Slowly, quietly, and successfully, high technology companies have been establishing themselves in Hawaii over the past few years. At a time when we need examples of substance as signals that our economy has life, it surprises me that no one has pointed to the critical mass of high technology companies that now exist here.

The state's Manoa Innovation Center is a hotbed of start-up companies carving out their niches in the rapidly evolving world of high technology. The High Technology Development Corp. (HTDC) continues to quietly expand out in Mililani and already has spawned a major, global success story with Verifone, the company that invented the credit card swipe used by businesses worldwide. The Maui Research and Technology Center (MRTC) is home to an ever-growing crop of high-tech enrepreneurs whose businesses are gaining a foothold in the state's economic picture.

Hawaii has contributed two key players to the world of high technology: Stephen Case, president and chief executive officer of America OnLine, and Guy Kawasaki, the first and former director of software management for Apple Computer Inc.

Case, a Punahou graduate, co-founded America OnLine in 1985 with the goal of creating a mass market for online services. Today, America OnLine has more than 3.5 million subscribers ni the United States and Case has received the online industry's Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of "pioneering efforts, leadership and persistence, and outstanding accomplishments over the years."

Kawasaki, the son of former state senator Duke Kawasaki, is widely acknowledged for his key role in the success of Apple Computer Inc. He describes his role at Apple as having "cajoled, coerced, and convinced software companies to create products for a computer without enough RAM, a hard disk, color, slots, an installed base, technical support, or marketing."

Another high-tech success story is Hawaii OnLine, an Internet services company established by entrepreneurs Lynn and Thayne Taylor. Hawaii OnLine began as a small bulletin board service (BBS) three years ago on Kauai. It now provides toll-free Internet access to more than 3,000 subscribers statewide. It also has 30 employees, sons and daughters of Hawaii with excellent high-tech skills, most under the age of 25.

I was recently browsing through the latest issue of TTG North America, one of the travel industry trade publications that goes out to more than 200,000 travel agents in the United States, and was very proud to see that Hawaii OnLine's website, Planet Hawaii, had been selected as one of the top three "must visit" websites for travel agents. Planet Hawaii was described as "one of the hippest sites on the Net, with excellent technical features" and "it's just like the islands themselves: friendly, beautiful to look at, and full of interesting information."

Yes, high tech is happening in Hawaii, and just in the nick of time. The travel and tourism industry is one of the largest consumers of high-tech products and the opening of Hawaii's convention center will only serve to increase the need for high-tech experts and products. This is the kind of real economic activity that we can all get excited about.

- Pacific Business News, October 9, 2024