Hawaii's Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) has unveiled the latest group of individuals and organizations distinguished for their contributions to workforce development in the state. As reported by the news release posted on the Office of the Governor website, this announcement comes during September, noted as Workforce Development Month, which puts a spotlight on leaders and initiatives enhancing employment prospects in Hawaii's evolving landscape.
"Ensuring that businesses have access to skilled workers, while helping job seekers find meaningful employment, is essential to equipping both local businesses and workers with the talent and expertise needed to thrive as Hawaiʻi’s economy evolves," DLIR Director Jade T. Butay expressed in a statement obtained by the DLIR Newsroom. Various heroics, ranging from those on Oʻahu to Hawaiʻi Island, were celebrated, including Lord Ryan Lizardo from the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and Maui's Nicolette van Der Lee from the University of Hawaiʻi, Maui Campus.
Attending the upcoming Future of Work 2025 Conference on September 30 will be the seven heroes who will be publicly commended for their efforts. According to the DLIR, the event will be held at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi to officially honor the awardees, celebrating their significant contributions to the workforce of the islands.
Among the honored are Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz, marked as Legislator of the Year for pushing forward workforce development initiatives, and the University of Hawaiʻi's President David Lassner, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for his nearly five decades of service. As detailed in the DLIR announcement, Lassner's leadership has set new records in research, graduation rates, and the inclusion of underrepresented groups, while supporting advanced education and workforce progression through a significant donation aimed at tech graduate students. Dela Cruz, chairing the Senate Ways and Means Committee, faced a workforce vacancy rate that averages 30% and therefore introduced the Hele Imua Internship Program, a step recognized for bolstering local talent and meeting employer needs within the state.
Finalists for the awards include notable figures in their respective fields, encompassing various sectors from education to technology to public service, such as Michael Cardenas of MC3 Technologies and Bridget Orsatelli from ʻŌmaʻo Ranch Lands. Their influence is broad and deep—ranging from cultivating job readiness and skill development to building workforce resilience and community empowerment across Hawaii.
