The following brief article, contributed by Gabriella Cabanas, the County Civil Service Department’s recruitment specialist, is an introduction to the application process for jobs with the County of Hawai`i. Our hope is that our residents will consider employment with the County of Hawai`i, an equal opportunity employer and provider of services.

• Applications are accepted from the public during open recruitment periods for designated positions.
• Applications are reviewed by the Department of Civil Service to determine whether applicants meet the minimum qualification requirements for the class of work.

How do applicants know how they’re doing?

Applicants are notified by mail regarding the following:

• Whether they met the minimum qualification requirements.
• When and where to report for any written and/or performance test. The examination may be written, performance, a training & experience evaluation, or a combination of these.

Is the applicant always given a written test?

Not always. It depends on the type of job. When administered, written tests are given to measure your knowledge, skills, and abilities for the class of work and are administered only within the State of Hawai`i.

Okay, I passed the written test. What happens next?

If you pass the written examination, your name is placed on the eligible list in accordance with your test score. This is the first hurdle.

Based on the test score and an individual's availability, names are referred to the County department or agency that has the vacancy.

Eligible lists and why you may be selected within a year on the list

Eligible lists are good for a period of one year, and any vacancies arising during the course of the year may be filled from these lists.

What about jobs that don’t call for a written test?

For those recruitments which are registration recruitments and for which no examination is conducted, your name is placed on the list in alphabetical order. The department interviewing for the vacancy will receive the entire list of names.

The employing department may randomly pull names from the list to conduct interviews.

The department or agency never sees your test score

We do not disclose your examination score to the employing department/agency. Persons referred for a vacancy by our department then compete equally with each other.

The department/agency contacts these individuals, schedules and conducts job interviews. The department may select anyone of those referred and interviewed, and will notify each person interviewed of the department’s selection decision.

What happens to people selected for a permanent position?

If selected for a permanent position, your name gets inactivated from the eligible list. If selected for a temporary position, your name remains active on the eligible list.

Does a relatively low score mean an applicant is out of the running?

Even if you don't initially score high in the written examination, your name may be reached as time passes when higher-scoring individuals are hired, decline a job, or find other employment.

Your name may be referred for subsequent vacancies until the list expires or is depleted, or you get eventually hired.

Pre-entry medical examination is required once selected for employment

Persons selected will need to take a pre-entry medical examination with one of our County Physicians to be cleared for work. Cost for the pre-entry medical examination is paid for by the County.

For more information on County jobs, visit www.co.hawaii.hi.us or visit the Department of Civil Service at 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 2, Hilo or the Kona Mayor’s Office at Hanama Place, 75-5706 Kuakini Hwy, Kailua-Kona. Or call 961-8361.

The County of Hawai`i is an Equal Employment Opportunity Provider and Employer.

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The County of Hawaii’s Department of Environmental Management is pleased to announce that the improvement work at Waiohinu, Glenwood, Pahoa, and Waiea Transfer Stations is nearly completed.

Among the improvements that residents will notice are new fences and gates. The gates will be closed at night to help deter misuse and abuse of our transfer stations and to promote cleanliness at these facilities.

Improvements also aimed at curbing theft of HI5 beverage containers

Installation of gates at the transfer stations has become necessary to help curb several ongoing problems. One of these problems is theft. Thieves have stolen the equipment used at the redemption center as well as the already redeemed containers so that they can redeem them again. In one instance the loss was an estimated $5,000.

Note: The following transfer stations are already gated at night:

Hilo, Kea`au, Papaikou, Honoka`a, Puako, Waimea, Kailua-Kona, Keauhou. Hilo Transfer Station closes at 5 p.m., and all of the others close at 6:30 p.m.

Nighttime gate closure will also reduce illegal use by commercial haulers. Some individuals are charging residents a fee to collect garbage, then dumping it at the transfer stations.

Meanwhile, some commercial businesses and contractors are taking their commercial waste to the transfer stations. Neither of these activities is permitted.

Your transfer stations are for household rubbish

The transfer stations were designed and built to provide a convenient means for residents to dispose of their household rubbish. Commercial use of the transfer stations places a significant burden the tax payers.

Abuse equals more cost to maintain transfer facilities

Significantly more County labor and equipment are required to maintain these facilities when they are abused by commercial entities who dump illegally.

Opening hours for transfer stations

The transfer stations are open from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm daily.

Nighttime gate closures will begin July 31.

We request your kokua in maintaining the cleanliness of your transfer stations. In the event that you arrive at the transfer station when the gate is closed, please do not dump your garbage at the gate or in some other illegal location. Your cooperation will help to ensure that your local transfer station remains a practical and convenient means of disposing of your household rubbish.

One step in an overall effort to improve our transfer station operations

This project is one phase of a concerted effort to enhance and repair our transfer stations Island-wide.

The Department of Environmental Management is working with transfer station users to assure that this effort meets the needs of the community.

Please be assured that your questions and concerns are welcome. For further information, please call the Solid Waste Division at 961-8058 or 961-8514.

Starting July 1, 2006, the HI5 Redemption Centers at Puako and Hawi will have new times of operation.

Hawi will be open on Saturdays only from 8 am-4:30 pm, and Puako will be open on Sundays only from 8 am-4:30 pm (both closed from 1:00-1:30 pm for lunch break).

For information on all HI5 redemption sites, please call the County’s Recycling Specialists at 961-8527 or 961-8549.

The County of Hawaii, Department of Public Works will resurface 5.5 miles of Mamalahoa Hwy in Waimea starting June 17 to July 31, 2006, at an estimated cost of $1.2 million.

Road resurfacing starts; at Kamamalu to Mud Lane and from Waimea Elementary School up to just before Lalamilo Farm Lots.

One or two lanes of traffic will remain open. However, motorists should expect delays or consider alternate routes, whenever possible.

Public Works crews will work on the following schedule, weather permitting:

Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Weekends from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

No construction is scheduled for Sunday, June 18, 2006.

For further information, please contact Jiro Sumada, Deputy Director of Public Works at 961-8321.

The County of Hawai`i is holding the first workshop of the Puna Community Development Plan (CDP) on Saturday, July 22 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Ha`aeamahi Dining Hall on the Kamehameha Schools Campus in Kea`au.

This workshop is open to the public. We encourage attendance by everyone who wants to be a part of the collective effort to improve Puna as a place to live, work and play.

Since the kick-off of the Puna CDP in late February, more than 130 small group meetings have been held throughout the district. More than 1,150 people have contributed their ideas towards the betterment of life in Puna, the fastest-growing district on the island.

This first workshop will be an opportunity to examine what has been said, to see which ideas should be given the highest priority in the CDP.

Community input is key to the decision-making process. Everyone is anxious to see tangible results from all of this planning. With people working together, the CDPs will develop into action plans that are both visionary and realistic.

The Puna CDP is part of an islandwide initiative that seeks to bring planning decisions closer to the communities that are affected by such decisions. North and South Kona have been working on their CDP and two additional CDPs have recently been funded by the County.

At the workshop you will find out more about the CDP process and the extensive information about Puna that has been gathered by the consultant from Plan Pacific about Puna’s population growth and development patterns, public facilities and services, native forest cover and other natural resources, and more.

You as a community member can help fill in the gaps in information or point out where more research is needed.

Please RSVP by calling the Puna CDP Hotline at 935-3975 by July 14. To help us prepare for group exercises in the workshop, please let us know where in Puna you live. More information is available at http://www.hawaiiislandplan.com .

The meeting place is accessible to persons with disabilities. To request special assistance, auxiliary aid, or language translation, please call the Planning Department at 961-8288 by July 17 so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

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The County of Hawai`i’ Elections Division is looking for fellow citizens to act as precinct officials during our upcoming primary and general elections. Assisting your neighbors and fellow citizens to vote is a fun, challenging, and a rewarding experience. This is your opportunity to volunteer your services to the community, and at the same time gain first-hand knowledge and experience in the electoral process.

This is an excellent opportunity for your nonprofit organization. Not only does your organization earn money, you are getting involved and participating in the electoral process. Requirements to participate are:

• Each participant must meet the minimum qualifications.
• Each organization shall not be a political action committee or organized for a political purpose.
• A completed Tax Clearance Application for each organization.
• A signed Memorandum of Agreement for each organization.
• A completed recruitment worksheet for each organization.

When are the elections?

2006 Primary Election: Saturday, September 23, 2006

2006 General Election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006

How long will I be working?

The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., however precinct officials start at 5:30 a.m. and end at 7:00 p.m.

What are the minimum qualifications?

Each precinct official must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be 16 years old on or before June 30, 2006.

• Be a registered voter in the State of Hawaii.

• Able to read 11 point font and write English.

• Able to lift 25-35 pounds.

• Attend a training session and pass a certification exam.

What will I Be Doing?

Each polling place consists of a Chairperson, Voter Assistance Official(s) (VAOs), and Precinct Officials (POs).

Precinct Chairperson’s Responsibilities and Duties:

• Manages the polling place and is responsible for the security and integrity of ballots issued and votes cast.

• Assists voters and administers special procedures.

• Organizes and supervises precinct officials and voter activity.

• Ensures that all election procedures are correctly followed.

• Receives the Supply Box before each election.

• Maintains inventory and control of all election materials.

• Completes all Election Day documents correctly.

Voter Assistance Official (VAO) Responsibilities and Duties:

• Assists the Chairperson in managing the polling place.

• Operates the Voter Assistance Station.

• Assists voters and administers special procedures.

• Assists the Chairperson in completing all Election Day documents.

• Assists the Chairperson with miscellaneous duties.

Precinct Official (PO) Responsibilities and Duties:

• Operates the following stations at the polling place:

1. Information and Ballot Demonstration Station

2. Poll Book Station

3. Ballot Issuing Station

4. Ballot Box Station

• Assists voters with Election Day questions.

• Assists the Chairperson and/or Voter Assistance Official (VAO) with miscellaneous duties.

How will I know what to do on Primary and Election Day?

Everyone is required to attend at least one training session and pass a certification exam.

Will I be paid?

Please call The Hawaii County Elections Division at 959-5126 for more information.

The Hawaii County Resource Center would like to inform our community that the center is now accepting applications for Healing Our Island grants.

The Healing Our Island Community Fund is a mini-grant program that awards grants of up to $2,000 to community groups and grassroots organizations within Hawaii County for projects and events that address drug awareness and education, and drug prevention.

You may download the application by visiting the Healing Our Island website at www.healingourisland.com

For further information about Healing Our Island or other community grant programs, please contact the Hawaii County Resource Center, Department of Research & Development at 25 Aupuni Street, Room 109, Hilo, HI 96720. Phone: 961-8366. Email: hcrc@co.hawaii.hi.us .

Thank you for helping to Heal Our Island!

The Environmental Management Commission has a vacancy for a commissioner to represent District 2 in Hilo (Council member Donald Ikeda's district).

Community-minded residents are encouraged to apply for this vacancy.

Members of the Environmental Management Commission advise the Department of Environmental Management on waste reduction strategies, recycling, litter control, community involvement, and other issues related to the functions of the department.

Under the Hawaii County Charter, appointments to the commission are made by the Mayor with Council approval. Commissioners serve 5-year staggered terms.

The commission is made up of nine members, each representing one of the nine Council districts.

To obtain an application, please contact the Office of Information and Complaints, Mayor's Office, Room 217, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo. Phone: 961-8223 or at the Kona Mayor's Office, Hanama Place, 75-5706 Kuakini Hwy, Kailua-Kona. Phone: 329-5226.

For further information about the Environmental Management Commission, please contact the Department of Environmental Management at 961-8083.

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Hawai`i County is currently recruiting a citizen volunteer to serve as commissioner to represent District 8 (Council member Angel Pilago's district) on the Cost of Government Commission.

The Commission serves for a period of 11 months only, and is empaneled one year after the Mayor is elected into office.

Their mission is to study and investigate present operations within the County of Hawai`i, and make recommendations to the Mayor and Hawai`i County Council on how improvements in County government may be made.

For further information, please contact Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida at 961-8251. Completed applications can be dropped off or mailed to Lincoln Ashida at the Office of the Corporation Counsel at the Hilo Lagoon Centre, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 325, Hilo, HI 96720.

Application forms may be picked up in Hilo at the Office of Information and Complaints at Room 217, 25 Aupuni Street and in Kona at the Kona Mayor's Office at Hanama Place, Kailua-Kona. You may also find an application form on line at www.co.hawaii.hi.us .

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The following is a primer on the State of Hawai`i's beverage container redemption program works, and the location of the County of Hawai’i’s beverage container redemption sites:

Qualifying Beverage Containers:

What’s IN: Eligible (redeemable) beverage containers include: soft drinks, soda, water, juice, tea and coffee drinks, and low alcohol content drinks (beer, malt beverages, wine coolers, mixed spirits) in metal, glass or #1&#2 plastic, 64 oz. or less.

What’s OUT: Ineligible (unredeemable) containers include: milk, wine and liquor containers.

Reminder: ONLY eligible HI5¢ labeled containers can be redeemed.

Please contact Atlas Recycling LLC at 935-9328 (Hilo) or 329-6868 (Kona) for further information about additional scrap value paid on aluminum cans and their mobile redemption sites in rural communities.

Certified redemption centers are now accepting flattened aluminum and plastic HI5¢ beverage containers.

Flattened containers are weighed at redemption sites to determine deposit payment. The public is reminded that reverse vending machines will not accept flattened or crushed containers.

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Construction work to widen Kuakini Highway, from Palani Road to Hualalai Road, commenced on November 8, 2004.

Kuakini Highway will be widened to four lanes for automobiles, including two through-lanes in each direction, and a pocket lane for left turns where appropriate. In addition, there will bicycle lanes on both sides throughout most of the project. The construction will last 18-24 months.

One lane will be open at all times from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. while construction is in progress. Outside of these hours, one lane in each direction will be open.

The contractor, Hawaiian Dredging, will work with the adjacent businesses and residences to assure that a reasonable access to the businesses and residences will be maintained throughout the construction period. However, motorists traveling in the area should drive with caution.

We are most grateful for the public’s patience and apologize for any inconvenience caused.

By popular demand, the weekly Kuakini Update talk story sessions have resumed.

Join the project engineers and your neighbors at these talk story sessions, which will take place every Tuesday morning at 7:30 at the Mayor's Kona Conference Room at Hanama Place... Coffee and doughnuts provided.

• Utility relocation work is on-going.
• Landscaping and irrigation installation in progress.
• Permanent striping on Kuakini Highway from Palani Road to the vicinity of Hanama Place will resume next week.

Information on project status will be provided via this newsletter, the County website at www.co.hawaii.hi.us and the Mayor's West Hawaii Office at 329-5226.

Mahalo nui loa for your support of this community improvement project.

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Job Announcements

For job postings, visit our website: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/civil_serv/civ_serv.htm

Locally Produced Film ‘Malama i Ka `Aina’ Plays the Palace with "An Inconvenient Truth"

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Relay For Life of Hilo Overnight Run July 15-16 in Hilo to Fight Cancer

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Grantsmanship Center Grant Writing Workshop July 17-21 at HawCC

Early Education Researcher Dr. Lillian Katz Gives Free Lecture July 15

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Women in Transition - Free Seminar in Kealakekua July 22

Junior Achievement Seeks Advisors for High School Program

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Paniolo Day at Parker Ranch Center August 26

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Evening in Paradise Fund-raiser for United Way Sept 16 in Keauhou

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Colorful Blossoms at Kona Daifukuji Orchid Show Sept 17

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High Quality Mulch at Kealakehe Transfer Station

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All project schedules based on weather permitting.

County of Hawaii: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/cgi-bin/webcal/webcal.pl
State of Hawaii: http://www.state.hi.us/calendars.htm
Hawaii Visitors and Conventions Bureau: http://calendar.gohawaii.com/
Hawaii.com: http://www.hawaii.com/live/
Hawaii Community Foundation http://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/calendar/index.php
Alternative-Hawaii: http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/calendar.htm
Kamuela.com: http://kamuela.com/calendar/default.asp
Hawaii Public Radio: http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/psa.htm
Hawaii Theatre Network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hawaiitheatre
UH at Hilo Theatre Events: http://performingarts.net/Theatre/seasoncalendar/calendar.pl
Waikoloa Village: http://www.waikoloa.org/calendar
Hilo Downtown Improvement Association Activity Guide: Send an email to dia@hilo.net with the details of your upcoming event or call 935-8850.
Prince Kuhio Plaza: http://www.princekuhioplaza.com/html/Events.asp
Substance Abuse Conference (Hawai`i Community College) www.hawaii.hawaii.edu/hsersacc/BPC.htm

County of Hawaii WebSite Address: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/

County Forms Online: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/forms/forms.html
County Maps Online: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/maps/maps.html
County Project Summaries And Updates Online: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/info/projects.htm

Use the following links to the specific region:
North Hawaii: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/info/nh/NH-M.htm
East Hawaii: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/info/eh/EH-M.htm
South Hawaii: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/info/sh/SH-M.htm
West Hawaii: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/info/k2k/K2K-M.htm

Procurement Notices: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/purchasing/bids.htm

Information & Complaints: cohinfo@co.hawaii.hi.us
County Departments: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/email.htm
Hawaii County website: co.hawaii.hi.us

To add or remove your name from distribution, e-mail Janet Snyder: jsnyder@co.hawaii.hi.us

For more information, contact:
Janet Snyder
Phone: (808) 961-8223
Fax: (808) 933-1521
e-mail: jsnyder@co.hawaii.hi.us

Hawai‘i County ... a nice place to live.

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