Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Launches Innovative Digital Production Printing Pathways Training Program

Honolulu, Hawaii –May 2026 – The Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) has launched its new Digital Production Printing Pathways Training Program at the in-house production printing operations within Hawaii Correctional Industries (HCI). This initiative equips offenders with high-demand, marketable skills in the graphic communications industry, supporting rehabilitation, reducing recidivism, and opening pathways to successful re-entry and employment.

The newly established HCI printing center is fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including the latest Xerox digital production press, finishing equipment, pre-press tools, and advanced workflow software. This modern setup enables efficient, high-quality production to meet the diverse printing needs of correctional facilities across Hawaii, from forms and documents to specialized applications.

During the Graduation ceremonies, Frank Kanonik and Joe Rickard from Intellective Solutions offered congratulations to students via video.

The program is powered by the Xerox® Digital Career Pathway Program, a comprehensive initiative designed to prepare learners for rewarding careers in the graphic communications industry. It features a competency-based curriculum covering essential topics such as production workflows, file and color management, personalized printing, safety, costing, and emerging applications. Participants receive teacher and student workbooks, instructor resources, technology integration, and ongoing support services. The program aligns with industry standards, offers potential credentials, and has proven successful in correctional settings by providing practical skills for sustainable employment.

For more information on the Xerox® Digital Career Pathway Program, visit the program brochure: https://www.xerox.com/downloads/usa/en/x/Xerox-Digital-Career-Pathway-Program-ENUS.pdf.

Career Pathway Need for Printing Workers is Exploding

This is an appeal to vocational schools to add production digital printing, graphic design, and introduction to graphic communications to their current offerings.

The United States printing industry is a huge manufacturing segment, employing over a million workers. The challenge to acquire talent from traditional and nontraditional labor sources is daunting. Almost every graphic communications company we speak to is concerned about the increasing shortage of skilled labor.

The graphic communications industry shift to high tech manufacturing has created a huge demand for new skills and talents. In addition to this shift is that current workers are aging, with over 30% of current workers being over 55 years old. This is putting tremendous pressure on companies to recruit employees with the necessary skills.

Contrary to popular perception, printing, and related applications are not shrinking. Innovative applications enabled by new inkjet imaging technologies have created new solutions within the packaging, label, sign, cross-media, statement, book, and home accessory segments. Estimates this year from industry sources predict that over $56 Billion in revenue will be generated by digital printing alone.  

The vocational schools that we work with are seeing extremely high placement rates for their graduating students. Every location in the country needs workers.

Unfortunately, we need more institutions to take up the challenge of preparing the future printing industry workforce. Also, some of those that are providing training for graphic designers and print workers need to immediately upgrade their curriculum to reflect current production imaging, software, and platform technologies.

In the past, the printing industry could count on hundreds of printing schools across the country to train skilled workers in various departments found in many printing companies. We need more vocational schools across the country to help prepare workers with up to date skills.

For those institutions, we offer an industry-developed curriculum, a full range of instructor resources and certifications. There should be nothing to hold back any institution that is looking to prepare students for high paying careers in the graphic communications industry.