Key takeaways
- Hawaii state government spent $20.2 billion in fiscal 2024, the 37th most of any state.
- Statewide purchasing runs through the State Procurement Office, and vendors register and find bids in HIePRO and HANDS.
- The fiscal year starts July 1; the governor's FY2028-29 budget proposal usually comes in December.
- The 2027 legislative session convenes Jan. 20 and is scheduled to adjourn May 7.
Hawaii government at a glance
| Fact | Hawaii |
|---|---|
| State spending, FY 2024 | $20.2 billion (37th of 50) |
| Fiscal year starts | July 1 |
| Next budget | FY2028-29 · proposal usually in December |
| 2027 legislative session | Jan. 20 to May 7 (108 days) |
| Central procurement office | State Procurement Office |
| Bid and vendor portal | HIePRO and HANDS |
| State CIO | Christine Sakuda, Chief Information Officer |
| Local governments | 21 total, including 17 special districts and 0 school districts |
| Public power and co-op utilities | 0 public power utilities and 1 electric co-ops |
| State prison population | 3,942 (end of 2023) |
How Hawaii buys
- Central purchasing. The State Procurement Office handles statewide contracts and purchasing rules for state agencies.
- Where bids are posted. HIePRO and HANDS is where vendors register and find state solicitations.
- Registering as a vendor. Our Hawaii vendor registration guide walks through the steps, fees and documents.
- Agencies and local buyers. Many agencies, universities, cities, counties and school districts buy on their own or through cooperative contracts; see our cooperative purchasing guide.
Budget and legislative calendar
- Fiscal year. Hawaii's fiscal year starts July 1. The next budget covers FY2028-29.
- Governor's proposal. Usually released in December. Status as of Nov. 8, 2026: not yet released. Track it in our governor budget proposals tracker.
- 2027 session. Convenes Jan. 20 and is scheduled to adjourn May 7. See the 2027 legislative session calendar.
Technology and AI
- State CIO. Christine Sakuda, Chief Information Officer, leads the Office of Enterprise Technology Services. See the full state CIO directory.
- AI policy. Our tracker counts no executive orders, no laws and 2 agency policies on government AI use. See the state AI policy tracker.
- How IT buying works. See how state agencies buy technology.
Largest public buyers in Hawaii
The biggest Hawaii entities on our national rankings. Each one runs its own budget and, in most cases, its own purchasing.
| Buyer | Type | Size | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu | City | 341,868 residents (2025) | 56 of 100 largest cities |
| Honolulu County | County | 988,703 residents (2025) | 54 of 100 largest counties |
| Hawaii Department of Education | School district | 173,178 students (fall 2021) | 13 of 100 largest districts |
| City and County of Honolulu | Transit agency | 40,117,500 trips (2023) | 25 of 50 largest |
| Daniel K Inouye International | Airport | 10,430,353 passengers boarded (2025) | 30 of 100 busiest |
| Kahului | Airport | 3,450,472 passengers boarded (2025) | 54 of 100 busiest |
| Honolulu Board of Water Supply (Windward–Pearl Harbor system) | Water utility | 631,389 people served | 51 of 208 largest |
| Honolulu Board of Water Supply (Waipahu–Ewa–Waianae system) | Water utility | 217,479 people served | 181 of 208 largest |
| Honolulu (HI) Police | Police department | 1,962 sworn officers (2016) | 19 of 50 largest |
Sources: KSG rankings of the largest cities, counties, school districts, public universities, transit agencies, airports, water utilities, public power utilities, police departments and other lists. Figures are from each list's source year.
Local government and utilities
- 21 local governments. That includes 17 special districts and 0 school districts. See special districts by state.
- Utilities. 0 public power utilities and 1 electric cooperatives serve 35,316 customers, 7% of the state. See Hawaii utilities.
- Budget cycles. Cities, counties and school districts set their own fiscal years; see city and county budget calendars.
Hawaii state holidays in 2027
Besides the 11 federal holidays, Hawaii state offices close on these days in 2027:
- Prince Kuhio Day: Friday, March 26
- Good Friday: Friday, March 26 (About a dozen states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky (half day), Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas)
- King Kamehameha Day: Friday, June 11
- Statehood Day: Friday, Aug. 20
See the full 2027 federal and state holiday calendar.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We research Hawaii buyers, time outreach to state and local budget cycles and get you in front of the people who own the problem you solve. See how our state and local sales development works.
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