Above: Aerial view of Hilo International Airport.
State lawmakers are considering two new proposals that could launch the aerospace industry in Hawaiʻi and diversify the local economy. The pending bills would help California-based Fenix Space Inc. build a specialized hanger at Hilo International Airport with up to $40 million in low-interest bonds. The company aims to launch rockets into space from the air using a winged booster ship towed by a plane.
“The opportunity for aerospace development is right now,” said Trung Lam, executive director of the Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corp. “Hawaiʻi has missed out in the past on many opportunities because we took a long time to make a move.”
Public testimony on the bills so far has been either positive or neutral. Supporters say it’s a chance to grow Hawaiʻi’s economy and tap into a space launch market that is projected to grow rapidly over the next decade.