TEN years ago we were getting ready for Gov. John Waihee's Congress on Hawaii's International Role. The conference -- which stirred a lot of enthusiasm -- identified 11 niche areas where Hawaii seemed to have good opportunities for diversified economic growth congenial to the population as a whole. No smokestack industries were among them. Niche areas for
economic growth hereEleven struck me as a fascinating number --the same number as the players on a football team. If all 11 areas pulled together as a team maybe we could make Hawaii's investment opportunities as famous as the San Francisco 49ers.
We haven't pulled it off -- and I'm not about to apportion blame. Maybe the 11 were just pie in the sky, but I don't think so.
Here they are: (1) Transportation and communication center, (2) conference and reception center, (3) East-West education, training and information center, (4) center for high-tech research and production, (5) center for food research and production, (6) center for other tangible production such as movies, garments, coral products, (7) center for diplomatic and government activity, (8) center for business, information and consulting services, (9) Pacific sports center, (10) Pacific health and fitness center, (11) international arts and culture center.
Today I would add a No. 12: Pacific war history and museum center.
And, skipping unlucky 13, we might one day build a No. 14 based on a stronger Hawaiian history and culture presentation for research and eco-tourism.
What we have failed to come up with is a catchy nickname like "Big Apple" for New York City that sticks in the mind and reminds people Hawaii stands for a lot more than sun and surf. Maybe we can agree on one to put in ads, on license plates, on government letterheads and urge private businesses to use as well.
"America in the Pacific" isn't quite it, but there must be a good nickname out there that the people working for and promoting all the above categories can seize on.
The economic rebuilding of Hawaii will come little by little with a lot of increments fitting into categories such as those above -- increments measured in the small millions instead of the billions we generate annually in tourism and military activity, but in enough variety and numbers to be substantial nonetheless.
For industries dependent on communication, our distance from other places no longer is a negative factor. Today people can communicate instantly to almost anywhere from almost anywhere. Why shouldn't "think-type things" -- education, conferencing, high-tech research -- locate in beautiful, friendly Hawaii rather than somewhere else? Living costs and public schools are negative factors, but we can work on both -- and should have improved our public schools much faster than we have.
WE want new businesses to involve our people, of course, not to have to import a lot of staff. Educating our people to be able to capitalize on the new globalism at the very same time we also strengthen Hawaiian roots and culture is a challenge that ought to excite us -- and our schools.
The categories identified 10 years ago -- when I was conference steering committee chairman -- still denote viable areas of opportunity. They are building blocks for an exciting new economy, immensely more diverse than the old tripod economy based too heavily on tourism, the military and production of sugar and pineapple.
A.A. Smyser is the contributing editor
and former editor of the the Star-Bulletin
His column runs Tuesday and Thursday.