Ray Kinsella heard the call: “If you build it, they will come”. That was 33-years ago in the movie, “Field of Dreams”. Ray, of course, was a fictional character. But the concept lives on. The question in Hawai`i has always been- what is “it”? Because we’ve been talking about building something economically viable here to help keep our keiki home, to retain our incredible culture and character without relying so much on the tourism industry alone.
We’ve heard a lot of talk, but little investment or capital put forth in realizing our field of dreams. Cyber-security? Alternative, clean, or renewable energy? Defense initiatives? A mini-Silicon Valley or a tech hub with remote work encouraged? Medical research? Eco-tourism? Rocket farm? Innovative kapuna care? Perhaps dozens of smaller but potentially lucrative and alluring opportunities that add up, rather than pegging our hopes on just a few ideas.
The Census Bureau reminds us of our ongoing streak of losing residents annually- down 12,337 from July, 2020, to July, 2021. That makes five straight years of population decline. Hunches suggest that in-migration includes wealthier second home owners and immigrant service industry workers, while out-migration includes those who want a starter home and a sustainable career, or older folks who’ve simply decided that the price of paradise is too tough to handle in their waning years.
Post-COVID, economic recovery here may quicken as visitor floodgates re-open and tourism numbers increase. Suggested, sensible usage restrictions and user fees may help the state/city coffers without seeing visitor numbers rebound to new records.
But even with an expected, long overdue minimum wage increase, how to thrive here and plan one’s future realistically makes our now-annual population decreases a relevant concern. We need the best and the brightest, from within and without, to hui. We need local stakeholders, passionate empaths, and interested investors to get actively involved in realistic, yet far-reaching, pro-active, economic planning.
If we extrapolate this annual trickle of people leaving Hawai`i out over the next 20 years, it portends a diminished labor force not offset by a retiring, elderly population with age-related needs. It’s time to get serious; this conundrum has been tossed around like a barbeque burger for decades, with little emphasis given to solutions. Entrepreneurs, realists, problem-solvers, culture advocates, philanthropists, educators, gerontologists, astronomers… we’ll need a big room, big thinking, and big action plans. Who’s ready to dream and build?
Think about it…