What's Being Discussed

The Data Sharing and Governance Working Group (DSGWG) is holding a public meeting on October 20, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. The meeting can be attended in person in Honolulu or joined online. Key topics include:

• A report from Dr. Thomas Lee of the Hawaii Data Collaborative on findings related to Act 154 (2025), a state law aimed at improving how government agencies share data with each other — with the goal of helping address Hawaii's affordability crisis and population decline through better-informed decisions on education, jobs, and economic growth.
• Updates from two stakeholder meetings held to gather input on data sharing practices.
• A progress update on remaining interviews and the preparation of a draft report summarizing the Working Group's findings.
• A discussion on whether any additional presentations are needed before the draft report is finalized.
• Planning for future meetings in November and December, including member availability.

Decisions Expected

• Approval of the August 28, 2026, meeting minutes.
• A vote on whether additional presentations are needed before finalizing the draft report.
• Agreement on the next meeting date in November at 10:00 a.m.

Who Should Pay Attention

• Hawaii residents concerned about the cost of living, jobs, or population loss
• People interested in how state agencies collect and share data
• Those involved in education, workforce, or economic development policy
• Anyone who wants to provide public testimony — written comments can be emailed to ets@hawaii.gov before the meeting