NEWS RELEASE: DLIR Honors 2026 Workforce Development Heroes

STATE OF HAWAIʻI

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

KA ʻOIHANA PONO LIMAHANA

JADE T. BUTAY

DIRECTOR

KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

DLIR HONORS 2026 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HEROES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 1, 2026

HONOLULU - The Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) and the Hawaiʻi Workforce Development Council (WDC) has recognized recipients of the 2026 Workforce Development Hero Awards.

Now in its fourth year, the Workforce Development Hero Awards honor individuals whose leadership, service, innovation and commitment have strengthened Hawaiʻi's workforce. This year's honorees were celebrated for expanding opportunities across the state, developing talent, connecting people to meaningful careers and helping build a stronger, more resilient workforce for Hawaiʻi's future.

"Building a strong workforce requires people who lead, collaborate and invest in the success of others," said DLIR Director Jade T. Butay. "This year's honorees exemplify that commitment by expanding opportunities for workers, supporting employers and industries and showing what Hawaiʻi can achieve through collective effort."

2026 Workforce Development Hero Award Winners:

Oʻahu: Kazunori "Kazu" Hayashida, manager of workforce planning, Hawaiian Electric and Melvin Dizon, Licensed Medical Social Worker, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center

Maui: Chentelle Rowland, executive director, Maui Workforce Development Board

Hawaiʻi Island: Matthew Stevens, executive director, Hawaiʻi Workforce Funders Collaborative

Lifetime Achievement Award: David De Luz Jr. and Eric Gill for decades of dedicated leadership in advancing Hawaiʻi's workforce development.

Gill was recognized for nearly five decades of advocacy on behalf of Hawaiʻi's working people and for his longtime leadership with UNITE HERE Local 5. His career has centered on representing workers in Hawaiʻi's hospitality, healthcare and food service industries and advancing their voice in the workplace and the broader community.

De Luz was honored for his longstanding contributions and commitment to workforce development and for a career of service that has strengthened opportunities for Hawaiʻi's workers and communities.

"These awards are ultimately about people who have chosen to use their talents in service to others," said WDC Executive Director Bennette E. Misalucha. "Our 2026 Workforce Heroes come from different professions, industries and communities, but they share something important: they understand that workforce development is about more than filling jobs. It is about opening doors, creating pathways, believing in people and helping individuals and families build a future here in Hawaiʻi. We are proud to recognize their extraordinary contributions."

Legislator of the Year

The Hawaiʻi Workforce Development Council also presented its Legislator of the Year Award to State Representative Andrew Takuya Garrett, chair of the House Committee on Higher Education, in recognition of his leadership and support for initiatives that strengthen the connection between education, workforce development and economic opportunity.

The awards were presented during the annual Future of Work Conference at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi on September 23, 2026.

Celebrating Hawaiʻi's Workforce

The awards were presented as part of the Future of Work Conference which brought together employers, educators, workforce organizations, government, philanthropy and community partners to explore how Hawaiʻi can prepare its people and industries for a rapidly changing world of work. The awards were handed out this year by Acting Lieutenant Governor Keith Regan, DLIR Director Jade T. Butay and WDC Executive Director Bennette Misalucha.

The 2026 conference, themed "Rooted in Culture, Ready for the Future," examined the future of work across seven industry sectors and emphasized the importance of preparing Hawaiʻi's workforce for change while remaining grounded in the values, relationships and sense of place that define the islands.

The Workforce Development Hero Awards are presented annually by the Hawaiʻi Workforce Development Council in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi P-20 Partners for Education and AE Consulting during Workforce Development Month to recognize individuals whose work exemplifies leadership, service, collaboration, and commitment to Hawaiʻi's workforce.

Photos can be found here. (High Resolution images available upon request).

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