§226-10 Objective and policies for the economy--potential growth and innovative activities. (a) Planning for the State's economy with regard to potential growth and innovative activities shall be directed towards achievement of the objective of development and expansion of potential growth and innovative activities that serve to increase and diversify Hawaii's economic base.

(b) To achieve the potential growth and innovative activity objective, it shall be the policy of this State to:

(1) Facilitate investment and employment growth in economic activities that have the potential to expand and diversify Hawaii's economy, including but not limited to diversified agriculture, aquaculture, renewable energy development, creative media, health care, and science and technology-based sectors;

(2) Facilitate investment in innovative activity that may pose risks or be less labor-intensive than other traditional business activity, but if successful, will generate revenue in Hawaii through the export of services or products or substitution of imported services or products;

(3) Encourage entrepreneurship in innovative activity by academic researchers and instructors who may not have the background, skill, or initial inclination to commercially exploit their discoveries or achievements;

(4) Recognize that innovative activity is not exclusively dependent upon individuals with advanced formal education, but that many self-taught, motivated individuals are able, willing, sufficiently knowledgeable, and equipped with the attitude necessary to undertake innovative activity;

(5) Increase the opportunities for investors in innovative activity and talent engaged in innovative activity to personally meet and interact at cultural, art, entertainment, culinary, athletic, or visitor-oriented events without a business focus;

(6) Expand Hawaii's capacity to attract and service international programs and activities that generate employment for Hawaii's people;

(7) Enhance and promote Hawaii's role as a center for international relations, trade, finance, services, technology, education, culture, and the arts;

(8) Accelerate research and development of new energy-related industries based on wind, solar, ocean, underground resources, and solid waste;

(9) Promote Hawaii's geographic, environmental, social, and technological advantages to attract new or innovative economic activities into the State;

(10) Provide public incentives and encourage private initiative to attract new or innovative industries that best support Hawaii's social, economic, physical, and environmental objectives;

(11) Increase research and the development of ocean-related economic activities such as mining, food production, and scientific research;

(12) Develop, promote, and support research and educational and training programs that will enhance Hawaii's ability to attract and develop economic activities of benefit to Hawaii;

(13) Foster a broader public recognition and understanding of the potential benefits of new or innovative growth-oriented industry in Hawaii;

(14) Encourage the development and implementation of joint federal and state initiatives to attract federal programs and projects that will support Hawaii's social, economic, physical, and environmental objectives;

(15) Increase research and development of businesses and services in the telecommunications and information industries;

(16) Foster the research and development of nonfossil fuel and energy efficient modes of transportation; and

(17) Recognize and promote health care and health care information technology as growth industries. [L 1978, c 100, pt of §2; am L 1986, c 276, §9; am L 1988, c 70, §6; am L Sp 1988, c 1, §5; am L 2009, c 156, §2 and c 167, §6; am L 2014, c 133, §3]