Digital Government Summit explores Hawaii tech roadmap

December 11, 2012 3:15 pm 1 comment

Benjamin Travino presents visualizations of budget data. Photo by Burt Lum.

Nearly 700 state employees, community leaders and members of the public joined Governor Neil Abercrombie today for the 2012 Hawaii Digital Government Summit at the Hilton Hawaiian Village to engage employees and other stakeholders in the state’s business and information technology transformation initiative.

Presented by Government Technology Executive Events and the Center for Digital Government – at no cost to the state – the event featured more than 20 sessions on topics ranging from modernization of public schools to health information technology.

“Transformation of state government is about delivering the services people need – anywhere, anytime,” said Governor Neil Abercrombie. “Hawaii’s IT Transformation Plan, launched in October, will accomplish its goals by investing in the state’s greatest asset – its employees. Making government more efficient and effective brings opportunities to those who work in state offices, enabling employees to provide a higher level of service while attaining new skills and playing a role in reshaping the way government conducts business. This will help us to strengthen our economy, sustain Hawaii for future generations and build public confidence in government.”

“Government Technology and the Center for Digital Government present events, such as today’s summit, with the help of private sector companies, to make government leaders and workers aware of the solutions that exist in the industry and help them to apply technology in a way that solves problems,” said Alan Cox, senior vice president of Government Technology Executive Events.

The summit provided an opportunity for state employees to learn about how technology and best practices from the private sector and other state governments can be deployed here in Hawaii to improve the services provided to residents and businesses. Attendees were able to discuss with government leaders and local executives the challenges they face and collaboratively develop solutions.

State of Hawaii Chief Information Officer Sanjeev “Sonny” Bhagowalia added: “This undertaking is about more than technology, it is about improving business operations. The transformation plan that we have released provides the roadmap for bringing the State of Hawaii into the 21st century, but it will require collaborative working relationships at all levels of state government to shape the outcomes. This summit provides us with the opportunity to engage state employees in implementing the plan and have them help develop solutions that will improve their ability to provide services to the public.”

“The transformation initiative will result in immediate and long-term benefits to the people of Hawaii,” said Randy Baldemor, Deputy Chief Information Officer of Business Transformation. “Citizens will have 24/7 online access to the services they need most and businesses will have better access to the services they need to run efficiently and grow our economy.”

The event featured sessions and panel discussions on a wide range of topics, including Enterprise Resource Planning; Mobile Device Management; Tax Modernization; Health IT; Consolidated Infrastructure/Enterprise Shared Services; Virtualization Trends; Organizational Change Management; Open Government; Modernization of Public Schools; the Hawaii Broadband Initiative; the Mobile Device Revolution; and Identity and Access Management.

About Government Technology

Government Technology is about solving problems in state and local government through the smart use of technology. Drawing on the experiences from across the country, Government Technology features best practices, and fosters communities of interest around improving service delivery and transforming government operations.

About The Center for Digital Government

The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. Government Technology and the Center for Digital Government are divisions of e.Republic, a national publishing, events and research company focused on smart media for public sector innovation .

Leave a Reply


Other News

  • Events Featured Eisa Drum Festival celebrates Okinawan culture

    Eisa Drum Festival celebrates Okinawan culture

    Kapiolani Community College is hosting the 3rd Eisa Drum Festival on Saturday, May 11 from 5:30 to 9 pm on the Great Lawn at the center of campus.

    The outdoor festival brings together food prepared by KCC’s culinary program and the spectacular art form of taiko performed amid the beauty of Diamond Head under the stars. The program begins at 6 pm. The event is free and open to the public, with ample parking on campus.

    Performers include Chinagu Eisa Hawaii, Hawaii Okinawa Creative Arts, Hawaii Taiko Kai, Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate and Urizun Minyo Group. This year’s festival also features special guest performers from Okinawa, including Daiichi Hirata, acclaimed producer, choreographer, and musician, as well as members of Requios, the 2012 World Eisa Competition winner.

    Read more →
  • Business Founder Institute Launching in Hawaii

    Founder Institute Launching in Hawaii

    The Founder Institute, the world’s largest startup accelerator with over 800 graduate companies, is announcing its launch in Honolulu. After testing demand in the market for several months, the Founder Institute was able to recruit enough candidates interested in launching a technology company with the program. In order to celebrate the launch, the Honolulu Founder Institute has scheduled several free events where attendees can meet local entrepreneurs and learn more about the program. May 15th, 6:30 p.m.: Making the Leap [...]

    Read more →
  • Government Publicity Updates Early Childhood Education Discussed Using Google+ Hangout

    Early Childhood Education Discussed Using Google+ Hangout

    Honolulu– Early childhood education providers and stakeholders from across the State, along with lawmakers, Early Childhood Coordinator Terry Lock and Governor Neil Abercrombie, participated in a roundtable discussion on early childhood education in Hawaii today. Stakeholders from Maui, Kauai, Waimea, Kona and Hilo participated in the discussion via Google+ Hangout, hosted by Senate Committee Education Chair Senator Jill Tokuda. U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono’s Chief of Staff Betsy Lin also linked in, via Google+ Hangout from Washington, D.C.

    Read more →
  • Events Featured Publicity Guy Toyama Memorial Fund to support sustainability, entrepreneurship

    Guy Toyama Memorial Fund to support sustainability, entrepreneurship

    A new memorial fund seeks to raise $1 million to honor the life and legacy of Hawaii visionary Guy Toyama. Sustainability grants and scholarships will foster positive change worldwide.

    Read more →
  • Environment Featured Science World’s Oldest Known Wild Bird Hatches Another Chick

    World’s Oldest Known Wild Bird Hatches Another Chick

    A Laysan albatross known as “Wisdom” – believed to be at least 62 years old – has hatched a chick on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) for the sixth consecutive year. Early morning on February 3, 2013, the still-wet chick was observed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Pete Leary, who said the chick appears healthy.

    Wisdom was first banded in 1956, when she was incubating an egg in the same area of the refuge. She was at least five years old at the time.

    “Everyone continues to be inspired by Wisdom as a symbol of hope for her species,” said Doug Staller, the Fish and Wildlife Service Superintendent for the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (Monument), which includes Midway Atoll NWR.

    Read more →
  • Art Entertainment Featured Publicity Honolulu Theatre for Youth Presents ‘Hold These Truths’

    Honolulu Theatre for Youth Presents ‘Hold These Truths’

    Actor Daniel Dae Kim is part of the team bringing the acclaimed Off-Broadway drama “Hold These Truths” to Hawaii. Dedicated to the memory of the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, the show tells the true story of second-generation Japanese American Gordon Hirabayashi, who resisted the Japanese American internment during World War II in the famous case, Hirabayashi v. United States.

    Set in Seattle during World War II, “Hold These Truths” follows Hirabayashi, then a University of Washington student, as he fights to reconcile his country’s betrayal with his passionate belief in the U.S. Constitution.

    President Obama posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hirabayashi (1918-2012), the nation’s highest civilian honor, in April 2012.

    Kim said: “I was deeply moved by ‘Hold These Truths’ when I saw it in New York. Having lived in Hawaii for almost nine years now, I recognized how inspiring Gordon Hirabayashi’s story would be to our community.”

    Read more →
  • Business Publicity Technology Entrepreneur, Deal of the Year awards announced

    Entrepreneur, Deal of the Year awards announced

    The Hawaii Venture Capital Association awarded its 2012 HVCA Deal of the Year to Darren Kimura, CEO of Sopogy, maker of concentrated thermal solar collectors. In addition five local entrepreneurs were acknowledged in various categories with the HVCA Entrepreneur of the Year award.

    The Young Entrepreneur award went to Scott Mercer of Volta Industries, makers of advertising driven free electric vehicle charging stations. Dan Leuck, co-founder of CONTIX and CEO and founder of Ikayzo won the Software Entrepreneur award. Ken Berkun, founder of Labels That Talk won the Inventor Entrepreneur award for his patented invention, Soundpaper. Winner of the Socially Responsible Entrepreneur of the Year award is Elyse Petersen, founder of Tealet, a social enterprise that connects tea drinkers with small tea growers around the world. David Watumull, co-founder of CARDAX Pharmaceuticals and former CEO of Hawaii Biotech was acknowledged for his many years of devoted entrepreneurship in biotech as the 2012 Legacy Entrepreneur.

    “These entrepreneurs are local heroes and role models. They have worked long hard days, made personal sacrifices and taken extreme risks that prove there are people in Hawaii that have what it takes to build great companies,” said Bill Spencer, President of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association.

    Read more →
  • People Politics

    Obama praises Sen. Inouye upon his passing

    “Tonight, our country has lost a true American hero with the passing of Senator Daniel Inouye. The second-longest serving Senator in the history of the chamber, Danny represented the people of Hawaii in Congress from the moment they joined the Union. In Washington, he worked to strengthen our military, forge bipartisan consensus, and hold those of us in government accountable to the people we were elected to serve. But it was his incredible bravery during World War II – including one heroic effort that cost him his arm but earned him the Medal of Honor – that made Danny not just a colleague and a mentor, but someone revered by all of us lucky enough to know him. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Inouye family.”

    Read more →