State briefs for Oct 2: Updates and announcements from the State of Hawaiʻi
October begins with information and reminders from four state departments.
Hawaiʻi State Archives honors the future through the past
October is National Archives Month, a yearly celebration of the value of historical documents and the work archivists do to keep the public memory.
The Hawaiʻi State Archives, a division of the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), has chosen to mark the occasion this year by honoring the past, present and future of Waikīkī.
“Archivists do more than simply store old papers; they maintain the foundations of identity and collective public memory,” said Acting Lt. Gov. Keith Regan, also the DAGS director and state comptroller. “The records they save for our community provide irreplaceable, firsthand evidence of past events, decisions and cultural movements.”
State Archivist Adam Jansen, who has a doctorate in archival records, curated records of Waikīkī into weekly exhibits that he will post online so that the information is widely accessible. It will represent just a small portion of the archives’ holdings — and some of it will have never been seen before by the public.
Jansen quoted a Hawaiian proverb that, for him, sums up the reason communities need archivists: “I ka wā ma mua, ka wā ma hope: The lessons of the past are the keys to the future.”
The free exhibits will be available to see in person at the archives’ public records room, which is open to the public between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. Archives will also be posted on the Hawaiʻi State Archives website and the Facebook and Instagram pages.
- Week 1: 19th-century history of Waikīkī, including the first known map of the area documented by a Russian expedition
- Week 2: Waikīkī in art and music
- Week 3: Waikīkī hotels
- Week 4: Development of Waikīkī, featuring photos from the Williams family’s collection of construction projects between Chinatown and Waikīkī.
- Week 5: Conservation of Waikīkī; a display of the personal files of the late Nancy Bannick, who advocated to preserve Oʻahu’s historical places.
Professional and Vocational Licensing launches email status updates for license applicants
A new customer service feature will enable applicants for professional and vocational licenses to receive email updates as their applications move through review.
The change responds to applicant feedback asking for clearer, more timely information on application status and next steps. No action is needed to receive the emails, according to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing Division.
“These email updates give them that information as it happens, so they can respond quickly, avoid delays and spend less time wondering. This is one more way we’re working to make licensing clearer and easier to navigate,” said Dean Hazama, deputy director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing Division.
Email notifications will:
- Show the current status of the application;
- Provide notice of any required action or missing information; and
- Furnish guidance on what to expect next.
Each application is different, so an applicant’s timeline may vary depending on the profession, license type, requirements and information submitted.
The email updates supplement, but do not replace, official licensee notices and correspondence from the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division (PVL). Applicants should continue to carefully review all notices and letters from PVL, keep their email address current and check their spam or junk folders regularly.
Applicants can also use MyPVL, the division’s online licensing portal, to apply for a license, check application status, and manage their license information. Applicants with questions about their license application may contact PVL at 844-808-3222 ext. 1.
The Professional and Vocational Licensing Division administers the licensing laws for 52 professions, trades, and vocations in Hawaiʻi. PVL supports the state’s licensing boards and commissions, processes applications and renewals, maintains license records, and helps consumers verify whether a person or business is properly licensed.
Celebrate Family Wellness Day at the State Capitol next week
Family Wellness Day invites families statewide to unite and explore what it means to thrive.
The Hawaiʻi Department of Health’s Children with Special Health Needs Branch (CSHNB), in partnership with Family Hui Hawaiʻi, will host a Family Wellness Day on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol Rotunda on the ʻEwa side.
The event aligns with the state’s annual Children and Youth Month, an observance established by law in 1993 to honor and support keiki. Recognizing that healthy, thriving families are the foundation of youth success, Family Wellness Day builds on this month-long celebration by bringing community resources directly to families to support long-term health.
Attendees will have opportunities to:
- Share their perspectives and life experiences with fellow families and legislators.
- Hear from families across Hawaiʻi about their unique wellness journeys.
- Learn about community resources, services and supports that promote family well-being.
“Supporting wellness means nurturing pilina (relationships), and gatherings like this help bring our community together to talk story, strengthen connections and build the supportive environments our keiki deserve,” said Dr. Ruben Frescas, branch chief of Children with Special Health Needs.
The day will feature inspiring stories of wellness from Family Hui Hawaiʻi families, engaging play spaces provided by Play Streets Kauaʻi, and youth-led interactive art experiences that foster a welcoming and joyful environment for all ages.
For more information about supports for children and families, please visit the Children with Special Health Needs Branch website.
Hawaiʻi small businesses urged to complete federal reserve credit survey
The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) is encouraging Hawaiʻi small businesses to participate in the Federal Reserve’s 2026 Small Business Credit Survey, now open through Nov. 13.
The annual survey gathers insights into how small businesses seek financing and the challenges they face. Results are used by the Federal Reserve, federal agencies, policymakers, and service providers to shape programs and policies that directly affect access to capital and resources.
Last year, feedback from Hawaiʻi participants contributed to national reports on lending trends and the financial health of small businesses following natural disasters.
The survey takes about 12 minutes to complete and is open to for-profit businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Responses are confidential, and no personal information is required. The survey is open to businesses currently operating, those that recently closed, and those preparing to launch.
“We encourage Hawaiʻi’s small business owners and leaders to share their perspectives through this survey,” said Dennis Ling, administrator of the DBEDT Business Development and Support Division. “The feedback we receive helps federal agencies and service providers better understand the financing needs and challenges facing local businesses. Their input helps inform programs and resources that support small business growth across Hawaiʻi.”
The survey can be completed online.
