news and updates
Hwfc in the news!
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
4/16/25 WDC-Hosted webinar at 1:30pm HST - BREAKING BARRIERS: REAL TALK FROM REAL EMPLOYERS
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 Linkedin live - 04/23/25 at 8:30 am HST National Fund's Podcast with HWFC - State of Our Workforce: Unpacked
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.
4/28/25 WDC-Hosted webinar: HAWAII ECONOMIC TRENDS THAT IMPACT OUR ECONOMY AND WORKFORCE
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.
4/2/25 Next Workforce webinar - turn the tide: solving hawaiʻiʻs wastewater workforce shortage
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!
3/14/25 Next Workforce webinar The State of Healthcare in Hawaiʻi: Key Insights & Innovations from HAHʻs 2024 Workforce Report
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!
2/20/25 info-session on hwfcʻs inaugural workforce report: from crisis to opportunity
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
NEWS RELEASE: HWFC announces recommendations to strategically address workforce crisis
WEBINAR RECORDING: Strategies for Skills-Based Hiring
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.
Launching our Webinar Series for 2024: Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi to share “Strategies for Skills-Based Hiring”
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.
WEBINAR RECORDING: What Workers Look for in a Good Job in Hawaii
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.
a conversation with we are Oceania: Navigating good jobs from a micronesian perspective
A Good Job on Hawaiʻi Island: Vibrant Hawaiʻi and HWFC Talk Story
“A Good Job in Hawaiʻi” Framework
We envision a healthy economy in Hawaiʻi, built upon recognition of a symbiotic relationship between job seekers, training providers, and employers, centered on a model of work that aligns with the needs, values, and motivations of Hawaiʻi residents. These “good jobs” will both compensate workers at levels that allow current residents to remain in Hawaiʻi and provide opportunities to use their gifts and talents in a way that makes Hawaiʻi a better place to live for everyone. As you read this report and begin to envision what such a future could look like, notice how conversations with communities across the state begin to align around these common themes. Suddenly such a future seems more within reach.
Introducing “The Future of Work 2024” Conference
If you have been following our recent posts, you may be aware that we are committed to understanding, shedding light on, and addressing the complex challenges faced by workers in our state. As we meet with community organizations, government agencies, or my neighbors on Hawaiʻi Island, we are consistently impressed by the strong relationships, the dedication to finding solutions, and the willingness to take risks on new approaches when stakeholders come together in one place to unite around a common need.
Islander Institute Shares a vision for “A Good Job in Hawaiʻi”
The collaborators that make up Islander Institute have worked at the intersection of policy, community development, systemic change, and local values for twenty years. Lending capacity to projects across community health, education, economic development, ʻāina initiatives, food systems, renewable energy, and workforce development, they elevate community voice to develop solutions consistent with local values and a vision of Hawaiʻi that includes us all.
Funding Opportunity: Harold K.L. Castle Foundation seeks community partners to increase access to jobs that will build a sustainable future for Hawaiʻi
We are excited to announce that the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, a member of HWFC, has recently introduced an opportunity: a Request for Partnership aimed at identifying organizations well positioned to contribute to a sustainable talent pipeline for the skilled trades industry that promotes inclusivity, diversity, and creates opportunity for underrepresented and rural communities.
Vibrant Hawaiʻi Engaging Community to Develop Work-Based Learning for Hawaiʻi Island Students
The Hawaiʻi Workforce Funders Collaborative is excited to fund and partner with Vibrant Hawaiʻi to gather input from youth, educators and employers islandwide, document assets, resources, readiness and recommendations to advance the goals of the Hawai’i P20 Partnership for Education: Connecting students to Work-based learning (WBL) opportunities to gain technical and employability skills in preparation for future careers.
Join the Team - Hiring for Program Design Lead
The Hawaiʻi Workforce Funders Collaborative is looking for a candidate with experience convening stakeholders and managing projects in the non-profit, social impact, and/or philanthropic space. This position is a grant-funded, term-limited opportunity to implement an exciting new pilot initiative – the Hawaiʻi Worker Equity Lab.
HWFC Awarded Grant to develop human-centered workforce solutions
The National Fund for Workforce Solutions is awarding $1 million to five communities to use Human-Centered Design to improve workforce programs and employment outcomes. The HCD approach requires a mindset that values empathy, avoids jumping to a particular solution, and embraces continuous learning.