Twenty years from now, I see a Hawaii which leads the nation in many categories. In education, we will have students who are performing academically in the top 25% of all students in the nation. Teachers

will be adequately compensated, students will have the resources to learn, and facilities will be the envy of other school districts.

The University of Hawaii at West Oahu will be completed, and it will be an academic leader in Chinese Studies, gerontology, and entrepreneurship.

A fixed rail system will provide efficient transportation for those who want to use it, and expansion of the fixed rail system will be considered for all areas of Oahu. The bus will be integrated with the rail system, and inter-island as well as intra-island ferries will be operated by the private sector in our waters.

Tourism will still be king 20 years from now, however, a more diverse economy will become established. The sports and film industries will become more dominant in Hawaii since they complement tourism perfectly, and the high technology industry will become a global leader, especially within the Asia/Pacific region. Ocean mining will be debated, and government, environmentalists and corporate USA will be discussing ways to minimize the negative effects of this potential industry.

Diversified agriculture will grow, and much of the produce bought locally will also be grown locally. Hawaii will be a leader in alternative energy, and every three years we will host an international energy summit which will bring the movers and shakers to the islands. This summit will be co-sponsored by the United Nations.

The military will continue to have a very strong presence here, and 3 aircraft carriers will be based at Pearl Harbor. Ironically, an International Center for Peace will be established in Hawaii with the goals of fostering friendship amongst high school and college students throughout the world and trying to find solutions to conflicts which are devastating countries and their people.

Health care will be available for every person who lives in our state, and the elderly care industry will be the next growth industry catering to locals and tourists alike. We will gain a reputation for being elder-care friendly, and this in turn will make us a hub for the Asia/Pacific region.

There will be a good balance between development and the environment, and the natural beauty of our island state will continue to lure and dazzle the world community we are a part of.