Hawaii's earliest inhabitants were unparalleled in wayfaring and navigation, sailing thousands of miles across the vast Pacific Ocean through careful observation of the stars, winds and ocean currents.

Today, Hawaii continues that journey with the exciting future of space exploration, a future that will create high-quality jobs and spur science education for our children.

Our state received a big boost recently from two events that will enable us to play a leading role in aeronautics and space exploration.

We signed a Space Act Agreement last month with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration that will help bring critical research funding and technical resources here.

In addition, President Barack Obama announced a new strategy for space exploration predicated on public-private partnerships and multinational alliances.

These two events will help position Hawaii as a global leader in aeronautics and space exploration.

As a vice chairman of the national Aerospace States Association, I know of exciting aerospace research that seems like science fiction. For instance, imagine Hawaii as a site for testing and evaluating aviation technologies, such as small spacecraft and small spacecraft systems. Imagine field experiments to test exploration technologies for lunar missions. Also imagine Hawaii as a hub for commercial space transportation.

These are already taking place in our state.

Hawaii has nearly 50 years of collaboration with NASA, beginning with the training of Apollo astronauts on Hawaii Island in the 1960s and the development of world-class observatories atop Hawaii's volcanic peaks. Our federal partners have established major aerospace assets here, including the Maui Space Surveillance Complex atop Haleakala and the Pacific Missile Range on Kauai.

The private aerospace sector also has strong roots in Hawaii, with both local companies and major aerospace corporations pioneering new technologies.

For example, we were recently selected as the preferred site for the Thirty Meter Telescope, a $1 billion-plus facility that will study the most distant objects in the known universe, the nature of dark matter and energy, and the origins of life. In addition, we are collaborating with the National Science Foundation to develop the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope on Haleakala — the largest of its kind.

Our mid-Pacific, near-equatorial location makes Hawaii an ideal site for launching scientific experiments, small satellites and even tourists to space.

Furthermore, we are planning to launch a Pacific International Space Alliance in Hawaii this fall to promote collaboration among governments, industry, academia and non-governmental organizations through- out the Asia-Pacific region.

Space exploration is a window to Hawaii's future. With the same spirit of exploration that inspired the ancient mariners to navigate the Pacific, Hawaii is partnering with NASA and the international space community to pursue opportunities on the frontiers of space, and in doing so, open doors for our young people to continue this voyage for generations to come.

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Lt. Gov. James “;Duke”; Aiona is a Republican candidate for governor.