Editor's note: CMMC has been updated several times since this post was first published, most recently when the Department of War suspended Phase 2 in July 2026. We have also rebranded: Intech Hawaii is now Intech Pacific. We updated this post in October 2026 to reflect the current state of the program. For the latest information, see our CMMC Overview and our CMMC Calendar.
Last updated: October 2026
Despite the suspension, I still recommend that contractors pursue CMMC Level 2. Here is why I'm still telling contractors to pursue CMMC Level 2.
CMMC compliance does not have to be stressful. It can be collaborative. That was the spirit of our second CMMC Meets Community Pau Hana, a casual networking happy hour for Hawaii's defense and IT leaders.
Over drinks and appetizers, attendees met Hawaii's defense industry professionals and heard from the experts shaping local CMMC compliance efforts in Honolulu and across the islands. Guests asked practical questions instead of sitting through lectures. They built relationships in a relaxed setting and left with real takeaways, without sales pitches.
Expert Guidance for Hawaii's Defense Base
Compliance takes the right team. The evening brought together:
- Intech Pacific: a CMMC Level 2 certified managed service provider based in Honolulu.
- eResilience: the first C3PAO authorized in Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region, which gave a detailed look at formal assessment expectations and the CMMC Level 2 assessment guide.
- Field Effect: a managed detection and response (MDR) provider that showed how the right technology can simplify security.
Key Insights from the Evening
The conversations focused on steps contractors can take right away.
- Interactive Q&A: Clearing Up CMMC Confusion
The live Q&A was a highlight. Attendees asked their most pressing questions, and the panel answered them on the spot. That helped clear up confusion about the CMMC rule.
- Meeting Interim Requirements with Level 1
The panel covered what CMMC Level 1 requires: the 15 basic safeguarding requirements from FAR 52.204-21 (renumbered FAR 52.240-93 under the FAR overhaul, with the same requirements) and an annual self-assessment.
- The Journey to CMMC Level 2 Certification
Level 2 is more demanding. The experts walked through the certification process, including timelines, documentation, and technical controls based on NIST SP 800-171 Revision 2.
- Simplifying Compliance Through Partnerships
Contractors do not need to build a compliance program alone. A key theme of the night was using the right technology and working with certified experts to make the path easier. It is the same conversation we have every week with contractors looking for CMMC Honolulu support.
Ready to Secure Your Contracts?
Mahalo to everyone who attended, with special thanks to eResilience and Field Effect.
If you missed the event, Intech Pacific can still help. As a CMMC Level 2 certified MSP, we bring hands-on experience and can guide your business through the process.
Intech Pacific is the only CMMC Level 2 certified MSP in Hawaii and Guam, focused on defense contractors in both markets. We are the only MSP in Hawaii and Guam with CMMC Certified Professionals and CMMC Certified Assessors on staff, and we have taken more companies through C3PAO certification than every other company in Hawaii and Guam combined.
To see how we help contractors in Hawaii and Guam, from a free readiness session to fully managed compliance, visit our CMMC Solutions page.
