A steady stream of residents walked up to the darkened door of the state's unemployment office on Punchbowl Street yesterday, only to be turned back by a sign saying it was closed because of furloughs.

And so the general public began to feel the effect from unpaid days off required for a number of state workers, resulting in the closure of various departments and agencies. Yesterday was the first of the furlough days, but there will be more to come in the next two years — two Fridays per month through June 2011 for most departments and agencies.

While most of the attention yesterday was on public schools being closed, it was also the first day of furloughs in other state departments, and the effects rippled out in ways expected and unexpected:

• While the morning commute was normal for some motorists, it turned out to be a breeze for many others because of fewer cars on the road.

• Business was off at eateries that depend on a lunch-going work force.

• And many who came to town to do business at government offices found parking to be a hassle. Public parking lots using Hawaii Government Employees Association members to man the ticket booths were closed, like the lot next to District Court and across from the unemployment office.

Meanwhile yesterday, more than 11,000 workers from the United Public Workers union cleaned empty, darkened offices in buildings where other union workers were furloughed.

CAUGHT OFF-GUARD

Kiana Amaral and her friend Maile Toci came to the unemployment office to submit their initial claims after being laid off from Mokulele Airlines recently. They carpooled and were surprised to learn that the office was closed.

"I don't know what we can do," Amaral said. "So why are they closed? I didn't know they were furloughed."

Also trying to do business at the office was Kalihi resident Stanley Aguinoy, who came rushing up to the front door yesterday ready to attend an appeals hearing that he received a notice for in the mail. After searching for parking because the state lot across from the unemployment office on Punchbowl was closed, he was flustered.

But when he got to the darkened doors, he was bewildered.

"I have an appointment," Aguinoy said. "I have not been notified that it's been canceled."

Despite the state's efforts to get the word out, some residents still didn't know about the furlough schedule.

At the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations office, some came looking for help in applying for a general excise tax license or to file their unemployment claims. Other still had appointments for appeal hearings on their unemployment claims.

"We recognize the impact on the public," said Ryan Markham, spokesman for the department, which includes the unemployment office. "Friday is our lightest day. Hopefully it won't be too big of an impact," he said on Thursday.

At the beginning of the week, the office processes more than 9,000 claims, Markham said. The number goes down as Friday approaches, he said.

LIGHTER LUNCH SALES

The state negotiated the furloughs as part of a new contract with the HGEA to save money and help bridge what could become a $1 billion budget shortfall. The HGEA furloughs are expected to save about $204 million over two years. Members of the union agreed to 18 furlough days this fiscal year and 24 days next fiscal year.

The furloughs affect workers from the unemployment office to the attorney general's office. Each government office, however, has adopted its own schedule and exceptions.

Yesterday, the furloughs were affecting the You Hungry Lunch Wagon. The red-and-white van has been serving lunch from 10 a.m. to about 1 p.m. daily for the past three years at Halekauwila and South streets.

A line usually forms even before the wagon's workers get everything set up, said Chelsey Cabais, the owner's daughter.

"Business is down today," she said. "Usually people come as we set up and so far there's not been any foot traffic. The furloughs will definitely affect us."

NEXT CLOSURES

• To see the furlough days planned for specific offices, go to www.hawaii.gov/gov and click on the link under Gov. Linda Lingle's picture that says "State Furlough Plan Begins Friday, Oct. 23."

• Offices closed next Friday, the next furlough day, include the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, which includes the unemployment office, vital records and offices that issue camping and hiking permits.