Downtown Hilo could become home to an aerospace high technology district, under a measure before the state Legislature.

Hawaii Island is already at the center of the state’s aerospace industry, and the University of Hawaii-Hilo has been selected as the site of a proposed lunar research center where new technologies can be tested in environments that replicate outer space.

Now two proposals before a House and Senate conference committee would allow the state to make the Big Island even more attractive to aerospace and lunar transportation companies. A third would allow the state to invest in aerospace tourism.

“This could be a banner year for aerospace,” said Sen. Will Espero after the conference committee met Wednesday. “If we get these bills out, Hawaii’s going to get international attention.”

The aerospace bills and related resolutions under consideration this session are intended to stimulate the economy by attracting companies to Hawaii and creating well-paying jobs in the technology industry.

“With the tourism bill, we could see dividends in three to five years,” said Espero, D-Ewa-Ewa Beach-Lower Waipahu. 

Espero sees Hawaii as a possible launch point for commercial space flights because of its reputation in the international aerospace community, as well as its popularity as a tourist destination. 

Another bill creates a special district in downtown Hilo that will use state and county tax incentives to draw major aerospace companies to Hawaii Island.

A different proposal would provide more flexibility and funding to the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems, or PISCES. The center is currently under UH-Hilo, but this proposal would transfer oversight to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

“The Big Island would be ground zero because of the testing that is already being done there,” Espero said. “One idea is to create an analog test base that could one day be a prototype if we do build a colony or some type of structures on the moon.”

Both the House and Senate have passed versions of the major bills, but it all comes down to whether the finance committees agree to fund the initiatives.

“Let’s keep our fingers and toes crossed that we can get clearance tomorrow and get it released,” said Rep. Angus McKelvey, D-Olowalu-Kapalua.

With the state budget not quite complete, most conference committees working on fiscal bills are still waiting to hear whether funding will be available. All bills must be passed by Friday to get a final vote before the session ends on May 4. 

Downtown Hilo could become home to an aerospace high technology district.

A legislative conference committee on Thursday will hear two measures aimed at attracting aerospace companies to Hawaii. A third would allow the state to focus on aerospace tourism.

One bill creates a special district in downtown Hilo that will use state and county tax incentives to draw major aerospace and lunar transportation companies to Hawaii Island.

Another would provide more flexibility and funding to the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems, or PISCES.

Lawmakers who support the measures note the University of Hawaii-Hilo offers companies a place to conduct research and test new technology. The campus has been selected as the site for a lunar research center, which will feature test facilities that replicate outer space environments.