Hawaii Disability Employment Initiative
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded grants under the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) to improve education, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes of youth and adults who are unemployed, underemployed, and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits. The DEI is jointly funded and administered by the U.S. DOL’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).
In Hawaii, two counties were selected by lottery to receive the DEI grant. Starting in 2012, Maui County and Hawaii County received additional funding and technical assistance to implement several training and partnership strategies at local One-Stop Centers.
- Integrated Resource Teams coordinate services and leverage funding to meet the needs of a job seeker with a disability.
- Blending and Braiding Funds / Leveraging Resources from multiple sources to contribute to education, training and/or employment goals.
- Customized Employment individualizes the relationship between job seekers and businesses to meet the needs of both.
- Asset Development Strategies represent various approaches to enhance long-term economic self-sufficiency.
- Partnerships and Collaboration impact the ability of adults and youth with disabilities to participate in education, training and employment opportunities.
Contact
To learn more about DEI activities in Hawaii County and Maui County, contact a One-Stop Center:
Big Island Workplace Connection
Hilo Office
1990 Kino’ole St., Suite 102,
Hilo, HI 96720
Telephone: 981-2860
Fax: 981-2880
Kona Office
74-5565 Luhia St., Bldg. C Bay 4,
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
Telephone: (808) 327-4770
WorkSourceMaui
Maui Office
2064 Wells St., Ste. 108,
Wailuku, HI 96793
Telephone: (808) 984-2091
Moloka’i Office
55 Makaena Pl., Rm. 4,
Kaunakakai, HI 96748
Telephone: (808) 553-1755
Lāna’i Office
Telephone: (808) 984-2091
Staff
University of Hawaii Center on Disability Studies
Annie Moriyasu
Educational Specialist
Center for Disability Studies
1410 Lower Campus Road, Bldg. 171F
Honolulu, HI 96822
Chin Lee
Educational Specialist
Center for Disability Studies
1410 Lower Campus Road, Bldg. 171F
Honolulu, HI 96822
Lisa Marie-Tam
Admin & Fiscal Support Specialist
Center for Disability Studies
1410 Lower Campus Road, Bldg. 171F
Honolulu, HI 96822
Ronald Deese
Academic Support
Center for Disability Studies
1410 Lower Campus Road, Bldg. 171F
Honolulu, HI 96822
William Mihalke
Principal Investigator
Center for Disability Studies
1410 Lower Campus Road, Bldg. 171F
Honolulu, HI 96822
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Jessica “Malia” Tamaribuchi
Disability Resource Coordinator/Business Relations Inclusion Coordinator
Workforce Development Division – Kona
74-5565 Luhia St., Bldg. C Bay 4
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
Telephone: (808) 327-4770
John J. Clement
Business Relations Inclusion Coordinator
Workforce Development Division – Maui
2064 Wells St., Ste. 108
Wailuku, HI 96793
Telephone: (808) 984-2091
Mae Espina
Disability Resource Coordinator
Workforce Development Division – Maui
2064 Wells St., Ste. 108
Wailuku, HI 96793
Telephone: (808) 984-2091
Raymond “Kauwa” Elia
Disability Resource Coordinator/Business Relations Inclusion Coordinator
Workforce Development Division – Hilo
1990 Kinoole St., Suite 102
Hilo, HI 96720
Telephone: (808) 981-2860
Funding Statement
This workforce product was partially funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, CFDA 17.207. The product was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes are permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.