Island economic summit

BY ERIN MILLER | WEST HAWAII TODAY

A better-educated work force, more incentives for increasing renewable energy and lessening Hawaii Island’s dependence on fossil fuels and getting health care providers to collaborate are a few of the ways Hawaii Island business owners and government officials see to improve the county’s economic situation.

Those ideas, and more, were the fruit of the Hawaii Island Economic Summit 2012 at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, put on by the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce and Hawaii County.

In a room dedicated to the discussion of employment, businesses and job creation, the conversation quickly turned to the island’s work force.

Many job applicants, several employers said, are unable to fill out a job application form, look up someone in a phone book or use proper customer service etiquette. Employers questioned whether the island needed programs to teach people how to do those things.

But, under moderator Susan Maddox’s direction, others in the room described the work force development programs already in place.

Nick Craig, vice president of sales and marketing for Ocean Sports, said parents might not be pushing for instruction in those skill sets. Business owners might be able to change that, he said.

“What if we create an employer’s manifesto (that will) guarantee kids will have these baseline skills,” Craig said. “It might have a little clout.”

That manifesto might also attract businesses looking to invest in Hawaii, he added, because potential employers could see the island’s work force has useful skills.

Steve Dunnington, a developer whose projects include DW Aina Lea, questioned whether education was the right focus of the job creation discussion.

“This isn’t an immediate help to sort of fix the economy,” Dunnington said. “It’s long-term, long-range. As far as things happening to change the current economic situation? Make Hawaii more business friendly.”

David Bateman, co-owner of a coffee farm, expanded on that.

“Tax incentives (and) business regulation relief” are ways to encourage people to start new businesses, Bateman said.

Hokulia’s John DeFries led the discussion about energy issues. The Legislature needs to provide better incentives for pursuing renewable energy, he said. But residents need to get more directly involved, too.

“It’s felt the general public is very relaxed about our energy situation and a sense of urgency needs to be instilled,” DeFries said.

Attendees established their top five priority areas: Education, health care, sustainability, job creation and employment and energy and recycling. During those sessions, participants shouted out areas they believed could be used to improve the island’s economy. Ideas ranged from improving the way the island is marketed to improving instruction.

A funding discussion also noted that while many people on the Big Island have wealth, most of it is invested elsewhere.

LeeAnn Crabbe, vice president of the Queen Liliuokalani Trust’s endowment group, offered a counterpoint to comments about high expectations helping improve the economy.

“It’s the opposite of what people have been saying, but lower expectations as an investor,” Crabbe said. “Investors have been too greedy.”

The group discussing sustainability looked at some broader issues — food gardens and how to market green businesses — and more specific ones, such as getting a mobile meat processing plant.

Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce President Vivian Landrum said she came to the meeting without expectations of any specific outcomes.

“Any idea is a good idea,” she said. “There’s nothing we hoped would come of it other than five great ideas.”

The idea for the summit came after a review of the island’s ongoing economic challenges. The state’s unemployment rate is 6.5 percent, she said, but the Big Island’s is 9.6 percent. The island also lags behind other islands in tourism, she said.

“We’re tired of the numbers,” she added. “We’re lagging behind our sister counties. We’re used to that. Do we want to stay used to that?”

More than 200 people registered for the summit, Landrum said. The day started with a panel of speakers, including Mayor Billy Kenoi, Earl Bakken and Hawaii Chief Information Officer Sanjeev Bhagowalia.

emiller@westhawaiitoday.com