce gaps in water and wastewater management.
✅ Expanding Work-Based Learning: Enhancing pathways for wastewater careers through hands-on training and industry collaboration.

✅ Customizing Career Pathways: Supporting entry and advancement with tailored workforce solutions.

✅ Addressing Geographical Disparities: Leveraging hybrid learning models to increase accessibility and equity.

As we expand these efforts in Hawaiʻi, this session will provide a collaborative space for industry leaders, educators, and workforce professionals to discuss strategies for developing a skilled and resilient water workforce.

ABOUT OUR PRESENTER:

Gabby Saba Zimmer is the Director of Workforce Development at Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations (WAI), leading efforts to tackle Hawaiʻi’s wastewater workforce shortage through education, training, and community partnerships. With over a decade of experience in curriculum development and workforce initiatives, she has successfully managed multimillion-dollar grants to expand career pathways in the water sector. A former kumu at Kamehameha Schools, Kapālama, Gabby’s work is grounded in a pedagogy of aloha, empowering the next generation of water stewards. Now spearheading the expansion of WAI’s Work-4-Water program under the EPA Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant, she is committed to sustainable, community-driven solutions that protect clean water, restore watersheds, and build a resilient workforce.

📅 Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
⏰ Time: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm HST
📍 Location:Virtual - Via Zoom Meeting. 

🔗 Register now and be part of the solution!

A Webinar on The State of Healthcare’s Workforce in Hawaiʻi with Janna Hoshide of Healthcare Association of Hawai’i.

Discover the latest insights into Hawaiʻi’s evolving healthcare workforce with Janna Hoshide, AVP of Workforce Development at the Healthcare Association of Hawaiʻi (HAH) —representing 170 healthcare organizations across the full continuum of care.

Janna will share key findings from the Hawaiʻi Healthcare Workforce Initiative’s 2024 Report, highlighting how strategic collaborations between industry, community, government, and education have helped reduce the state’s healthcare job openings over the past two years. This presentation will offer key insights & innovations from the workforce landscape within Hawai’i’s healthcare industry.

With demand for healthcare professionals still surging and workforce shortages impacting patient care, how can we continue strengthening the talent pipeline and supporting the next generation of healthcare workers?

Join us as we explore:
✅ Hawaiʻi’s latest healthcare workforce trends
✅ Innovative solutions addressing critical staffing challenges
✅ Opportunities to shape the future of healthcare in our islands

Whether you're a healthcare professional, educator, policymaker, community leader, or engaged citizen, this conversation is vital to ensuring a strong, sustainable healthcare workforce for Hawaiʻi.

📅 Date: Friday, March 14th 2025
⏰ Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am HST
📍 Location: Virtual - Via Zoom Meeting. 

🔗 Register now and be part of the solution!

HWFC “Crisis To Opportunity” Workforce Report: Webinar with Matt Stevens 

We invite you to join us for an upcoming webinar on Thursday, on February 20th, 10:30am - 12:00pm HST. 

A resilient and inclusive workforce is essential to Hawai‘i’s future. 

Last month we launched our report: From Crisis to Opportunity: Building Hawai‘i’s Workforce Resilience, which highlights the urgent challenges facing our workforce and provides a bold vision to ensure economic stability and prosperity for all.

This resource outlines strategic, data-driven solutions to address workforce shortages, improve job quality, and create equitable career pathways—especially for underserved communities. It also provides actionable steps for policymakers, employers, educators, and workforce leaders to drive real change.

🔹 What You’ll Learn:

✅ The current state of Hawai‘i’s workforce & key challenges

✅ Strategies to expand access to family-sustaining careers

✅ Opportunities for businesses, educators, and policymakers to take action

✅ A roadmap to ensure Hawai‘i’s workforce is future-ready by 2035

REGISTER HERE for the webinar. 

📥 Download the full report now:https://www.hawaiiwork.org/reports/from-crisis-to-opportunity

We are thrilled to have kicked-off of our Workforce Webinar Series for 2024. Our first session, held on Thursday, March 28th, brought to the forefront an invaluable discussion on "Strategies for Skills-Based Hiring," featuring Vanessa Rogers, Associate Vice President of Workforce Development at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi.

In collaboration with our partners, the Hawai’i Workforce Funders Collaborative Equity Lab is excited to launch our Workforce Webinar Series for 2024! We invite you to join us on Thursday, March 28th for an engaging conversation on "Strategies for Skills-Based Hiring" with Vanessa Rogers, Associate Vice President of Workforce Development from the Chamber of Commerce Hawai’i.

Last week HWFC had an opportunity to present the findings of our "A Good Job in Hawaiʻi" framework in a webinar hosted by Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi. We had the chance to share our learnings with employers, industry representatives, and training providers -- and we had the opportunity to engage these stakeholders directly on how we might all best support workers in finding and retaining the types of jobs they are asking for.