Isles could be
’Net link between
Asia, mainland

Lawmakers explore ways
to prepare a work force
for the digital age

By Richard Borreca
Star-Bulletin

State senators hope Hawaii can become a niche player in the billion-dollar high-tech communications and computer explosion.

They started exploring the new international digital economy yesterday.

Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies, a California consulting firm, told senators that Hawaii should teach its citizens about Internet technology so they can participate in the digital revolution sweeping government and business.

"The Hawaiian governor, business and educational leaders have the responsibility of preparing these citizens for this dramatic change," he said.

One way for Hawaii to move into a position of leadership in this digital age is through call centers, the extensive help desk and information centers that companies use for everything from answering questions on how to run computer applications to buying movie tickets, checking a bank account or getting a credit card.

The idea is to locate the call center in Hawaii and use it to handle thousands of calls from spots in Asia.

Campbell Estate is targeting such centers for their development at Kapolei.

Sen. David Ige pointed out Hawaii's advantages, including a hard-working, educated work force that is multilingual and familiar with Asian values and customs.

"I don't think anybody has figured out how to attack the Asia market, there aren't a lot of places that can claim they can speak Asia-Pacific languages," he said.

"We are the only place on U.S. soil that can speak and also the only place that can send business to Asia, receive it and send it to the mainland all in the same day."

That time difference is also emphasized by Kapolei developers who note that Hawaii can communicate with New York, Chicago, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore all in the same business day.

Ige sees the call centers as one way to let Hawaii's workers get ahead with a minimum of training and government investment.

Because Hawaii already has a fiber-optic communication grid, which many states lack, the only thing needed is trained workers.

"A call center would really be high school plus some technical training. So we need to get organized now," he said.

Ige, who is heading up an Internet caucus in the Senate, said he hopes to deliver a package of recommendations next month.