The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB), in collaboration with the Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD), will hold a Rapid Recruitment Job Fair on August 20, 2025. The event is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the DAB Plant Quarantine Branch located at 1849 Auiki St., near Sand Island in Honolulu. Free parking will be available for attendees.
This initiative aims to address a range of vacancies within DAB by allowing prospective applicants to meet directly with staff from both departments. Attendees are encouraged to bring their resumes and transcripts, as applications can be submitted onsite.
Recent legislative sessions have provided significant funding increases for DAB, with $10 million allocated in 2024 and an additional $12 million this past session. These funds have supported new staffing positions focused on combating invasive species across Hawaii. The department has also worked with DHRD to broaden educational requirements for biosecurity inspector roles, previously known as plant quarantine inspectors, in order to attract more candidates. Other open positions include entomologists, noxious weed specialists, environmental health specialists such as pesticide inspectors and education specialists.
“With this Rapid Recruitment Job Fair, we hope to encourage the ‘cream of the crop’ to join our team and boost our response in all areas of the department and on all islands,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. “Besides positions that deal with invasive species, the department is also looking for veterinarians, engineers, property managers, aquaculture specialists, produce inspectors, office assistants and many more. Come grow your career with the DAB and help provide greater services to the state of Hawai‘i!”
“DHRD is committed to connecting skilled, passionate individuals with opportunities where they can make a real difference for Hawai‘i,” said Brenna Hashimoto, Director of DHRD. “Through our partnership with DAB, this job fair gives jobseekers the chance to explore meaningful careers and join the state’s efforts to protect our islands and serve our communities.”
Those interested in attending can register online ahead of time at https://hawaii.attract.neogov.com/p/dabjobfair. A full list of current vacancies is available on DAB’s Careers webpage at https://dab.hawaii.gov/careers/. Additional accelerated hiring opportunities under Operation Hire Hawai‘i (OH-HI) can be found at https://dhrd.hawaii.gov/OHHI/.
