Civil Service System

The majority of jobs posted on our website are for civil service jobs with the County of Hawai‘i. You must meet the minimum qualification requirements and other public employment requirements when applying for civil service jobs with us.

Applicants will be referred to the hiring department or agency in the order of their examination score and availability for employment. The hiring department or agency may select any one of the applicants referred based on the merit system principle. The names of those not selected will be kept on the eligible list for a minimum of six months from the date of placement on the list for future employment consideration. If the eligible list is depleted or expired, applicants are encouraged to apply for the next available recruitment advertised on our jobs website. The hiring process may vary by hiring department or agency for the position they are trying to fill.

Other jobs appearing on this website may include positions exempt from civil service, temporary appointments outside of an eligible list, summer fun, etc.

Citizenship and Residence

Applicants must be citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States. Persons must submit proof of authorization to work within 3 business days from date of hire. Persons who are hired from out-of-state shall become residents of the State within 30 days after beginning their employment and as a condition of eligibility for continued employment.

When to File

Apply immediately by the closing deadline. Open-continuous recruitments will close as vacant positions are filled.

Veteran’s Preference

If you are claiming 5 or 10 point Veteran’s Preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 and/or other substantiating documents specifying the periods of your service. If you have a service-connected disability, you must submit your VA claim letter verifying that you have a service-connected disability and the percentage of your disability awarded to you.

Quality of Experience

Possession of the required amount of experience will not in itself be accepted as proof of qualification for the position. Overall paid or unpaid experience must have been of such scope and responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate that you have the ability to perform the duties of the position. Provide a detailed description of your duties and responsibilities. If you worked on a volunteer or part-time basis, indicate the average number of hours worked per week. Verification of any volunteer work performed may be requested.

Examination

Unless otherwise specified in this announcement, you must qualify on an appropriate examination designed to measure knowledge and skills necessary for satisfactory performance of the duties and responsibilities of the class of work. If you are required to report for a written and/or performance examination, you will be notified at a later date of the time and place of the examination.

Reasonable Accommodation

Persons who require special accommodations for written examinations should call the Recruitment & Examination Division at (808) 961-8361 as soon as possible. They also must submit a written request with documentation from a professional (who is qualified to make a diagnosis of such medical condition) verifying proof of the medical condition and the need for the accommodation. Such documentation must be submitted to the Recruitment & Examination Division 10 working days prior to the examination reporting date.

Notification

You will be notified by e-mail of your application status and employment eligibility.

Physical/Mental Requirements

Applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential duties of the position. Qualified applicants must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, the essential duties of the position applied for. The County of Hawai‘i is committed to making reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis.

Pre-Entry Medical Examination

Persons selected for certain designated County jobs must pass a pre-entry medical examination conducted by the County Physician in order to be hired. These positions are identified in Appendix C of the County’s pre-entry medical examination guide (the guide is available for public review at the Department of Human Resources in Hilo, the Mayor’s Office in Kona, and on the department’s website). For those individuals selected and who live out-of-State, the pre-entry medical examination may be conducted with their licensed primary physician at their own cost.

Administrative Review, Informal Step, and Appeal Process

Administrative Review

If you do not agree with an action taken on your application, you should FIRST request an administrative review with the Department of Human Resources. Your request must be done in writing within seven (7) calendar days following the date of the notice sent by the Department of Human Resources. Submit your additional information to the Department of Human Resources, Recruitment & Examination Division, attention to the assigned analyst identified in the letter sent you and include: 1) the job title, 2) recruitment number, 3) the specific reason(s) you are requesting the review, and 4) any additional information you want to substantiate your request. If you do not submit your request within the seven (7) day limit, an administrative review will not be conducted.

Informal Step

If you do not agree with the administrative review decision or the recruitment action taken by the Department of Human Resources, you must, whenever possible, informally discuss your complaint with the Recruitment & Examination Manager within 20 working days following the date your notice was sent. The Recruitment & Examination Manager must render a written decision on the informal complaint within seven (7) working days from the date of the informal decision.

Merit Appeals Board

If you are not satisfied with the result of the informal step, you may submit a formal written complaint to the Merit Appeals Board. The written complaint will be considered an appeal to the Merit Appeals Board. The appeal must be filed directly with the Merit Appeals Board within twenty (20) calendar days from the action giving rise to the appeal, on an appeal form prescribed by the Merit Appeals Board. Appeal forms are available at the Department of Human Resources.