Hawaii among the least-innovative states

[TomK]

Unfortunately, there are so many crazies around these days, on both sides of the climate change and environmental crises, that the real science gets lost, both around the world but especially in Hawaii. This is the place where people build landing zones for alien space ships yet argue against building a purely scientific telescope with no environmental or cultural consequences. It's where people argue against renewable geothermal energy, worry about climate change (IMO, correctly so) yet support oil burning to produce electricity or hybrid cars that actually cause more environmental damage than normal cars. There's an opportunity to build a small launch site for satellites to monitor the planet and improve life for everyone but then they falsely complain that it would mean plutonium being dumped here or it would be used by the military.

All we can ask for is our kids to be taught the fundamentals, including STEM, and be encouraged to then use that education to better themselves and the rest of the community. And, hopefully, if they get to that stage, to realize and understand that there are many out there who do not want this to happen because it's easier to hold onto their silly conspiracy theories and/or politic agenda. We need kids to get past that stage. It's going to be hard to do that in Hawaii, and especially on this island, because there are so many parents who don't want that to happen; let the kids learn woodwork instead.