SR 61: REQUESTING THE HAWAII community development authority to INITIATE the planning of a health Tech Hub in kakaako to accelerate the adoption of health care technology and promote the development and growth of Hawaii's highly skilled health care workforce.

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE HAWAII community development authority to INITIATE the planning of a health Tech Hub in kakaako to accelerate the adoption of health care technology and promote the development and growth of Hawaii's highly skilled health care workforce.

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Community Development Authority is the owner of approximately five-acre Lot C, located at Ilalo Street, and described further by Oahu Tax Map Key No. (1)2-1-015:  052 (Lot C); and

     WHEREAS, Lot C is located in the Hawaii Community Development Authority's Kakaako Community Development District's Makai area, which is in the urban core of Honolulu; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation's Entrepreneurs Sandbox is located on Lot C 1; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation is a dynamic state agency responsible for diversifying Hawaii's economy through the development of a flourishing technology industry; and

     WHEREAS, technology is transforming health care in many ways, including improving patient care, diagnostics, and treatment; and

     WHEREAS, examples of technological advancements that will transform health care include virtual reality and augmented reality for training simulations and patient treatment and generative artificial intelligence to simplify diagnostics and surgery; and

     WHEREAS, the Entrepreneurs Sandbox is located adjacent to the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine and the University of Hawaii Cancer Center; and

     WHEREAS, because the Entrepreneurs Sandbox is located in Kakaako Makai within the Kakaako Community Development District, any development in that area must be approved by the Hawaii Community Development Authority; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Hawaii Community Development Authority is requested to initiate the planning of a Health Tech Hub in Kakaako to accelerate the adoption of health care technology and promote the development and growth of Hawaii's highly skilled health care workforce; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Community Development Authority is requested to initiate the planning of the Health Tech Hub in consultation with the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, and Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Community Development Authority is requested to submit a report of its conceptual plan for the development of the Health Tech Hub, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Executive Director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority; Executive Director of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; Dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine; Director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center; and Strategic Broadband Coordinator of the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office.

Report Title: 

Health Tech Hub; Health Care Technology; HTDC; JABSOM; UH Cancer Center; HCDA; Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office