Humankind is entering a new age of space exploration and it is Hawaii’s time to shine.

Many companies, government agencies and research organizations around the world are developing exciting technologies to take humans into the vast, unexplored reaches of space. Momentum for a post-Earth civilization is advancing at a breakneck pace. In fact, interstellar human settlements may be essential for the long-term survival of the human race as Earth’s resources are consumed at an unsustainable rate.

If the political and business leaders of Hawaii act quickly and decisively, this emerging era of space colonization can unlock tremendous economic opportunity for the people of Hawaii today and far into the future.

While there have been enormous investments made in space transportation (e.g., reusable rockets), far less time and money has been invested in space habitats. Where will people live when they settle on the moon, Mars and, eventually, more distant destinations?

Hawaii can be the epicenter of research and development for the technologies necessary for permanent space settlement. Hawaii’s volcanic terrain is nearly identical to the harsh environments on many celestial bodies, including the moon and Mars. Hawaii is the logical location to develop solutions for turning desolate lunar and Martian terrain into living spaces. It is also the logical location to train future space travelers and develop the equipment they will need to operate self-sustaining colonies.

The time for Hawaii’s leaders to act is now.

Just two months ago, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing NASA to prepare a return to the moon. Other countries, most notably China, have ambitious plans to put humans on the lunar surface. The question is no longer if humankind will go back to the moon — and places much farther from Earth. It is simply of question of when.

As the chairperson of the board of directors of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES) — an agency of the Hawaii state government — I have a front-row seat to much of the activity underway in the 21st century space race. It is my belief a permanent lunar base will be under construction within a decade. If we want Hawaii to be a hub for the development of that base, there is no time to waste.

In October 2017, I gathered global aerospace leaders on the Big Island of Hawaii for the first International MoonBase Summit. We produced a roadmap for building a simulated lunar base in Hawaii, followed by construction of an actual MoonBase. We discussed the technical, political, financial and human considerations, and we established working groups to begin executing on our roadmap.

I am now calling on Gov. David Ige and the Hawaii Legislature to establish funding for a simulated lunar base on the Big Island, and to create financial incentives for companies involved in developing technologies for the MoonBase to do so here in Hawaii.

Not only would such an investment bring high-paying technology jobs to Hawaii, it would create opportunities for students and faculty at the University of Hawaii to play significant roles in the research and development process. Hawaii’s flagship university has a now-or-never opportunity to be a world leader in humankind’s timeless effort to leave Earth and reach for the stars.

And as we have seen with previous aerospace initiatives over the past century, the technologies developed for the MoonBase will almost certainly have far-reaching applications here on Earth. The organizations that create those technologies will be positioned to continue creating jobs and economic opportunity for the people of Hawaii for generations to come.

Will our leaders take the bold action necessary to secure Hawaii’s place in the new space race? For the sake of everyone in Hawaii, I hope so.

Henk Rogers, co-founder of The Tetris Co., is a Hawaii-based entrepreneur, investor and proponent of environmental issues and space exploration.