By Andrew Gomes

A giant software firm is stepping in to rescue a bungled state business registry modernization project where roughly 40,000 filings are backlogged, including many needed by companies to operate in Hawaii.

At least 20 tech experts from the cloud-based software firm Salesforce recently began helping the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs fix problems with its new registry system that other information technology contractors retained by DCCA deployed in July with flaws using a Salesforce platform after years of delays and budget increases.

DCCA Director Nadine Ando told a state House of Representatives committee at a briefing on Tuesday that the Salesforce team is going to work on interim system improvements to clear the backlog, hopefully by the end of the year, and also develop a new system for long-term use — all at no cost to the state.

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Sherry Menor, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, told the committee that some businesses have missed out on obtaining recent storm damage relief grants due to the backlog.

Jonathan Kim, founder of a new company providing rabies test kits for pets called Mokupet, said he’s been waiting four months to have his business registered and has left phone messages with DCCA that have gone unanswered.

“The only way that I found out about the delay was by reading a news article,” he said. “It’s a long waiting game.”

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