As the Honolulu Star- Advertiser reported recently, Gov. David Ige’s State of the State speech called for the economy to “pivot to technology.” Within the tech space, digital media looms front and center.

Only half of the respondents in a recent Department of Health survey indicated they would take the COVID-19 vaccination, while about 24.4% said they were not likely to get immunized against the virus that has sickened nearly 25,500 Hawaii residents, killed 404 and ravaged the economy.

Even after enduring a collapse of the state’s economy this year, most Hawaii residents aren’t eager for a return to the 2019 tourism numbers.

It’s going to be more pain before a meaningful gain for Hawaii’s economy.

Can Hawaii meaningfully diversify its economy with a technology sector? With the collapse of our hospitality industry, this question has never been more important.

Hawaii’s economy is starting to show signs of coming back to life from a devastating pandemic that stopped tourism in its tracks and left about a quarter-million people unemployed and numerous businesses forced to close.

While the pandemic has caused catastrophic shake-ups in all sectors of the economy, one of the hardest-hit has been the retail industry.

Tight inventories and COVID-19 restrictions left Hawaii auto dealers spinning their wheels in the third quarter as sales plunged 15.9% amid a struggling economy.

While the pandemic has caused catastrophic shake-ups in all sectors of the economy, one of the hardest-hit has been the retail industry.

Tight inventories and COVID-19 restrictions left Hawaii auto dealers spinning their wheels in the third quarter as sales plunged 15.9% amid a struggling economy.

While the pandemic has caused catastrophic shake-ups in all sectors of the economy, one of the hardest-hit has been the retail industry.

Tight inventories and COVID-19 restrictions left Hawaii auto dealers spinning their wheels in the third quarter as sales plunged 15.9% amid a struggling economy.

While the pandemic has caused catastrophic shake-ups in all sectors of the economy, one of the hardest-hit has been the retail industry.

While the pandemic has caused catastrophic shake-ups in all sectors of the economy, one of the hardest-hit has been the retail industry.

Tight inventories and COVID-19 restrictions left Hawaii auto dealers spinning their wheels in the third quarter as sales plunged 15.9% amid a struggling economy.

While the pandemic has caused catastrophic shake-ups in all sectors of the economy, one of the hardest-hit has been the retail industry.

Tight inventories and COVID-19 restrictions left Hawaii auto dealers spinning their wheels in the third quarter as sales plunged 15.9% amid a struggling economy.

While the pandemic has caused catastrophic shake-ups in all sectors of the economy, one of the hardest-hit has been the retail industry.

Tight inventories and COVID-19 restrictions left Hawaii auto dealers spinning their wheels in the third quarter as sales plunged 15.9% amid a struggling economy.

While the pandemic has caused catastrophic shake-ups in all sectors of the economy, one of the hardest-hit has been the retail industry.

While the pandemic has caused catastrophic shake-ups in all sectors of the economy, one of the hardest-hit has been the retail industry.

Tight inventories and COVID-19 restrictions left Hawaii auto dealers spinning their wheels in the third quarter as sales plunged 15.9% amid a struggling economy.

While the pandemic has caused catastrophic shake-ups in all sectors of the economy, one of the hardest-hit has been the retail industry.

Tight inventories and COVID-19 restrictions left Hawaii auto dealers spinning their wheels in the third quarter as sales plunged 15.9% amid a struggling economy.

While the pandemic has caused catastrophic shake-ups in all sectors of the economy, one of the hardest-hit has been the retail industry.

Tight inventories and COVID-19 restrictions left Hawaii auto dealers spinning their wheels in the third quarter as sales plunged 15.9% amid a struggling economy.

While the pandemic has caused catastrophic shake-ups in all sectors of the economy, one of the hardest-hit has been the retail industry.

Tight inventories and COVID-19 restrictions left Hawaii auto dealers spinning their wheels in the third quarter as sales plunged 15.9% amid a struggling economy.

While the pandemic has caused catastrophic shake-ups in all sectors of the economy, one of the hardest-hit has been the retail industry.

Tight inventories and COVID-19 restrictions left Hawaii auto dealers spinning their wheels in the third quarter as sales plunged 15.9% amid a struggling economy.