The University of Hawaiʻi is spearheading an advanced manufacturing initiative aimed at transforming the state's economic vulnerabilities into opportunities for growth, resilience and workforce development.
"For an island state like Hawaiʻi, given our finite resources, limited manufacturing footprint and heavy dependency on imports, the onus is high for UH to work with our industry partners to help provide the cutting-edge research and a knowledge-based workforce in 'point-of-need' manufacturing for the benefit of both our civilian and military communities," said UH Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos.
At UH Mānoa, the College of Engineering is leading the initiative, which combines design, material science, 3D printing, corrosion testing and robotics.
"A lot is going on in this space right now, and while it's generating a lot of excitement around town, there's also a lot of movement in different directions," said Dean Brennon Morioka. "That's why it's important that we develop a coordinated and shared vision that is centered around an ecosystem that is consistent and transferable across all stakeholders."
Morioka is relying on four key faculty members to move the initiative forward: Associate Professors Tyler Ray and Joseph Brown, and Professors Lloyd Hihara and Zachary Trimble.
Wearable sensors, aerospace assemblies, more
Ray has championed additive manufacturing since joining UH in 2019, weaving it into undergraduate courses and research. His lab develops 3D printed wearable sensors for health monitoring, new battery technologies and is home to one of the world's highest-resolution bioprinters.
"For Hawaiʻi, advanced manufacturing is more than just an economic opportunity. It's about building resilience amidst geographic isolation," Ray said.
Brown integrates materials characterization, mechanical design and advanced fabrication to create resilient structures, from aerospace assemblies to nanometer-thin sensors.
"The initiative represents a major opportunity for UH and the state to not just match what others are doing, but to carve out our own unique approach," Brown said.
Hihara's corrosion research leverages Hawaiʻi's diverse climates for testing and will expand with new fabrication technology. Trimble, an expert in precision machine design, helps transition basic research into applied research.
First advanced manufacturing training center
Honolulu Community College launched Hawaiʻi's first advanced manufacturing training center to support Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, private ship repair facilities and active duty military.
"Our goal is to create an advanced manufacturing ecosystem with seamless skill sets and technology that can be used throughout Hawaiʻi and across different industry sectors," said Honolulu CC Chancellor Karen Lee.
