A few days ago, I asked some people what Hawai'i can do for a better tech industry next year, and here are their answers.

ENERGIZE ENERGY

First, recognize Hawai'i is already a contender, if not THE leader, in some technologies. What's happening or in the works for energy here attracts envy and even awe around the nation and world. Second, energize (forgive the pun) scientists and entrepreneurs who wish a role in this transformation and lure companies that prefer to operate in the clean, renewable, efficient-energy world of the future — sooner here than many other places.

— Karl Stahlkopf - CTO, HECO

We should stay the course. With the volatility in crude prices, especially the decline to $40, it would be easy for us to lose the sense of urgency we had when crude was $147. Crude supplies are not growing, world demand is not slowing; if we don't face this fact, our children will be faced with it in much harsher terms.

— Mike Gresham - Vice president, First Wind

Every business and household needs to get serious about energy efficiency. Thirty percent of the 70 percent of the Hawai'i Clean Energy Initiative is in not using energy we would have used otherwise ... We all need to pay attention to our energy consumption to make Hawai'i the Greenest Place on Earth!

— Ted Peck - Energy administrator, DBEDT

EXTEND ACT 221

The (Lingle) administration's program on Act 221 is shameful. A tax credit has been passed, yet the administration is trying not to allow anyone to take the credit. The industry will stall next year in Hawai'i as investment and jobs move to states that are more transparent in their rulemaking.

— Bob King - President, Pacific Biodiesel

Tech is growing faster than any other sector of the Hawai'i economy. If you compare tech direct spending — of $3 billion, or 5 percent of the economy — to construction direct spending of $3.5 billion, or 5.5 percent of the economy, the two sectors are somewhat equal. So what Hawai'i can do better for tech in 2009 is to get real and stop the governor and the Legislature from killing Act 221, a proven stimulus that is working.

— Bill Spencer - President, HVCA

We need to unequivocally commit to tech by extending Act 221, and send a signal to the world that Hawai'i is serious about tech and renewable energy. It is an absolute bargain for the state and is the ONLY proven tool for creating capital for tech companies here.

— Rob Robinson - Co-founder, Kolohala Ventures

BE FRIENDLY TO SCIENCE

Hawai'i's elected officials should enact policies that encourage the growth of science and technology businesses rather than the negative message that Hawai'i is unfriendly to technology-sector businesses. Legislative proposals banning research set a negative precedence and make technology businesses think twice about making new investments in Hawai'i.

— Cindy Goldstein - Outreach manager, Pioneer Hi-Bred International

LEVEL THE FIELD

We should provide that the sale of intellectual property developed in Hawai'i is not subject to Hawai'i excise or use tax. Amending or clarifying the law to remove this burden would level the playing field by allowing local businesses that develop, license and sell IP from Hawai'i with a reasonable prospect of competing with their Mainland counterparts.

— Seth Reiss - Patent attorney

DIVERSIFY, ALREADY

"E Pluribus Unum," one out of many, is an apt motto to today's economic situation. We must fund the development of many technology-oriented industries — relying on brains, not brawn — to render our future state economy strong.

—Ron Baird - CEO, NELHA

What we really need is a statewide understanding that support of the tech industry doesn't come at the expense of tourism or agriculture. Tech can provide the infusion of innovation, a means to the goal of more effectively generating revenues from tourism without compromising our culture, and more sustainable ways to grow our food.

— Yuka Nagashima - CEO, High Technology Development Corporation

We must move our public policy away from our plantation-era remnant overfocus on large historical industries. We must also ask what our tech industry will do for itself in 2009 because, while it has a compelling story of success especially over the last decade, fully justifying continued public policy investment, that story needs to be told much louder and clearer.

— Ed Case - Former congressman

PLAN AND EXECUTE

Our leaders should finally get around to mapping out a long-range plan for the development of a tech industry. By long-range, I mean math and science at all levels of education, steps to make people appreciate the importance of hi-tech for Hawai'i's prosperity, and creation of a friendly environment to encourage tech talent to come here.

— Larry Fung - Former Hong Kong council member

We should ... focus on three to five industries at most and begin with creating clean manufacturing opportunities around these industries. Then develop an investment plan in the corresponding knowledge and technical communities focused on these industries through the University of Hawai'i Community Colleges and the UH-Manoa College of Engineering to complement what is being done in K-12 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

— Peter Crouch - Dean, UH-Manoa College of Engineering

Maximize Hawai'i's connectivity to the world and stimulate broadband adoption and use. Leverage federal funding for green technology to expand job creation/growth in Hawai'i. Continue expanding innovation sectors like dual-use, aerospace industry R&D, creative media, life sciences, aquaculture and sustainable agriculture with Act 221-215 tax credits.

— Carol Fukunaga - State senator, D-11th

A TIME OF OPPORTUNITY

Hawai'i's emerging tech industry helps all of us; by diversifying our economy against new global forces we are only beginning to understand. As the global economy worsens, Hawai'i is poised to capitalize on the coming chaos, to become an innovation center — driven by vision, brains and capital. The future is ours if we're willing to reach for it.

— Ian Kitajima - Marketing manager, Oceanit

The Chinese believe where there is great risk, there is great opportunity. Hawai'i's major industries, tourism and construction, are again threatened. We need to work together to establish technology as a viable, sustainable economic engine.

— Burt Lum - Founder, Bytemarks

"Success is the child of audacity ..." I vote that the tech industry choose innovation over despair and clapping our hands over wringing them. Yes, it will be challenging, but we need to ... be a little audacious in our search for solutions and understand that adversity will make us smarter.

— Mary Fastenau - President, StarrTech Interactive

ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

These contributions have been edited. More complete versions are on my blog - www.thinktech.honadvblogs.com. Thanks to all the contributors.

In any event, tech is certainly the elephant in the room. So let's all wish and hope for success and prosperity for Hawai'i's tech industry next year.

Jay

Jay Fidell is a business lawyer practicing in Honolulu. He has followed tech and tech policy closely and is a founder of ThinkTech Hawaii. Check out his blog at www.HonoluluAdvertiser.com/Blogs