EH's Mission

Enterprise Honolulu (EH), the O'ahu Economic Development Board, is a non-profit, funded primarily by the private sector. The organization's efforts support a diversified economy on O'ahu by being a leading agent in the growth, retention and recruitment of businesses that offer quality jobs in Hawai'i. EH is also actively involved in infrastructure, planning and workforce development to build the foundation for a globally competitive, prosperous economy.
 

EH's top priorities are to: 

Economic Development

Enterprise Honolulu (EH) works to bring high value activities to Hawai'i. An important part of that challenge is to help Hawai'i achieve diversification using the tools of economic development. Economic development is about creating jobs and providing an environment in which the businesses that are right for Hawai'i thrive and grow. Success is measured in many ways: by the new companies that come here, by existing companies that grow and prosper, by good-paying jobs that are created for Hawaii's people, and in the increasing opportunities for local companies to export their goods and services around the world.

The best opportunities to create new wealth for the state are in the innovation industries, which include, but are not limited to: renewable energy, high-tech, life sciences, film and digital media, and diversified agriculture. The only thing limiting the innovation industries is our capacity to invent new ideas and ways of doing things.

The achievement of successful economic development in Hawai'i must be a collaborative effort. We see it as a private, public partnership with a triple bottom line: Good paying jobs, support of the culture, protection of the environment.

You can help by learning about and championing this vision for Hawaii's future.

What Economic Development Delivers:

• Increased prosperity for our state, counties and residents.
• Enhanced job opportunities for today's workers and for our children in the future.
• An expanded tax base to fund better government services without raising taxes.
• More discretionary income to provide a stronger flow of charitable contributions.
• Improved quality of life and standard of living for Hawaii's people.
• A broadly diversified economy, less vulnerable to outside conditions or events.
• A healthy, growing economy that is sustainable over the long term.
• Economic growth that is environmentally and culturally sensitive.

The debate over Hawaii's economic future has been going on for more than twenty years. Ask yourself a question: Are we better off today than we were back then? The big box retailers have certainly lowered the cost of some consumer goods, but the price of a home is higher than ever before. Enterprise Honolulu has analyzed current and recent economic trends here in the Islands and believes the case for economic diversification is stronger now than ever before.

However, without a collaborative economic development program, we may have growth, but not necessarily in the ways we desire. By targeting high-value jobs in innovation industries, we increase prosperity and the standard of living in the state. By targeting diversification, we balance our economy so that it is less vulnerable to fluctuations. By encouraging high levels of capital investment and high-paying jobs, we expand the tax base to fund high-quality government services.

In the drive to strengthen its economy, Hawai'i is in intense competition with other cities, states and countries. We have many natural advantages, and many disadvantages; but unlike a football game, there is room in this competition for many winners, and we need only win our share. If we don't compete, we risk falling even further behind, left with a future of dependence on underperforming industries, and without the wherewithal to solve our social problems.

Competing successfully for the kinds of enterprises that will bring Hawai'i a better future requires the combined efforts of government, business, labor, educators and people like you. A team effort, which we've never had before, can achieve this vision. In fact, it's already starting to happen.

For more information on economic development, please see our Economic Development Series in the Press section.