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Hawaii’s technology and innovation sector, collectively referred to as “Startup Paradise,” has been gaining momentum over the past few years. We are at a critical juncture in the development of this nascent economic sector. We must stay the course and continue to lend our support to this important new economic engine.

The HI Growth Initiative and Entrepreneurs Sandbox are two important initiatives moving through the Legislature right now. These programs will provide continuing support to invest in and grow innovative companies right here in the islands.

The Hawaii Business Roundtable estimates the total innovation sector workforce to be 20,000 today. We want to grow that to 80,000 by 2030. These are high-paying, knowledge worker jobs, critical to our future and our children’s future here in Hawaii.

Public and private efforts over the past few years have grown Startup Paradise substantially. Hawaii now claims several active venture accelerators, including Blue Startups, that provide entrepreneurial mentorship and investment programs.

We also have a robust angel investment group (Hawaii Angels) and several local venture capital funds. We have active computer coding academies, co-working spaces and incubators. But we are just getting started.

The HI Growth Initiative, a program of the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation, has been critical to supporting this new sector. It provides matching dollars for private investments coming into the state and provides funding for programs and events that bring entrepreneurs and investors together.

Blue Startups is a program that has been funded in part by this initiative and has achieved significant success since it launched just three years ago. In 2015 we were ranked in the top 20 of U.S. accelerators. To date we have invested in 47 companies, creating hundreds of jobs and attracting $25 million in private investment.

Hawaii now claims several active venture accelerators that provide entrepreneurial mentorship and investment programs.

The Entrepreneurs Sandbox, a program of the High Technology Development Corporation, will leverage $3 million in federal Economic Development Administration grant funding already appropriated for Hawaii. If matched by state dollars, these will be used to develop an innovation hub bringing together professionals, entrepreneurs and investors under one roof to further enhance communication and build critical mass.

It is clear that Hawaii needs to diversify its economy beyond hospitality, military and government. The innovation sector, which includes industries such as technology, research, design, fashion and multimedia create high-paying jobs for our people without destroying our environment or our way of life. We need to support the entrepreneurs in our community — the risk takers, the innovators — and provide opportunities to the new generation of knowledge workers.

Both the HI Growth Initiative and the Entrepreneurs Sandbox have the support of Gov. David Ige. We are thankful to the Legislature for its previous support of these programs and urge them to continue backing this important work. The innovation sector is critical to diversifying our economy, creating high-paying jobs and keeping our young people home.

Call or write your legislator to support these initiatives to build Hawaii’s future as Startup Paradise. Visit for more information.