DLIR says Hui Huakahi unemployment modernization is on schedule for March 2027 go‑live

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) told the Information Technology Steering Committee on Aug. 28 that its Hawaii Unemployment Insurance Modernization Initiative, Hui Huakahi, is on schedule for a March 2027 go‑live.

DLIR UI Administrator Ann Pereira Eustaquio and project manager Liz Thomas briefed the committee on the multiyear effort, which began in March 2024 and is designed to replace legacy unemployment insurance software with a modern claimant and employer portal, tax and appeals modules, fraud detection and improved data and reporting.

Hui Huakahi is a 36‑month implementation. Thomas said the project team is “49% complete” and identified the overall project status as green and low risk. The project has an independent verification and validation (IV&V) vendor, PCG, which the presenters said is also reporting the…