Within our island community, there are more than 146,000 military members and their dependents who call Hawaii home. They represent all branches of service — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard — across the four major Hawaiian islands. While many of us understand the importance the military plays for our state and our economy, we often forget the sacrifices these individuals and their families make to protect and serve our nation.

May is Military Appreciation Month. It is our opportunity to say “mahalo” to all of the active and retired military personnel who not only serve our country, but our community as well. On any given day, members of the military are helping to coach our children’s little league teams, potluck with us after a youth soccer match, serve on the school PTA, and volunteer to help the less fortunate.

They participate in large community events, including The Great Aloha Run, Toys for Tots, NFL Pro Bowl and other charity events that raise funds to support those in need.

Earlier this month, Gov. David Ige recognized seven service members who have contributed countless hours in caring for our homeless, cleaning our beaches and trails, mentoring our youth and so much more — they help to make Hawaii a better place to live and work. For them and the many others in our armed forces, we say thank you very much.

Our support and appreciation for our military ohana is unwavering. They stand with us during the good times, as well as the bad. They support our day-to-day lives, and are among the first to step up and help during natural disasters, emergencies and other challenges that our community may face.

We also value the defense sector’s overall impact to the state, providing more than 100,000 jobs in Hawaii ranging from information technology (IT) services to construction, in both the public and private sectors. This includes contracts for Hawaii companies involved in technology development, engineering, food and beverage, operations support, and a host of other areas.

In 2014, there was $2 billion of contract work that was conducted, as a result of defense contracts. And in total, the defense sector adds approximately $14.7 billion into the state’s economy.

The presence of the military in Hawaii provides unique job opportunities for Hawaii residents. The Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, as an example, is the largest industrial employer in the state and employs nearly 5,000 people, and of that, 500 are engineering positions. For students at the University of Hawaii majoring in engineering, the potential opportunities at the shipyard, as well as other private companies with military contracts, provide these students with the ability to work in their field in Hawaii.

There are also thousands of trade jobs in welding, pipe-fitting, electrical and operating of heavy equipment that Hawaii residents have excelled in over the years. It is not only an excellent career opportunity, but a meaningful way to serve our nation by helping to ensure that our Navy’s fleet is fit to fight.

Beyond the economics, this month of May is about conveying our heartfelt mahalo for all the military members do. Please take the time to say “thank you” to the members of the armed services you see in your community. Thank you for all you do, for your willingness to stand in harm’s way to protect our democratic way of life. We are honored to have you as a part of our Hawaii ohana.