HONOLULU -- Hundreds of state workers will start to be laid off in waves starting on Friday.

State Human Resources Director Marie Laderta on Thursday revealed exactly how many worker through December. Of the nearly 1,200 state employees receiving layoff notices this summer, 649 workers will actually lose their jobs.

The first government worker layoffs begin with the layoff of 84 non-union employees.

Labor Department research analyst Jeremy Low is among the non-civil employees getting laid off. He actually leaves his job next week.

"It's unfortunate but its understandable," Low said. "Since we are exempt we are basically at will. They can get rid of us for any reason we are not civil service protected."

Besides Friday's 84 employees, 384 will be laid off on Nov. 20, and another 181 through December for a total 649.

"We are very sorry to have to lose a lot of these good people," Laderta said.

Up to 60 workers who might have been laid off, will retire by the end of December.

"I don't have the number for the savings. We still have to factor in and offset the expenses such as the vacation payout for each employee," Laderta said.

There is also unemployment insurance to be paid for those who retire.

The actual layoff numbers are less than the state wanted because hundreds laid off employees with seniority bumped, or took over the jobs of less senior employees.

Amanda Lowrey, who was laid off in the state's aquaculture program, was able to bump into a vacant position in the Health Department.

"It is really sad. I really like this job," she said. "I wanted to work for the state and many people chose to work for the state because of job security we couldn't have known going into it, it was going to turn out the way it was."

Lowrey said she is nervous that she could still lose her job in more layoffs next year.

"It is very never wracking," she said.