[luau] our economy

[Jeff Zidek]

Thats so true Dusty.  I worked for a year installing digital imaging
equipment at businesses all around Oahu.  I could not believe the number of
thinnet lans still in use and computers that should be in museums.  It a
tough road to hoe but we have to start somewhere.  Jeff Zidek

-----Original Message-----
From: luau-admin at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
[mailto:luau-admin at videl.ics.hawaii.edu]On Behalf Of Dustin Cross
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 9:16 PM
To: luau at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
Subject: RE: [luau] our economy


I don't think I can buy into the "a few guys control everything" reason for
low salaries.

I think it has more to do with the people that stay in Hawaii.  The best
and the brightest of Hawaii tend to LEAVE the island as soon as they can
and they don't come back for years if ever.  This has been happening for
decades.  Most leave for college and few return.  Most people who stay in
Hawaii are happy with the status quo, they aren't the people who want to be
CEOs and make massive salaries, though some very ambitious and talented
people do stay, they are not the majority.  They work two jobs, take their
annual trip to Vegas, and are happy.  Plus businesses in Hawaii are not the
most advanced in the country.  I have a friend who is a mainframe
programmer and he says Hawaii had more mainframe work than any other city
in the country.  You hear about places in Hawaii still using Novell 4.x and
there are a lot of places that don't even use computers.

Dusty




> They don't have to.  It is the Microsoft model.  If you control the
> industry you make the rules.  If you don't like it leave.  We are
> content the way things are.  And why not if you have the biggest piece
> of the pie.  You don't need anyone hustling in on "your share".
> Remember we live on an island and its a big decision to leave or stay
> here. Believe me I know. With out real competition why raise salaries?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: luau-admin at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
> [mailto:luau-admin at videl.ics.hawaii.edu]On Behalf Of Stan Baptista
> Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 8:40 PM
> To: luau at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
> Subject: RE: [luau] our economy
>
>
> re: with a small group of businessmen controlling most
> of what goes on in this economy.
>
> That might make sense.  I was born and raised here and
> I have heard this comment before.  Pardon my ignorance
> but, if this is true, how do "they" go about
> controlling salaries?  Sorry for beating this poor
> horse to death but I just don't believe the costs here
> are higher than places like Silicon Valley.
>
> --- Jeff Zidek <z-man at hawaii.rr.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: luau-admin at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
>> [mailto:luau-admin at videl.ics.hawaii.edu]On Behalf Of
>> Vikram Khurana
>> Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 3:38 PM
>> To: luau at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
>> Subject: RE: [luau] our economy
>>
>>
>> > A personal observation: Nothing is done in Hawaii
>> that can be done
>> > somewhere else. So, if you are a tech person, your
>> future here will most
>> > likely depend on supporting an activity that is
>> best done here. Tourism,
>> > the military, state and local government, home
>> repairs for movie stars
>> > living on Maui.
>>
>> I have lived here for nine years now and have to
>> agree with Scott and partly
>> with Vikram.  Part of it is our payment in "sunshine
>> dollars"  but the
>> biggest part is a good ole boy mentality with a
>> small group of businessmen
>> controlling most of what goes on in this economy.
>> Why would they want
>> things to change?  They have been in control since
>> 1900 so why rock the
>> boat.   It is going to take a dedicated bunch of new
>> entrepreneur with a
>> vision of the future and maybe backing from the
>> mainland to break open
>> treasure chest that is here for us.  I was a high
>> school teacher here for a
>> couple of years an have seen first hand what we need
>> to do to bring up the
>> standard of tech learning in public schools here.
>> That's why I am so
>> dedicated to HOSEF.  We have half the equation to
>> bring good tech jobs here.
>> We have a great location (geographically and for
>> recruitment), we have a
>> good understanding of growing Asian markets, we have
>> people ready to work,
>> but are lacking a skilled workforce  (top complaint
>> I have heard from tech
>> companies wanting to come here) we haven't built up
>> the tech infrastructure
>> (though that is changing) and most of all we make it
>> difficult for new
>> companies to do business here, leading back to my
>> first point.  That why it
>> so important we break down as many of those barriers
>> as is humanly possible.
>> I don't know about the rest of you but I married
>> into a Hawaiian family and
>> will probably be buried in Kaneohe cemetery when I
>> go.  The mainland is
>> really not an option.  For those of you who are in
>> the same boat as me lets
>> make this tech industry become a reality here.  Just
>> my 2 cents   Jeff Zidek



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