by Erin Hasinger
ComputerSchools.com Staff Writer
September 14, 2006
Honolulu, Hawaii, is an urban center on an island paradise. The name means sheltered bay in the Hawaiian language. Home to nearly 400,000 in the city itself, Honolulu is well-known for its oceanfront beauty as well as its role as the annual host of the NFL's Pro Bowl. Nearby Pearl Harbor and Waikiki Beach are some of Hawaii's most-visited attractions.
As the 11th largest city in the nation and the largest in the state, Honolulu offers information technology students a large military presence as well as a significant foothold in the computer industry. The economy is quite robust and students will find employment and educational options plentiful.
Employment
According to the Hawaii Workforce Informer, the computer industry is in store for great gains through 2012 – as much as 26% for the entire industry. Specifically, the positions forecasted for the most growth include computer software engineers of system software at 45% and computer software engineers of applications at 40%. Computer and information systems managers are also slated for gains of 30%, while computer specialists are anticipated to increase positions by 28%.
Enterprise Honolulu reports that the IT industry in Hawaii employed over 4,400 in 2001, and that between 1996 and 2001, the industry grew by 77%. Software development alone had a 286% increase in job opportunities during that same time period.
Job opportunities, needless to say, are plentiful in Honolulu for computer graduates. Positions exist with companies such as Oceanit, which hires both information technology graduates as well as students for internship positions. Lockheed Martin operates a large facility in nearby Pearl City that employs computer grads, as does the Bank of Hawaii, which is headquartered in Honolulu. Another possibility is Hoku Scientific in nearby Kapolei, which focuses on developing clean air technology.
Education
Honolulu's students have a variety of educational choices, including the University of Phoenix for programs in e-business, technology management, computer information systems, and information technology. At Chaminade University of Honolulu, one can study for a degree in computer science. The University of Hawaii at Manoa is another option with undergraduate and graduate degrees in information and computer sciences.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
The State of Hawaii - Department of Education publishes a comprehensive booklet about the variety of scholarship and grant programs available to residents and includes scholarships specific to Honolulu-area colleges and universities. It also details the federal aid programs available to students in Honolulu.
Summary
Beyond the attraction of clear blue skies, deep enchanting oceans, and towering palm trees, Honolulu offers the serious computer student many choices for education and employment paths. A varied economy and lots of recreational activities help make this city an ideal choice for the prospective information technology student.
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