Many of us have some idea about the extent of the military presence in our islands. The informational map I posted in my photos section came from a recent Honolulu Advertiser piece published on March 14, 2008 entitled, "Army Wants to Add 2,000 troops in Hawaii."Here is what incoming military personnel to the islands are told about their contribution to “Hawaii, The Aloha State.” in The Official Military Guide, Summer 2008. Your Military in Hawaii."Hawaii based troops have a substantial impact on Hawaii’s economy. According to the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, the facts below demonstrate the benefits of military presence in the state:"--The U.S. Department of Defense is the second major source of revenue to the state—second only to tourism.--Hawaii is the third ranking state (behind Virginia and Alaska) in annual per-capita federal defense spending expenditures---$3,939 per person.--According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Hawaii topped all other states with the highest percentage of people ages 16 to 64 in the armed forces ---4.95 percent.--Every major defense contractor has local staffing in Hawaii, where defense procurement averaged $2.0 billion annually since FY-02.--Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard is the largest industrial employer in Hawaii.--During 2006, the Coast Guard conducted more than 1,200 search-and-rescue missions, saved 409 lives and $3.6 million in property.--Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai is the largest multi-environment military range in the world.--As of Sept 30, 2008, slightly more than 102,000 Department of Defense personnel lived and worked in Hawaii. (p. 113)These are shocking statistics if you consider them in a U.S. "National" and international context as opposed to considering the military presence in Hawai'i as a problem facing Hawaiians. Hawai'i is indeed a paradise for the American military, consider too that the National Defense Industrial Association will be holding its Pacific Operational Science and Technology Conference on O'ahu this coming weekend from July 14-17 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.For more on this conference check out the NDIA website athttp://www.ndia.org/Template.cfm?Section=8540&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=23044You can find the entire "Your Military In Hawai'i" booklet in PDF form athttp://books.marcoa.com/books/Hawaii07/display-magazine.php
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