NEW OFFICE SET TO DEVELOP AEROSPACE INDUSTRY IN HAWAI`I

July 19 - Lt. Governor Aiona helped officially open the state's Office of Aerospace Development and celebrate the inauguration of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES).

The move lays the groundwork so that tourism flights to the edge of space could one day depart from Hawai`i.

"I can see us being the Cape Canaveral of the Pacific because this is where we can bridge Asia and the United States," said Lt. Governor Aiona. "We're a perfect fit."

Already, the new office is working closely with NASA under a Memorandum of Understanding to further space exploration through research and projects here in Hawai`i.

"We see that Hawai`i can play a big part in space exploration with this office," said Lt. Governor Aiona. "It's a way to promote workforce development by getting people into high-paying jobs and helping national efforts to enhance the aerospace industry."