Carpenter selected to lead state parks division
Alan Carpenter was selected to lead Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks, assuming responsibility for the care and management of 55 state parks and 14 other places of interest encompassing 34,000 acres of coastal and wildland recreational areas, scenic waysides and cherished places throughout the islands.
The division’s assistant administrator for the past decade will also oversee care of natural and cultural resources of national and international significance, including historic state monuments. Carpenter has 34 years of experience, leadership and enthusiam for preserving and enhancing the state’s park resources.
Carpenter began his tenure with the state Land Department in 1992. His vision for the division’s future includes convening the State Parks Task Force, as conceived by Hawaiʻi Legislature, and exploring opportunities for collaboration and co-management with community groups throughout the state, among other tasks such as development of longer-term strategic plans.
* * * * * * * * *
State projects 28,000 new jobs by 2034
Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Research and Statistics Office released its latest statewide employment projections, providing insight into expected industry and occupational trends through 2034.
Total employment is projected to grow 4.1% from 2024 to 2034, increasing from 693,280 jobs to 721,340, representing 28,060 net new jobs statewide and outpacing outpaces the national growth rate of 3.1% but marking a decrease from the estimated 6.1% pace for the prior 2022 to 2032 cycle. Projections are updated during even-numbered years. County-level projections are released in odd-numbered years.
Throughout the 2024 to 2034 period, the state anticipates about 82,070 job openings each year fom 2024 to 2034, with about 4% of stemming from new job growth remaining demand expected to come from workers changing occupations or leaving the labor force. Key highlights, data tables and more information can be found on the Employment Projections page of the Hawai‘i Workforce Infonet website.
* * * * * * * * *
Projects selected for national artificial intelligence portfolio
Two University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa research projects were selected for the inaugural U.S. Department of Energy Genesis Mission portfolio, placing the university’s flagship campus among a select group of universities and research institutions nationwide using artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific breakthroughs.
STRATOS (Security and Trust Runtime Architecture for Time-critical Operational Science) is led by assistant professor Liuwan Zhu with Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. It focuses on improving security and reliability of artificial intelligence systems used in critical infrastructure. The second project, led by professor Zepeng Li with Department of Physics and Astronomy, will develop an artificial intelligence foundation model to support searches for neutrinoless double beta decay, one of the most important unanswered questions in nuclear and particle physics
The Genesis Mission brings together Education Department labs and universities to combine advanced artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and scientific expertise. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa was among 168 universities chosen for the first round of the national program, which includes a total of 278 research efforts involving more than 340 institutions throughout the nation. Each is eligible for Phase I awards of $500,000 to $750,000 to be used throughout a 9-month period for development of the projects.
* * * * * * * * *
Hawaiʻi Energy welcomes two new energy advisors
Hawaiʻi Energy, the state’s energy conservation program, announced hiring Serge Bondar as energy advisor and Emily Andrist as junior energy advisor. They will work directly with businesses, contractors and community partners to identify energy saving opportunities, support customers through Hawaiʻi Energy’s incentive programs and help advance the state’s clean energy goals.
As an Energy Advisor, Bondar will work with office and retail businesses to identify energy saving opportunities and implement energy efficiency projects that reduce energy use and operating costs. He most recently served as a sales representative with Sunrun Solar.
Andrist will support City and County of Honolulu customers and contractors with energy efficiency projects and help educate residents, businesses and students about energy conservation. She previously served as a decarbonization intern with Hawaiʻi State Energy Office.
* * * * * * * * *
Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau appoints two to leadership positions
Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau announces two new leadership appointments that will strengthen its operational and island-based capabilities. Kevin Fujinaga joins as senior director, operations and client servicing for Meet Hawaiʻi and Catherine Cambra joins as island director for the Island of Hawaiʻi Visitors Bureau.
Fujinaga is building the processes and standards that connect day-to-day work to long-term goals. He brings more than a decade of leadership experience in program management, strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement and operational excellence, most recently serving as vice president and engagement program manager at Bank of Hawai‘i.
Cambra manages relationships with Hawai’i County leadership, community partners and industry members while carrying out the bureau’s enterprise strategy forward around the Big Island. She garnered leadership experience throughout the past 15 years in communications, marketing and hospitality, including expertise in Hawai‘i Island’s visitor industry. She most recently served as director of marketing at Fairmont Orchid, Hawaiʻi.
