WAIMEA — Seeds of a technology center sowed decades ago bore fruit on Thursday when the Kaua‘i Economic Development Board (KEDB) welcomed guests to the soft opening event for the Kaua‘i Creative Technology Center.
Located in the West Kaua‘i Technology Center, the new facility will house its digital media center led by KEDB Digital Media Specialist Kevin Matsunaga who recently retired as a media instructor at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.
The facility will be the center of “The Power of Partnerships: Bridging the Gap Between School and Work-Based Learning,” and “The Hawai‘i Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development Project.”
Funded through the RAMPS grant from the National Institute of Science and Technology and the KEDB, the Hawai‘i Cybersecurity project is a program that raises awareness of cybersecurity, and develops the ability to, as described by Guna Solutions Chief Technology Officer Mikael Magnuson, “protect local assets with local talent” through a four-tiered attack.
The first phase calls for educating business leaders, particularly in small- and medium-sized enterprises, and those in government and nonprofits on the implications of cybersecurity risks and how to approach those risks, strategically.
The second pillar calls for providing a one-year certification track for high school and adult learners.
Thirdly, the program proposes a strings-attached scholarship program in collaboration with employers to retain top cybersecurity graduates in local communities.
Finally, the the program will conduct a statewide “hackathon” to showcase local talent and provide recruitment opportunities.
The Power of Partnerships explores the impact of partnerships in education, focusing on effectively bridging the gap between school and work partners. A key topic will include establishing a clear leadership structure for school academies and pathway implementation and ensuring that business, industry, and higher education partners have a guiding voice.
Matsunaga was pleased to learn the supportive role of KEDB in digital media in Kaua‘i’s public school with the reestablishment of the Aloha Ike grant program.
Started in 2004, despite the initial success, only a few schools have sustained these programs over the past 20 years due to limited manpower and support.
“There is a need to revive digital media emphasis and support in schools,” Matsunaga said. “A 2024 article by the Digital Marketing Institute indicates five of 10 skills making students instantly employable involve digital media. Students in these programs also gain valuable teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills.”
The Kaua‘i Economic Development Board’s mission statement is to improve the quality of life on Kaua‘i by developing partnerships to diversify the economy, supporting industry clusters, and educating youth and workforce to succeed in the global economy.
