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County R&D plans workforce summit, visitor emergency system and direct event sponsorships
Summary
Hawaii County Research & Development outlined a FY27 budget of about $5.0 million focused on workforce coordination, sector innovation plans and a new visitor emergency coordination concept; the department will also expand event sponsorship to support key economic drivers.
The Department of Research & Development told the council it will use a proposed FY2027 budget of roughly $5.02 million to expand workforce coordination, small-business supports and tourism stewardship. Director Benson Medina said the department aims to “convene for action” by aligning workforce programs, education partners and employers and will host a workforce summit on May 6 intended to connect employers, educators and training providers.
Medina described the department’s approach as fourfold: collect data, convene partners, drive innovation and embed cultural values in programs. R&D highlighted last year’s work: $710,000 in impact grants to 32 producers, $478,400 awarded for opioid-mitigation efforts and a countywide quality-of-life survey. The department plans to invest about $250,000 in FY27 toward event sponsorships intended to support major economic drivers such as Ironman and local festivals, and $250,000 of that pot is earmarked for large events via an RFP process.
On visitor safety, R&D proposed a Hawaii Island Visitors Emergency System to coordinate information and notifications for visitors during disasters — a potentially critical capability given the county’s high visitor counts on any given day. Medina said the system would explore partnerships with state and private-sector platforms and consider tools that allow visitors to receive contextualized, location‑based emergency alerts.
Council members pressed for detail on small-business supports and the department’s grant portfolio. R&D staff said impact grants and targeted initiatives will continue to be the primary mechanism for support, and the department is developing educational cohorts and technical-assistance programs for entrepreneurs. Medina also described pilot projects in agrifood and aquaculture (a $52,000 contract tied to permit approval) and said film production reporting continues to be a measurable economic driver.
Ending: R&D said it will return with details about the workforce summit and the implementation plan for event sponsorships; councilors asked for continuing updates on grant pipelines and outcomes.
