Hawaii hopes to recruit military members nearing the end of their service to fill vacant state government jobs.
The state of Hawaii is hoping the U.S. Department of Defense can help fill some of the thousands of state job vacancies through a program that connects military members nearing the end of their service with employers looking for workers.
So far the DOD’s SkillBridge program hasn’t gotten any people in their final months of service to apply for an internship in Hawaii’s government, but state human resources officials hope that will soon change.
For the DOD, meanwhile, the main goal is for industry partners to help military members learn the skills they need to work in the civilian labor force – what DOD spokesman Joshua Wick calls “enhancing their employability.”
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Participants continue to take home their full military pay and benefits including healthcare during the program because they are still under the DOD’s purview. Hawaii’s Department of Human Resources Development was accepted into the program earlier this summer.
The state partnered with the DOD in a program that connects military members nearing the end of their service in Hawaii to intern for state government jobs. (Kevin Knodell/Civil Beat/2020)
“It’s another pool of untapped applicants that we could bring onboard to join the state of Hawaii team,” said Patti Taketa, the state’s lead recruiter for the program. “The end goal is that they will be employed.”
Hawaii ended last year with an alarming statistic: more than 1 in 4 civil service positions in state government were vacant. Overall the state’s civilian labor force lost nearly 15,000 workers since 2019, a shift from about 684,000 eligible workers to 670,000.
Employers often say that it’s difficult to attract new workers to Hawaii, given the state’s notoriously high cost of living. But there’s an enormous untapped pool of potential workers right here. About 10,000 women and men exit the military in Hawaii each year, Taketa said.
It’s a large number for a small state, amounting to 5% of the roughly 200,000 who exit the service in the rest of the U.S. combined, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
DOD launched SkillBridge in 2011 to assist soon-to-be veterans transition from the military to the civilian labor force.
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Employment is a top concern for military members exiting the service, says Daniel Perkins, founder and principal scientist at Pennsylvania State University’s military-transition applied research center. SkillBridge offers an opportunity to test the waters of a new job before committing to a career path, he said.
“It lets people get their feet wet and see what their new normal could be like,” he said.
For the state government, eligible applicants are military members serving out their last 90 to 120 days of active duty. The state is targeting interns to work in information technology jobs, as military personnel often have training in that background, said Taketa.
Employers Must Have Space For Long-Term Workers
To start the process applicants need permission from the commander in charge of their unit. Next, they select an approved industry partner from the DOD’s list of employers and applies directly to them.
Industry partners must tell DOD what type of worker they need and how the partners will train them. Partners also need room to hire participants after the training is over.
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For potential Hawaii state workers, there’s little risk. They don’t have to commit to a permanent job if they decide a government gig isn’t for them.
“Obviously, we would like to make it a positive experience with the applicant and have them apply for a state job,” said human resources development spokeswoman Erin Conner. “But there’s no expectation.”
So far no one has applied to the state’s program. Taketa says this is partly because it’s in the early stages and human resources needs to do a little more work with state departments to have them identify specific programs and positions that DHRD can promote.
“Once we’re in a better position of having all that in place we will more actively promote the program,” she said.
But she says there’s a wide range of open IT jobs in every department, including system analysts, support technicians, security analysts, system programmers and network administrators.
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The Honolulu Police Department is another industry partner in the DOD’s SkillBridge Program. HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu said several service members applied to HPD’s program. (Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022)
Hawaii state government is not the program’s only participant. The DOD’s 4,945 approved partners include CVS Health, Harvard University and John Deere. On a local level, Hawaiian Electric Co., Aloha Nursing Rehab Care and the Honolulu Police Department are also partners.
HPD has more than 450 vacancies across its eight patrol districts on Oahu. District 8, which spans between Ewa Beach and Kaena Point, has more openings than any other district with 68 available jobs.
Michelle Yu, the department’s spokeswoman, said several military members have expressed interest in the program and HPD is processing their applications. With most of Hawaii’s military personnel on Oahu, HPD hopes to attract applicants who want to continue to serve others and live in Hawaii.
Transition From Military To Civilian Life Can Be Hard
Aside from being in its early stages, the state-DOD partnership faces other obstacles in recruiting workers to apply for permanent jobs.
Perkins says many veterans don’t stick around their first civilian workplace for long for several reasons: most jobs don’t provide the same sense of purpose and camaraderie people find in the military.
There’s also the issue of military members who move from managing a team of personnel below them in the service, to starting over in a new career field and being managed by someone else, Perkins said.
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“It’s one of those things civilian employers need to understand,” he said. “These veterans have held leadership posts and need to utilize those skills and feel purpose in where they work.”
Hawaii Government Employees Association Executive Director Randy Perreira says the SkillBridge program may have some success in recruiting government workers but it’s not a solution to the state’s growing vacancy crisis. (Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022)
A more basic question is whether state employers can offer competitive compensation, says Randy Perreira, executive director of the Hawaii Government Employees Association.
He said many state departments face upwards of 40% vacancy rates because the state’s salaries lag the private sector.
“Until the state addresses compensation, you’ll continue to see employees choose the private sector over government, and that includes candidates leaving military service,” he said.
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With approximately six years until Social Security benefits must be cut, one group of Hawaii legislators has come up with a simple plan to prevent a shortfall.
It’s no secret that Social Security, as we know it, is in a pinch. According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), the Social Security and Medicare trust funds are six years away from insolvency.
The combination of more retirees, fewer people in the workforce, and the impact of President Trump’s big, beautiful bill (OBBBA) leads the CRFB to estimate a 24% Social Security cut in late 2032 if nothing is done. In addition, retirees could face an 11% cut in Medicare Hospital Insurance payments.
This isn’t the first time the trust funds have been in trouble. In 1982, the fund that helped cover the cost of monthly Social Security benefits faced a significant shortfall and was forced to borrow from other funds to pay benefits on time. Congress was able to work together long enough to raise taxes on some, adjust benefits, and prevent insolvency.
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With a similar problem facing the trusts 44 years later, Hawaii’s Senator Brian Schatz and Representative Mazie Hirono (along with Rep. Jill Tokuda) believe they have a simple solution. Here’s what their proposal, called the SAFE Social Security Act, would do.
Image source: Getty Images.
Lift the payroll tax
To ensure payroll taxes apply fairly across the board and that the rich pay their share, the proposal includes a plan to phase out the payroll tax cap so that no one can stop paying into Social Security once their income hits $184,500.
Adjust benefit calculations
The trio suggests adjusting the way current benefits are calculated, a move that would increase the average monthly benefit by more than $150.
Update how cost-of-living adjustments are determined
As of today, cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the previous year to the third quarter of the current year. In theory, using inflation tied to CPI-W is supposed to help retirees keep pace with the rising cost of living.
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For years, however, senior citizen advocacy groups have insisted that the wrong index is being used because working adults and retired adults spend money differently. For example, an older retiree is likely to spend more on medical care than a younger person still in the workforce.
The Hawaii legislator’s plan would address the issue by basing the COLA on an index that tracks inflation related to seniors’ spending. Specifically, they’re talking about the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E).
Sen. Schatz believes that the SAFE Social Security Act will expand Social Security and put more money in the hands of those who rely on it. It will also strengthen the program for the next generation of retirees, ensuring today’s workforce has something to look forward to.
Watch as Hawaii’s Kīlauea puts on spectacular lava display
Hawaii’s Kīlauea has erupted again, spewing massive fountains of lava that reached over 800 feet high, according to USGS.
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano had its latest eruption on Jan. 12, flowing lava for nearly 10 hours and attracting heavy traffic to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The volcano began erupting at 8:22 a.m. with lava fountains reaching nearly 800 feet high into the sky, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. By 6:04 p.m., the eruption ended with lava flow covering approximately two-thirds of the Halema’uma’u crater floor.
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In a Facebook post announcing the latest eruption, the National Park Service warned visitors to “expect the park to be busy with heavy traffic.” Typically, thousands more visitors than usual flock to the park during eruptions, congesting roads and parking lots for the overlooks.
Considered one of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea has been erupting episodically since Dec. 23, 2024. Most eruptions end within 12 hours with pauses in between that can be as long as several days to two weeks. As of Jan. 13, the volcano remains under an orange “watch” alert, with USGS saying the next lava fountaining episode is “likely about two weeks away.”
Such volcanic eruptions are considered sacred in Hawaiian culture and are tied to Pele, the goddess of creation and destruction who is believed to live in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Here’s what travelers should know.
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Is it safe to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?
Yes, it’s safe for travelers to visit the park and view the lava as the eruption took place within a closed off area of the park and does not pose a risk to the community, according to the USGS.
However, it’s important that travelers are mindful of their safety by only parking in designated parking lots and staying away from closed-off areas. Last June, a 30-year-old man from Boston plummeted 30 feet off a cliff when he strayed off a trail in an attempt to get a closer look at the lava during nighttime. A tree broke his fall and the visitor was rescued by park rangers, only suffering minor injuries.
Tips for viewing the Kilauea volcano
Here are a few tips to for visitors eager to witness the Kilauea lava flow, according to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:
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Go early or at night to avoid crowds, with peak hours at the park being between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. (And if you do visit in the evening, pack warm clothes as it’s chillier than you may think.)
Prime viewing overlooks include the Welcome Center, Uekahuna, along Crater Rim Trail and old Crater Rim Drive.
Check the air quality before you go by visiting the NPS website. Volcanic gas and other particles from the eruption can be hazardous, especially to travelers with pre-existing respiratory conditions or children.
The 2026 season kicks off this week at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu with the Sony Open in Hawaii. Nick Taylor is the event’s defending champion, taking down Nico Echavarria in a playoff last year to win.
There’s a pretty stacked field being the first event of the year, with plenty of notables heading to the middle of the Pacific for one week before the West Coast Swing begins.
Here’s a look at the purse and total prize money for the first PGA Tour event of 2026, the Sony Open in Hawaii.
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What’s the total purse for the 2026 Sony Open in Hawaii?
The total purse for the 2025 Sony Open in Hawaii is $9.1 million. That’s up from $8.7 million a year ago.
How much money does the winner make at the 2026 Sony Open?
The winner of the Sony receives $1.638 million, or 18 percent of the total purse. Taylor earned $1.566 million for his win in 2025.
The field size is 120 this time around, as compared to 144 last year.
Sony Open in Hawaii 2026 prize money payouts
Position
Prize money
1
$1,638,000
2
$991,900
3
$627,900
4
$445,900
5
$373,100
6
$329,875
7
$307,125
8
$284,375
9
$266,175
10
$247,975
11
$229,775
12
$211,575
13
$193,375
14
$175,175
15
$166,075
16
$156,975
17
$147,875
18
$138,775
19
$129,675
20
$120,575
21
$111,475
22
$102,375
23
$95,095
24
$87,815
25
$80,535
26
$73,255
27
$70,525
28
$67,795
29
$65,065
30
$62,335
31
$59,605
32
$56,875
33
$54,145
34
$51,870
35
$49,595
36
$47,320
37
$45,045
38
$43,225
39
$41,405
40
$39,585
41
$37,765
42
$35,945
43
$34,125
44
$32,305
45
$30,485
46
$28,665
47
$26,845
48
$25,389
49
$24,115
50
$23,387
51
$22,841
52
$22,295
53
$21,931
54
$21,567
55
$21,385
56
$21,203
57
$21,021
58
$20,839
59
$20,657
60
$20,475
61
$20,293
62
$20,111
63
$19,929
64
$19,747
65
$19,565
65
$19,565
Where is the Sony Open in Hawaii played?
Waialae Country Club originally was designed by famed golden-era architect Seth Raynor and opened in 1927 alongside Kahala Beach. The layout, which first hosted the PGA Tour in 1965, will play to 7,044 yards with a par of 70. Of note: The standard routing is altered for the Sony Open, with the nines reversed to better take advantage of the scenic sunsets.
