HONOLULU -- A day after the governor announced her plan to begin furloughing state workers three days a month to solve the budget deficit, members of the public on Tuesday braced for slower service at state agencies.

State officials said they are still planning how to carry out the furloughs with the least effect possible on service to the public. State department heads met with their top people on Tuesday, planning how exactly how to carry out the furloughs.

Officials do not have specifics on how the furloughs will affect the public yet, but customers of state agencies are concerned.

Tuesday was busy at the state Department of Health's Vital Records Office, where people waited in line for birth and death certificates and marriage licenses.

If the furloughs happen, people worried they would see longer lines.

Joe Howe, of Kaneohe, waited in line with his wife for an extra copy of their marriage certificate.

"Right now, we have only two windows open. Maybe in the furlough, we only have one window open a day, and there's a lot of people here," Howe said.

At the unemployment office, people waited about 2.5 hours for in-person service. There were four staffers at the counter just after noon.

"It's bad enough as it is. Then what happens if they keep taking more people out and more people out? Then who's going to help us?" Kaimuki resident Jennifer Fukuoka said.

Anthony Scimone, an out-of-work carpenter, said he expects longer waits if the furloughs happen. However, he said furloughs are better than laying off state employees.

"Absolutely. I'm on a layoff. So, anything is better than a layoff -- anything," Scimone said.

The federal government funds salaries for the state's 217 unemployment division employees, but the governor said all state employees will be furloughed, even if they are paid by special funds. Some employees may be deemed "essential" and would not be furloughed.

State departments are working on contingency plans about how they will operate with furloughs and whether certain offices or buildings will be closed several days a month.

The furloughs will not happen if public unions successfully challenge the furloughs in court or if union leaders negotiate a way to save money without furloughs.