• State activates Rapid Response Team again for laid-off • Chamber After Hours event • Green business program expands to include office, retail State activates Rapid Response Team again for laid-off For the fourth time in less than a month, the
• State activates Rapid Response Team again for laid-off
• Chamber After Hours event
• Green business program expands to include office, retail
State activates Rapid Response Team again for laid-off
For the fourth time in less than a month, the Hawai‘i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations activated its multi-agency Rapid Response Team Friday to assist 44 employees being laid off by Sea Life Park Hawai‘i.
In the past two weeks the team was activated to assist employees who were laid off by Maui Land and Pineapple Company, the Honolulu Advertiser, Kona Community Hospital and North Hawai‘i Community Hospital. It was also deployed earlier this year to assist with Aloha and ATA airlines layoffs, including about 60 affected workers on Kaua‘i.
“We are committed to ensuring that these workers are given the information they need to move forward during these difficult times,” Darwin L.D. Ching, director of Labor and Industrial Relations, said.
The Rapid Response Team is composed of staff from the DLIR’s Workforce Development Division and Unemployment Insurance Division, Department of Human Resources Development, Department Human Services, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Officials have been in contact with Sea Life Park management in disseminating information to the affected employees.
A Rapid Response session will be held Tuesday on O‘ahu for the Sea Life workers, as well as any member of the public that has been recently laid off.
For more information, visit www.hawaii.gov/labor/rapidresponse
Chamber After Hours event
The Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce will host this month’s Business After Hours event from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 14 at the National Tropical Botanical Garden Bill & Jean Lane Visitor Center in Po‘ipu.
Attendees may take a guided tour of the Visitor Center gardens, network and enjoy pupu and cocktails by Contemporary Flavors.
The cost to members is $12, $17 after Aug. 7; $22 for non-members. For more information, visit www.kauaichamber.org or call 245-7363.
Green business program expands to include office, retail
The Hawai‘i Green Business Program is expanding to include green offices and retail businesses in addition to the current lineup of hotels and resorts.
The Green Office and Retail Program will recognize businesses that have applied environmentally responsible measures within their office or retail establishments. The objectives are to reduce energy and water consumption, promote recycling, prevent pollution, reduce emissions, and to educate employees and customers about environmental practices.
Businesses that achieve Hawai‘i Green Business recognition go beyond environmental compliance to reduce, reuse, and recycle as well as restore and conserve Hawai‘i’s culture, natural resources and the environment.
Businesses are required to complete an enrollment form and checklist to ensure that the program is appropriate for their business. A business is expected to maintain the required energy saving practices and may be re-evaluated annually.
“Conserving energy and water makes sense for businesses, public agencies and for all residents of Hawai‘i as we continue to work collaboratively to increase Hawai‘i’s energy independence and preserve our natural resources,” DBEDT Director Theodore E. Liu said. “The Hawai‘i Green Business Program hopes to have businesses become more resource-efficient and share their practices and tips with their peers, clients, guests and employees.”
The Hawai‘i Green Business program is open to Hawai‘i businesses and is sponsored by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; the state Department of Health; Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i; and local government entities such as the city and county of Honolulu’s Board of Water Supply and Recycling Offices.
The office and retail segment is sponsored by the Building Owners and Managers Association and the International Facility Management Association Hawaii. The hotel and resort segment is sponsored by the Hawai‘i Hotel and Lodging Association.
For more information, visit www.hawaii.gov/dbedt or www.hawaii.gov/health/
