Hawaii's World

By A.A. Smyser

Thursday, July 18, 1996

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The headline asks: "Why do so many international companies locate in Geneva?"

The text answers:

"Because Geneva offers:

"A dynamic platform for international operations with easy access to key markets.

"An incredible cost-effective environment with well-trained, multilingual, highly productive personnel.

"Positive synergy with renowned research institutes, a remarkable concentration of international organizations including the World Trade Organization, and first-rate financial, legal and communications services.

"And above all Geneva offers you an exceptional quality of life in safe and pleasant surroundings."

At the time of the Governor's Congress on Hawaii's International Role in 1988, many of us felt such words might also in the future fit Hawaii.

Since that time:

• International air access to Hawaii has diminished but the U.S. flag over our heads remains a business attraction.

• Our fiber-optic communication capacity continues to rank with the best.

• "Cost effective" is not a term many people apply to doing business here. But we are cheaper than Asia.

• Our multiculturalism has not been matched by multilingualism. Some conferences here have to fly in interpreters.

• We continue to have world-leading centers in astronomy, space tracking, undersea research, and Asian language instruction.

• Shopping, health care, sports and recreation have emerged as focus areas of international opportunity.

• The University of Hawaii and the federally supported East-West Center have taken severe budget cuts but still maintain significant international programs. Hawaii Pacific University has substantially increased its international enrollment. So have other private education ventures.

• Hawaii remains the command center for all U.S. military operations in the Pacific and thereby attracts a significant number of foreign consulates.

• Secretariats are here for the Pacific Basin Economic Council, the Pacific Island Conference of Leaders, the Joint Commercial Commission for the Pacific and Pacific telecommunications. But some business regional headquarters have moved elsewhere..

• The Bank of Hawaii has emerged as the foremost bank in the inner Pacific. Other Pacific island business ventures have not increased as hoped.

• We failed to get a Pacific stock exchange here. We were hurt by the onset of worldwide instant communication. In some situations, however, our overall attractiveness can turn instant communication to our advantage.

• Our community-wide international consciousness continues to pale behind Geneva's.

• Our business climate and cost of living cause many talented young people to seek employment elsewhere.

• Our public education still leaves much to be desired in building international and Pacific consciousness. Private education does better, as with the Wo International Center at Punahou School, but we are nowhere near the awareness of many Asian and European nations.

• Tourism remains our economic mainstay. Efforts to integrate more international business into it are hurt by our image as a playland, something Geneva has overcome. Our new convention center will help marginally.