Jade Butay is the Fil-Am voice in the Hawaii state gov't

HONOLULU - The voices of Filipinos in Hawaii are often heard in the state government, thanks to the son of Ilocano immigrants Jade Butay.

Butay is the highest-ranking Filipino-American serving in the Cabinet of Hawaii Governor Josh Green.

He is the Director of the State of Hawaii’s Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR), and he is in charge of administering programs designed to improve the economic security, physical and economic well-being, and productivity of workers.

With 371,528 Filipinos residing in Hawaii, only a few Filipinos hold government positions in the state. Butay said he was elated to have secured a significant seat in Green’s cabinet despite the complexities of the issues he faced.

“Hawaii still has a long way to go. I’ve often been referred to as a ‘unicorn,’ which is not a good thing. Other races come to work every single day with a job to do. I, on the other hand, come to work with a responsibility. I’m pleased to have a seat in the Cabinet, to make a contribution, no matter how modest, to the process of dealing with the challenges and issues,” Butay told GMA News Online.

"The opportunity to deal with these issues, with all their complexity, history, and political and cultural significance, is both gratifying and thought-provoking,’’ he added.

Aloha, Bayanihan

Amid his work, Butay had always taken into consideration the sentiments of his fellow Filipinos as he always ensured that their concerns would be heard.

It has been his goal to guarantee that Filipinos have a rightful place in the Hawaiian community.

‘’It’s extremely important that the Filipino community is at the table or elsewhere on the menu. I need to make sure our voice is heard and ensure it is not out of the picture when critical decisions are made. It’s an important responsibility that I do not take lightly,’’ Butay said.

Asked about the reception of the Filipino community in Hawaii, Butay described Hawaii as a “state of immigrants.” He mentioned that the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan could also be felt in Hawaii because of the state’s Aloha spirit.

Aloha is more than a word of greeting or salutation in Hawaii. It means being in the presence of and sharing the essence of life as it continues to teach lessons of peace, kindness, compassion, and responsibility to future generations.

‘’Unlike many states across the country, Hawaii has the spirit of Aloha comparable to the spirit of Bayanihan. We care for one another. Diversity and inclusion are part of the culture. We’re not adversarial to each other,’’ Butay shared.

Being an immigrant

Butay traces his Filipino roots to San Nicolas in Ilocos Norte. He shared that his parents, Crisanto and Reynie, left everything back home when they decided to migrate to the United States.

"As a child, I watched my parents struggle to build a life for our family in the United States. Like so many immigrants, we experienced inauspicious beginnings. Witnessing the sacrifices my parents made to provide a better life for our family has been the primary source for motivating me to succeed," he said.

Butay wants to ensure that the sacrifices of his family will not be wasted and forgotten. He learned that as an immigrant, he has no way to go but to succeed in life.

"When you’re an immigrant, you’re starting at the bottom. You have no place to go but up. Second, not having a safety net gives you a better chance to succeed because you’re not expecting someone to bail you out," Butay said.

"Third, being new to the country gives you a powerful naiveté that frees you from limited thinking and opens your mind to unconventional ways of doing things," he added.

Maui wildfires

Hawaii Governor Josh Green appointed Butay DLIR Director last December 2022.

His goal is to improve the economic well-being of Hawaii's workforce. At present, he prioritizes assisting the victims of the Maui wildfires.

In the past 12 years, Butay has been a member of the Cabinet of several administrations. He has managed departments, both in times of crisis and the ordinary day-to-day lives of residents. — DVM, GMA Integrated News