HI SB767

Appropriates $650,000 per year for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to the University of Hawaii at Manoa Institute for Astronomy to support the Space Science and Engineering Initiative

Allocates $400,000 annually for three full-time positions: a workforce development program manager, a Maunakea Scholars Program coordinator, and an administrative clerk

Allocates $250,000 annually for office equipment, supplies, operational costs, and internship stipends for high school and college students

Supports expansion of the Maunakea Scholars Program, which pairs high school students with mentors to conduct astronomy research using Maunakea and Haleakala observatories; over 1,200 students have participated since 2016

Creates a kindergarten-to-career STEM workforce development pipeline leveraging Hawaii's $1 billion+ observatory facilities that generate over $200 million in annual economic impact statewide