State says systems
ready for Y2K

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

All but five of 892 information systems or programs among state agencies are Y2K compliant, and state officials say they expect all to be well come New Year's Eve.

Gov. Ben Cayetano had set Sept. 30 as the deadline for compliance.

"Given the size and complexity of the state, I think this is a tremendous accomplishment," said Mary Patricia Waterhouse, state deputy comptroller.

None of the five systems or programs is deemed essential.

The state has spent $23 million over the past three years to become compliant, Waterhouse said.

All 12, so-called "mission critical systems," those computer systems deemed key to continuing the most significant government functions, are ready for the New Year.

The five systems or programs not yet compliant come from three agencies:

The University of Hawaii Student Information System. Used to register community college students, the program is expected to be Y2K ready by December.
Hawaii Health Systems Corp.'s pharmacy dispensing program and a small portion (18 of 4,488) of its medical devices. The pharmacy dispensing program is expected to be compliant by Nov. 15 while the 18 devices are still undergoing remediation.
The Department of Accounting and General Services' Information and Communication Services Division's statewide digital microwave system and its router network. Both are expected to be compliant by Oct. 31.

Despite the accomplishments, Waterhouse said the state government's computers are not ironclad.

"While we are confident that the crossover to the new year will be smooth, as with any other organization, we cannot make any guarantees," she said, adding that contingency plans have been made.