State innovation plan merits public support
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All in all, Gov. Linda Lingle's presentation of a plan to promote innovation as the state's growth industry seems a promising start to a new year.
The central theme is easy to embrace: Hawai'i's greatest potential lies in development, but not of its limited stores of land and natural resources. Instead, Lingle says, the unlimited human resources of creativity and technological invention should be the focus of our collective effort.
Naturally, the glowing outlines of the program need to be filled in, and success will depend on the energetic participation of private businesses, as well as support from lawmakers and, especially, the semi-autonomous agencies of higher and lower education.
It will also depend on the Lingle administration's ability to build a consensus that could give her plan momentum, something that has been a challenge for a Republican governor in a state so dominated by Democrats.
However, the beauty of this particular set of initiatives is that the governor herself can accomplish much of it through private participation and executive order. It is refreshing in this era of rising taxes to see a plan that's dependent less on taxpayer funds and more on private partnerships.
Lingle defines five areas for innovation, and the sector dealing with education seems the most fully fleshed out. The creation of extracurricular "academies" of science and technology taps into existing programs promoting hands-on student exploration and competition in fields such as robotics. When young students are given a chance to try their hand at these activities, it can uncover an aptitude that could lead ultimately to a career.
A key component of this plan — and what might draw the more fledgling student into the fold — is economic incentive. Although they're extracurricular, students can earn both high school and college credits in the academies and, if they pursue the science and math disciplines, they can qualify for a full scholarships to a Hawai'i college or university. In concert with another element, a proposed tax deduction for maintaining a tuition savings account, Lingle has enlisted parental support for the plan.
Among the other high points:
Lingle acknowledges that aspects of the plan already are being carried out through various efforts around the state, but she hopes that pulling everything together will amplify it and give it focus. It complements efforts made by various economic development organizations to align education with workforce needs.
Critics of the plan may complain that Lingle has political motivations for floating these ideas, and to an extent, they're right. This is a "legacy" program that can be powered by the executive branch in this governor's final four years, and none of the initiatives replaces the need for core improvements, especially in public education. It might be fair to call the initiatives low-hanging fruit, more readily harvested.
But it is equally clear that the beneficiaries — Hawai'i students and businesses — have much to celebrate here, even if some of the plan's elements stall. Overall, it's a program that deserves a fair review, by state school authorities in particular. Their cooperation and support will work to everyone's benefit.
