Panel’s mission
to secure ‘millennium
work force’

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

They talked fast at this first-of-a-kind partnership of business, government and educators. Their task: Figure out how Hawaii can create a "millennium work force" to entice new business. And then go for it.

Calling Hawaii expatriates Are you from Hawaii, but living somewhere else? Email us at braindrain@starbulletin.com to tell us your views on why you moved away, what might lead you to return and what Hawaii can do to retain its 'best and brightest.' We'll present a digest of your responses in a later edition. Brain Drain Archive

The state is years behind in the race. With the new century only months away, the sense of urgency yesterday was unmistakable.

Mark Huntley, chairman and chief executive officer of Aquasearch Inc., said the gathering was a crystallization of what many have said for years but never coordinated.

"We must maintain this momentum if we want to hit the ground running," said Huntley, whose marine biotechnology business moved here from California.

Huntley's firm faced a problem that was yesterday's main topic: a shortage of skilled workers.

"You don't want to advertise in the San Francisco Chronicle to hire in Honolulu," Huntley said.

Gov. Ben Cayetano, who visited Silicon Valley in February, has since created the Millennium Work Force Development Initiative of at least 70 people from government, business and education. The five areas of focus: biotechnology, telecommunications, health care, information technology, and environmental science and technology.

The first meeting was March 22. Lorraine Akiba, director of the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations who heads the task force, said the marching plans call for putting ideas in action June 1.

The numbers underline the urgency. Hawaii suffers a 5.8 percent unemployment rate and serious brain drain of its brightest young people. Tightening tourism also has forced the state to look for new industry.

The No. 1 priority to get companies here: a "critical mass" of highly trained workers. The formula: find out exactly what kind of workers businesses need. Then provide them through specially honed education courses, internships and on-the-job training.

Speakers on Monday emphasized that all parties had to "buy in" to the solution. Businesses must tell what they need, offer internships and training, and guarantee hiring. They also must pay competitive salaries and offer good benefits.

Government must provide matching funds and loans, and seek out training offered by companies themselves like Cisco Systems Inc.'s certification program. Specialized certification can outweigh degrees.

The trainees and students themselves must commit to staying in Hawaii for a few years.

"No one gets a free ride," said Stephen Itoga, a professor at the University of Hawaii Department of Information and Computer Sciences.

Keith Matsumoto, vice president of Pacific International Center for High Technology Research, said the state needs to aggressively market and recruit businesses like it does tourists.

Matsumoto called for a revamp of Hawaii's mentality and attitude. "There's too much focus on sports and "Baywatch.' "