State Celebrates Naval Shipyard Centennial
Lt. Governor Aiona participated in two events last week to celebrate the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard's 100th anniversary, recognizing its importance to Hawai`i's social, cultural and economic history.
Lt. Governor Aiona honors the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard's 100 years of service.
In a speech delivered last week Monday at the Centennial Historical Symposium, the Lt. Governor credited the shipyard with contributing to the livelihood of thousands of Hawai‘i families by pumping more than $600 million annually into the local economy.
“The shipyard will continue to be a vital part of our economy, as it is strategically positioned to enter a new century of ensuring the security of our nation and the Asia-Pacific region,” Lt. Governor Aiona said during the event. “By investing heavily in the future of our state with its apprentice, engineer co-op and other student-hire programs, and through its generous mentorship and support of robotics education in our schools, the shipyard is helping lay the groundwork for Hawai‘i to remain competitive in the global economy and beyond.”
Shipyard workers mentored students on robotics teams from local high schools, including Nanakuli, Radford, Campbell, McKinley, Moanalua and Farrington high schools, as well as Punahou and Kamehameha Schools and Sacred Hearts Academy. Three of the teams (McKinley, Radford and Sacred Hearts) went to the robotics international championships in Atlanta.
On Tuesday, Lt. Governor Aiona spoke at the All-Hands Centennial Birthday Bash, praising the shipyard as a source of pride for the people of Hawai‘i.
“It has played an important role in Hawai‘i’s social, cultural and economic history, as virtually every family with roots in Hawai‘i has been positively impacted by the shipyard in some form over the past century,” Lt. Governor told more than 3,000 people who gathered for the event at the shipyard’s headquarters at Pearl Harbor. “Pearl Harbor’s successes have been our successes. And its trials by fire have been ours as well. The thousands of hardworking men and women of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard have instilled in our people an ethic of taking personal responsibility for the well-being of our state and nation.”
As part of the weeklong centennial celebration, Governor Lingle and Lt. Governor Aiona proclaimed May 11-17, 2008 as Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Centennial Week in the State of Hawai`i.
