Like those in the neonatal unit of a hospital, incubators in a business setting help to sustain life — in this case, the economic lives of families newly settled in the U.S.

And as startup businesses are a mainstay in immigrant communities everywhere, the development of the Pacific Gateway Center's "retail incubator" on North King Street is a hopeful sign for the future of Chinatown.

The first phase of renovation, set for completion in the fall, will produce about a dozen kiosks for selling food products and handicrafts; a second phase, starting in December, will expand capacity further.

Business incubation is not new to the Islands and has taken many forms.

Some, like the Manoa Innovation Center, have a high-technology focus; others, like the Sugar Mill Incubator on the North Shore, offer support services to businesses and organizations seeking to expand their capacity.

The Chinatown facility follows a distinctive model pioneered on the Mainland, offering comprehensive services.

The needs of these new businesses go well beyond access to retail space. The challenge is often one of understanding local regulations and accepted practices. Wisely anticipating this issue, the new facility will offer participants counsel on marketing, packaging and expanding their businesses.

Pacific Gateway already has a commendable record supporting catering businesses in its "kitchen incubator," coaxing four successful businesses out of the nest. These new businesses could use continuing support as they move toward independence.

Elsewhere, a federal grant is underwriting an incubator in Waipahu, another ideal location. For although Chinatown is the traditional first home for Isle immigrants, newcomers touch down in many of our communities that could benefit from a similar enterprise.