Technology Innovation and Citizen Engagement.

Cities that invest in technology are able to meet higher demand for services while capturing cost savings. And communities benefit when government and the public create opportunities to collaborate. My administration is using innovative technology to improve efficiency, and to foster civic engagement for a more open, participatory, and efficient government.

Honolulu 311.

We created the popular Honolulu 311 mobile app, which allows citizens to use their smart phones to request city services and report problems, such as broken streetlights or abandoned vehicles. Users can quickly and easily send us photographs and GPS data, so that we can respond efficiently

City Camp and Hackathon.

We are facilitating unprecedented collaboration between city employees and private citizens who share a passion for creating computer applications. We hosted City Camp and Hackathon brainstorming sessions that have already led to the development of more than a dozen apps that make city data available in a form the public case use, such as an app that tells bus riders where to find the nearest stop and when the next bus will arrive.

Code for America.

We secured a Code for America grant to bring three software design specialists to Honolulu to develop mobile applications tailored specifically to local needs, to make the city more open, efficient, and user-friendly.

Geographic information systems.

We are using sophisticated mapping technology, provided to the city at no cost by a leading GIS software company, that takes traditional maps and places information onto them, so that people who make geographic decisions — such as land planners, transportation engineers, or home buyers — can analyze the information layers and design a future. We are using this technology to develop applications that the public will be able to use to see tsunami inundation zone boundaries, monitor trash pickup, apply for camping permits, and many other purposes.

Converting to online services.

We launched a system to issue camping permits online, making camping more convenient for residents and visitors. This year, City crews will install new parking meters downtown and Chinatown that accept credit card payments – increasing convenience for drivers.

Number One Digital City in America.

In 2011, Honolulu was recognized as the number one Digital City in America for great strides in consolidating, enabling shared services, government transparency and communications interoperability, and for working in the spirit of collaboration to provide extraordinary value to constituents despite budget setbacks.