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>>Narrator Kara Doles, University of Hawaii at Manoa student: The University of Hawaii
Haleakala High Altitude Observatory Site on Maui and the Mauna Kea Observatories on the
island of Hawaii are world renowned.
>>Mike Maberry, University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy Assistant Director: The University
of Hawaii is extremely fortunate to be the steward of two of the best astronomical sites
in the whole world because of the shape of our mountains and our islands.
>>Narrator: It's why AMOS, the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies
Conference, the premiere conference in the nation devoted to space surveillance, has
been held in Hawaii every year since 2001. Space situational awareness is the focus:
keeping track of manmade space junk and asteroids that could damage or destroy commercial and
government satellites.
>>Elliot Pulham, Space Foundation CEO: Space has become so very, very busy. It is full
of debris. It's full of flying spacecraft. It is just a very treacherous environment
to operate in and the capability for understanding that and managing that resides here on Maui.
>>Maberry: To be able to contribute to the world by providing these sites, sharing these
sites, so we can monitor and catalog the objects we have in space as well as the heavens beyond
is just extremely fortunate for the University of Hawaii and for the state of Hawaii.
>>Narrator: The conference attracts the top names in the aerospace industry and aerospace
research. General William Shelton, the commander of the U.S. Air Force Space Command, addressed
the 2013 event via teleconference. The fact this conference is held on Maui is just one
example of Hawai'i's importance in the space industry.
>>Maberry: People coming from all over the world, they think of AMOS conference, when
they think of space, they think of Hawaii.
>>Jeanne Unemori Skog, Maui Economic Development Board President and CEO: The aerospace community
and sector in Hawaii is tremendously important. It is one of our competitive advantages and
we've got to take advantage of every single one we can.
>>Narrator: UH researchers and students are also building satellites, developing satellite
launch capabilities and participating in long-duration space travel studies. A 2011 UH study estimates
that the aerospace industry in Hawai'i brought in over $1.5 billion in 2012, employing thousands.
>>Pulham: The ability to bring high paying jobs that can stimulate the economy and reduce
your reliance on tourism is something that space brings in spades.
>>Narrator: It all fits in with the university's Hawaii Innovation Initiative or HI-squared:
a partnership with the community to build a billion dollar annual research enterprise
in Hawaii that will create thousand of jobs and a diversified economy.