WSJ: More technology jobs in Hawaiʻi could be the future for the state

Hawaiʻi’s tourism industry has long been the pillar of the state’s economy, but a new generation of smart young engineers are raising its profile as a technology hub, writes the Wall Street Journal. 

In an article featuring Oceanit, the WSJ notes that incomes in Hawaiʻi are among the lowest in the nation when adjusted for cost of living. However, the tourism industry has fallen from its peak, and wages from service industry-based jobs fail to keep up with salaries from across the U.S. The result?  “More than half of Hawaii-born college graduates now live on the mainland,” writes the WSJ. 

But there’s hope: a technology economy is not only possible but a solid bet for the future. 

Among other standout tech innovations happening in Hawaiʻi, the WSJ pointed out the diverse range of services and products Oceanit offers: 

Patrick Sullivan, chief executive of Oceanit, an industrial research and engineering company, has overseen plenty of marine-technology projects. His business, based in Honolulu, is one of the state’s largest tech companies. On a recent Friday, scientists cultivated living tissue, engineers tested new flavors for an 80-gram protein bar for the U.S. military and interns modeled coastal erosion on Maui. 

The article also mentioned the company’s successful internship program, and the need for industry leaders to step up and help shape the state’s future. 

Read the full story at the Wall Street Journal.