Most people from the mainland picture long stretches of beaches, palm trees and Mai-tais by the blue pacific. The idea of thriving hi-tech business is not what comes to mind, typically.
Location
First of all we have the location: The Hawaiian islands are the most remote islands on the planet and halfway between China, Japan and the Americas. Pearl Harbor is located here for the same reason.Size
With just over 1 million people, Hawaii is a great size for introducing and testing new products while remaining somewhat independent from the mainland and international markets. The Big Island is roughly the size of the state of Connecticut. I believe, roughly 5% of the island is populated while the rest offers some of the wildest, rugged terrain.How Big?
The Big Island has the world's largest mountain (in overall size), eleven of the earth's 13 climate zones, including permafrost, desert, rainforest and wide open expanses of rolling lava fields. It takes 2 1/2 to 3 hours to drive from one side to the other. Our rainforest are so large, that tourist often get lost and have to be rescued.- Cellular companies are challenged to provide coverage throughout much of the island
- AT&T Mobile uses has a test center on Kauai
- Mauna Kea Observatory features universities & government astronomers from around the globe
Climate
One of the most temperate climates. Overall we enjoy 78 - 80 degrees nearly every day with slight variations along the coast. Only twenty degrees above the equator, the blazing sun can burn the skin in 15 minutes. Up country,l you enter the rain belt with colder weather and can freeze.If you develop electronics, this is the place to see how they hold up. While you cannot smell the salt air along the coast like you do on the mainland. There is no continental shelf, so there is little kelp and the bacteria that creates that mainland "sea" smell. However we are completely surrounded by the salt water and things rust here like no where else.
Blazing sun, freezing wet cold, salt air you get the idea.
Hawaii's cultural and economic diversity, and captured population are also reasons for testing products.
ReplyDeleteThe isolation also means that new products are insulated from the competitors and some ideas arrive late allowing a protective time-frame.
Hawaii's cultural uniqueness also offers a create culture and location-dependent products with strong local buy-in.
Great point Steve, thanks!
ReplyDelete