Hawaii is irrelevant in space

[TomK]

This is just one example of Hawaii contributing to "space":

"After NASA launches the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) on a historic mission this December, scientists anticipate their first glimpse of the most distant objects ever seen in the universe. Technology developed and tested at the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy (IfA) and on Maunakea are behind JWST’s ability to gaze deeper into space than ever before.

Sixteen near-infrared (NIR) sensors known as HAWAII-2RGs are part of JWST’s science instruments, enabling it to capture near-infrared light from deep space, far surpassing the capability of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. These sensors are the culmination of years of research and development by IfA scientists and engineers. Early prototypes were developed and tested by UH astronomers Don Hall, Klaus Hodapp, and Doug Simons, along with IfA instrumentation engineer Shane Jacobson."

https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/12/20/u...telescope/

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

In the 1980’s Hawaii hosted the test site for Reagan’s Star Wars project.  The laser was sited atop Haleakala, its beam bounced off an orbiting satellite and the reflection received in “Kihei”.  That’s what the Air Force told the public anyway.  The signal was received on Maui, and Kihei did house a supercomputer.

Whatever you think about the project it did bring resources to Hawaii, and the observatory today is one of the premier sites for tracking satellites and asteroids.  Like extinction level space rocks.  So, it went from potential weapon to a device that may protect human life.


Pisces in Hilo through UHH is also quietly, steadily working on space related projects and helping students in STEM.  
https://pacificspacecenter.com

[HiloJulie]

Let's not forget what could be considered Hawaii's most valuable contribution to "space" - Astronaut Ellison Shoji Onizuka, who gave his life 38 years ago this coming Sunday.

And also, let's not forget astronaut K. Megan McArthur, who flew on the Shuttle as well as part of the ISS Team and flew to the ISS on Space X.

And although not a native Hawaiian, but a lifelong resident of Hawaii was astronaut Charles Lacy Veach who had flown as a mission specialist on two Space Shuttle missions, STS-39 in 1991 and STS-52 in 1992. Veach passed away in 1995.

[Punatang]

No one can deny that Hawaii has made many contributions to space.  The author of the article clearly does not equate contributions with relevance.  As with so much these days, it's "what have you done for space lately?"

[TomK]

Well, as for Mauna Kea, one observatory spends about half its time supporting NASA space missions, and another spends a lot of time monitoring and identifying the nature of space debris in orbit around the Earth. The others all contribute to NASA missions from time to time while looking at asteroids and comets that could potentially impact our planet. Then there are the observatories on Haleakala that search for earth-threatening asteroids and comets and the UH IfA and MKO staff who continue to work with NASA with ongoing missions. Hawaii isn't irrelevant in those respects.

What I think the author means is not Hawaii's contribution to space, instead it's aerospace. There's a great opportunity here due to the presence of the observatory, and their help in training and funding students and interns in STEM and relevant science and engineering projects, but after that, there are few opportunities for those students to remain in the islands.

[randomq]

Aside from the observatories, tech jobs on this island are a joke. It pays better to work a trade.

[TomK]

I agree, it's one reason the observatories are trying to invest and help students with STEM. Most will likely leave the islands if they're successful but some might end up working for the observatories where the pay is decent. If the observatories disappear, which some want, there's no hope for the future.