Governor Linda Lingle

Aloha! 

Thank you for visiting my official website. I hope you will use the rich multi-media content on this site to learn about what my Administration is doing in collaboration with the private sector, community and government officials to improve the quality of life for all of the people of Hawai`i.

As families and businesses across the state face economic realities, largely as a result of factors taking place at the national and global level, my Administration continues to move forward with proactive partnership initiatives to strengthen Hawai`i's economy.

My Administration’s five-point economic action plan is focused on areas where we can have a great impact and help Hawai`i’s families and businesses, by strengthening the economy and preserving and creating jobs.

The action steps we are taking include the following:

• Increased tourism outreach and marketing;

• Investing in improvements to state infrastructure and facilities;

• Lowering business fees and providing tax relief;

• Attracting private investment, especially with renewable energies; and

• Maximizing federal dollars and partnerships.

Building on the momentum of this plan, mayors, legislators, construction industry executives and labor leaders joined my Administration in December 2008 to unveil a plan to implement more than $1.8 billion in public infrastructure improvement projects statewide. As major component of my five-point plan, the goal of this initiative is to get people in construction and related industries back on the job, bolster our economy and improve residents' quality of life.

From December 2008 - December 2009, the state successfully opened bids for, awarded contracts for or started construction on 681 capital improvement projects, totaling $1,489,597,629. It is estimated that the $1.5 billion in capital improvement projects generated approximately 19,216 direct and indirect jobs statewide in the construction industry and other related sectors.

To help sustain Hawai`i's economy over the long-term, we continue to move forward on strategies aimed at fundamentally transforming our state toward an innovation-based economy. These plans include the Hawai`i Innovation Initiative, which is focused on developing our workforce with skills they need to succeed in today's global economy. You will find many positive signs of progress, including an exciting surge in student robotics programs in our schools that are helping to teach our young people the skills and knowledge they need to compete in the 21st century.

We are also committed to building a clean energy future for the state through the Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI). Launched in January 2008, the HCEI is an unprecedented partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy that aims to have at least 70 percent of Hawai`i's power come from clean energy by 2030. This partnership, combined with recent developments, including the historic agreement reached between the state and the Hawaiian Electric companies, has established Hawai`i as a world leader and a model in energy independence.

I am proud that state government is leading the way, with our state government's energy consumption dropping 5.8 percent from 2008 - 2009. In addition, six state buildings have received Energy Star Awards, six state buildings are LEED certified and 52 are in the process of certification with numerous state buildings also currently in the process of being retrofitted or receiving photovoltaic installations.

Transforming our economy toward innovation and energy independence is critical to building a sustainable future for our islands and will allow us to preserve the natural resources that make Hawai`i unique. I encourage you to find new ways to make a difference by contacting my office via telephone at (808) 586-0034 or via email at governor.lingle@hawaii.gov.

Mahalo!

Governor Linda Lingle