HAWAIʻI EARNS FIRST-EVER “A” IN NATIONAL DIGITAL STATES SURVEY
State Achieves Highest Grade Since National Technology Assessment Began Grading States in 2010
News Release from Department of Accounting and General Services, September 26, 2026
HONOLULU — The state of Hawaiʻi has earned its first-ever “A” grade in the Center for Digital Government’s 2026 Digital States Survey, marking the state’s highest rating since the national assessment began grading states in 2010.
Hawaiʻi was one of 11 states nationwide to receive an “A,” the highest grade awarded in this year’s survey.
“Government should keep pace with the people it serves,” Acting Lieutenant Governor Keith Regan, also the state comptroller and Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) director. “This ranking is a meaningful acknowledgment that we are changing the way residents experience and access their state government. I’m proud of the teams across our administration who are finding new ways to make government more convenient, accessible and effective for every community.” The Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) is a division of DAGS.
The biennial Digital States Survey evaluates all 50 states on how effectively they use technology to improve government operations, strengthen constituent services, increase efficiency and advance state priorities. The survey is widely used as a national benchmark for state government technology.
“This recognition reflects years of steady progress and the collective work happening across state government to modernize how we serve the people of Hawaiʻi,” said State Chief Information Officer Christine Maii Sakuda, the head of ETS. “Technology touches nearly every aspect of government today — and earning an A shows that Hawaiʻi is making meaningful progress in strengthening our systems, improving services and building a more modern, resilient and responsive state government.”
Hawaiʻi has steadily improved its Digital States grade over the past 16 years, rising from a B- in 2010 and 2012 to a B+ in 2018 and 2020, an A- in 2022 and 2024, and an A in 2026.
The Center for Digital Government evaluates states based on criteria that include alignment of technology with state priorities and policies, improvements to government operations and services, cost savings and benefits, innovation, collaboration and demonstrated progress since the previous survey.
The 2026 survey found cybersecurity remains the top technology priority among states, followed by agency IT collaboration and shared services, artificial intelligence and machine learning, budget and cost control, and constituent engagement and experience.
The Center for Digital Government will present the 2026 Digital States awards on September 27 during the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Annual Conference in San Diego.
For more information about the 2026 Digital States Survey and results, visit the Center for Digital Government at www.govtech.com/digitalstates2026.
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Hawaii Government Technology: Last to First in 31 Years
CB: … In 1995, Hawai‘i ranked “dead last” in technology use among all 50 states, receiving a grade of F for technology use. We lagged behind the rest of the nation, stuck in the paper age. The wake-up call prompted government leaders at the time to take action and face the problem head on.
Fast forward to 2022 and Hawai’i ascends into the top quartile among the states, receiving a grade of A- for its overall IT program from the U.S. Center for Digital Government. Two years later, in 2024, Hawai‘i maintains this same grade, a notable achievement.
Just this past week, the Center for Digital Government announced the top-performing digital states based on its 2026 survey and gave Hawai‘i an A, a full step up from the earlier A-….
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