How partnerships between educators, industry, and defense are building a skilled local workforce ready to power Hawai‘i’s role in national security
Hawai‘i is taking bold steps to lead in advanced manufacturing and defense innovation. Through partnerships among educators, industry, and the Department of Defense (DoD), the state is developing a skilled local workforce to fill high-demand careers and strengthen national security.
MACRO recently secured $650,000 from the State Legislature to advance STEM, cybersecurity, and trade workforce development in K–12 schools, preparing students for careers in engineering, technology, and defense manufacturing.
A major milestone is The Forge, a new advanced manufacturing facility at Schofield Barracks equipped with 3D printing, precision machining, and rapid prototyping. Operated in partnership with the DoD’s Innovation Capability and Modernization Office and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, The Forge produces replacement parts and prototypes for the U.S. Navy and Joint Forces, funded through the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program.
At the University of Hawai‘i (UH), new collaborations are driving innovation. UH Mānoa’s College of Engineering integrates materials science, robotics, and 3D printing into defense-related research, led by Associate Professors Tyler Ray and Joseph Brown and Professors Lloyd Hihara and Zachary Trimble.
The UH System is also partnering with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) through a cooperative research and development agreement. Current projects include bio-printed organ models developed by JABSOM’s Dr. Jason Barnhill and DEVCOM CBC’s Priscilla Lee to test compounds for the DoD, as well as joint research to strengthen manufacturing resilience and innovation across the Indo-Pacific.
Meanwhile, Honolulu Community College has launched Hawai‘i’s first advanced manufacturing training center to support Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, private industry, and the active-duty military, offering hands-on technical training for future-ready careers. This new center is a collaboration with the DoD’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program and Kuʻi Hao, a statewide workforce initiative that connects defense, education, and industry to strengthen Hawai‘i’s skilled trades pipeline.
Through this partnership, IBAS has invested more than $7 million in advanced manufacturing machinery, heavy equipment, and specialized tools, transforming HCC into one of the region’s most capable technical training hubs. Kuʻi Hao’s involvement ensures that these investments translate into real career pathways for students, professionals looking to grow or update their skills, active-duty service members, and veterans—expanding Hawai‘i’s ability to support mission readiness, reduce supply chain vulnerabilities, and build the industrial capacity essential to long-term economic resilience and national defense.
By connecting classrooms, laboratories, and industry leaders, Hawai‘i is cultivating the next generation of engineers, innovators, and problem-solvers, solidifying its role as a hub for national security and technological excellence.
Learn More:
- Army lab partners with University of Hawaii to enhance bioprinting and advanced manufacturing
- USINDOPACOM Commander attends soft opening of ‘The Forge,’ an advanced manufacturing facility in Hawaii
- UH’s advanced manufacturing initiative prepares workforce, strengthens economy
- Kuʻi Hao: Building Hawai‘i’s Workforce for the Future