Honolulu launches 'AI for Everyone at Work' to train O'ahu businesses

The City and County of Honolulu, through its Office of Economic Revitalization, launched a new pilot program on May 23, 2026, called 'AI for Everyone at Work: Training Trainers to Teach Across Generations.' Partnering with local organizations Māpunawai and Skilled Tomorrow, the initiative directly addresses a critical gap: equipping O'ahu businesses and nonprofits to train a multigenerational workforce on AI tools. Rather than offering one-off workshops, the program focuses on a 'train-the-trainer' model, enabling organizations to build internal capacity for ongoing AI education.

Participants will learn AI fundamentals, practical workplace use cases, and structured prompt-writing frameworks. The curriculum is designed to be accessible to employees across age groups, ensuring that both digital natives and seasoned workers gain confidence with AI. By embedding responsible AI use into local businesses, Honolulu aims to reduce the digital divide and prepare the island's workforce for an AI-driven economy. This pilot could serve as a blueprint for other municipalities seeking to democratize AI skills at scale.