Military adds much to our communities

Our strategic location in the Asia-Pacific region to the U.S. has made Hawaii increasingly important to aid national overall security measures. The defense industry in Hawaii is the second largest economic driver for our state. It provides more than $10 billion for the state’s economy and represents 16.5 percent of Hawaii’s workforce.

There are billions of dollars in defense contracts that benefit Hawaii’s businesses ranging from food and beverage, to engineering and construction, to information technology and cybersecurity. These sectors, as well as others, have benefited from the presence of the military in our state. In addition, it has provided our youth with incredible job opportunities in areas within the STEM field that offer high-paying, high-tech jobs.

But, beyond the economics, beyond the jobs and the numbers, the military is a part of our community. The month of May is nationally recognized as “Military Appreciation Month,” and on May 5, Gov. David Ige officially declared the month as “Hawaii Military Appreciation Month.”

There are more than 60,000 active military personnel across the state. When you take into account their families, the military community totals nearly 150,000 military members and dependents. These men and women, as well as their families that support them, serve and sacrifice for our nation. Many spouses have given up their careers and their children may be attending their fourth, fifth or even eighth school. It is a life of sacrifice, one that most of us will never experience; however, we can help by welcoming and supporting our military in Hawaii.

It can be easy for local residents to forget the importance of the military to our community. Many people don’t realize the vast impact the military has on Hawaii — from the more than 100,000 jobs for local residents, to the hundreds of local businesses benefiting from military spending and defense contracts. Not to mention the ways they contribute to and support our community.

As an island state, Hawaii is at the center of the Asia-Pacific region. Recent tensions within the region and the Department of Defense’s continued commitment to the region are important reminders of the significant role Hawaii and our defense industry plays in defending our state and our nation.

This month is a time for us to reflect on their sacrifice and take a moment to say mahalo to our military community. Many of them are our neighbors or our friends, and all of us know someone who is or was in the armed forces, with more than 100,000 veterans in Hawaii. These men and women answered their call of duty to serve our nation, and many of them go above and beyond to serve our community.

Earlier this month, the governor recognized seven service men and women from the different branches of the armed forces for their outstanding contributions to the community. They have supported youth outreach and mentoring programs, helped the homeless and less fortunate, and even saved the lives of those in danger — they selflessly serve to protect our freedoms and liberties, and have also devoted countless hours to bettering our community.

Hawaii is the aloha state, so this month is our opportunity to show our aloha to our military community and remember the sacrifices they have made. When you see a service man or woman in uniform, take the time to say thank you; if you know a veteran, say thank you; if your friend is a spouse or child of a member of the military, say thank you. It is a small, but meaningful gesture to show our appreciation.

David Carey is chairman of the Military Affairs Council.