Beth Fukumoto: Hawaiʻi Needs To Deal With Exploding Technology This Session

February 1, 2026 - 12:40

As technology evolves at a breakneck pace, Hawaiʻi stands at a critical juncture. State leaders are being urged to prioritize legislation that directly addresses the profound impacts of this explosion in innovation on the islands' residents and infrastructure.

The core issues are clear and pressing. First, the state must determine how to fund the necessary technological infrastructure, from expanding broadband access to modernizing the electric grid to support new demands. This is not merely an installation cost but a long-term investment in Hawaiʻi's economic future.

Secondly, ensuring the reliability of these complex systems is paramount. As daily life and business become increasingly digitized, resilience against outages, cyber threats, and natural disasters is a matter of public safety and economic stability.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the legislature must focus on protecting people. This involves creating robust data privacy laws, establishing guardrails for emerging artificial intelligence, and ensuring that technological advancement does not come at the cost of displacing workers or exacerbating inequality. The current legislative session presents a vital opportunity to build a framework that harnesses technology's benefits while safeguarding the community.