Governor Neil Abercrombie Proclaims October 3, 2014 as Manufacturing Day in Hawaii

10570424_760381610695877_6428501227130789617_nHONOLULU (October 3, 2014) – The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, in partnership with INNOVATE Hawaii, hosted its first-ever bus tour of local manufacturing facilities in conjunction with today’s National Manufacturers Day, a growing grassroots movement of manufacturers dedicated to overcoming their collective challenges and helping their communities thrive.
Government officials, including U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono and Hawaii State Senators Michelle Kidani and Clarence Nishihara, business leaders and participants in the Chamber’s Manufacturing in Hawaii initiative took the tour to gain an insider’s look at how select Hawaii manufacturers operate and to highlight the importance of manufacturing to the community and economy.
Tour stops included:

  • Pacific Allied Products, a plastic bottle manufacturer in Kapolei
  • Rengo Packaging, manufacturer specializing in custom design packaging
  • Jams World, producer of Jam’s World men’s and women’s clothing and accessories
  • and Hawaiian Chip Company, maker of sweet potato and taro chips

Governor Neil Abercrombie signed a proclamation designating October 3, 2014 as Manufacturing Day, recognizing the importance of manufacturing to our state and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and INNOVATE Hawaii’s role in working to advance the industry.
1962630_10152589398871655_4911573548935046407_n“The Chamber is dedicated to taking a proactive stance to promote and enhance Hawaii’s growing manufacturing industry,” said Chamber president and CEO, Sherry Menor-McNamara. “By joining manufacturers across our state and the country with our bus tour initiative today, our goal is to share information about careers in the manufacturing sector and show the public that modern manufacturing is a technology-driving industry that offers secure, well-paying jobs.”
“We’re honored to partner with the Chamber on this initiative which showcases the importance of manufacturing to our local economy,” said INNOVATE Hawaii MEP center director, Wayne Inouye. “With manufacturing jobs climbing at the fastest pace in decades since February 2010, it’s vital that we support a movement which will spur innovation, investment and ultimately, more jobs to our state.”
As the exclusive state affiliate for the National Association of Manufacturers, the Chamber is leading a Manufacturing in Hawaii initiative to increase and diversify this industry in Hawaii and promote the importance of this growing industry to our state. There are over 1,000 manufacturers in Hawaii with 71 percent of the state’s export share, providing over 13,500 jobs with an average annual compensation of over $42,800 per year or 15 percent more than other private non-farm jobs.
Manufacturing Day in Hawaii is a statewide initiative which also included a bus tour of manufacturers on Kauai, organized by the Kauai Chamber of Commerce, and open house activities with manufacturers on Hawaii Island, Maui and Oahu.
For more information on the Chamber’s Manufacturing in Hawaii initiative, please visithttps://www.cochawaii.org/manufacturing-about/.
For more information on National Manufacturing Day, please visit www.mfgday.com
As the leading “Voice of Business” in Hawaii, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is the state’s largest organization advocating for businesses in Hawaii. Established in 1850, the Chamber works on behalf of its approximately 1,000 member companies and the business community, as a whole, to advance the state’s economic climate and help businesses succeed. The Chamber supports its members with training, business building and networking opportunities; coordinates advocacy activities for members’ involvement; and serves as a liaison between civilian and military communities in Hawaii.
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Contact: Lori Abe
808-545-4300
808-282-4398 (mobile)
labe@cochawaii.org

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