Honolulu Community College welcomed Michael Cadenazzi, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for industrial base policy, for a tour of its state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Facility, underscoring the college’s expanding role in strengthening the nation’s industrial base and Hawaiʻi’s defense-aligned workforce pipeline. Cadenazzi was in Honolulu to attend the Honolulu Defense Forum in January.
The visit highlighted Honolulu CC’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Program, launched in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi’s Military Affairs Council through the Kuʻi Hao Initiative, and BG Workforce. The program provides hands-on training in precision machining, fabrication and industrial manufacturing (skills essential to Hawaiʻi’s maritime, defense and industrial sectors).
“We were incredibly honored by Assistant Secretary Cadenazzi’s visit,” said Honolulu CC Chancellor, Karen C. Lee. “It reflects the true partnership that brought our Advanced Manufacturing Training Suite to life as we prepare Hawaiʻi’s future machining and manufacturing workforce.”
Hawaiʻi’s first dedicated training hub for advanced manufacturing
During the tour, Cadenazzi visited the college’s cutting-edge machine shop, instructional labs and hands-on training suites, where faculty and students showcased class projects, industry-aligned equipment, and the program’s growing capacity to meet regional and national workforce needs. The facility, which opened in 2025, serves as Hawaiʻi’s first dedicated training hub for advanced manufacturing and supports a diverse cohort of trainees, including active-duty military personnel, shipyard workers and local students.
“Assistant Secretary Cadenazzi’s visit affirmed the importance of Hawaiʻi’s role in strengthening the nation’s defense industrial base,” said Pono Chong, program director for Kuʻi Hao. “Through partnerships like this with Honolulu Community College and IBAS, we are building real, job-ready pathways in advanced manufacturing that support military readiness, supply-chain resilience and long-term economic opportunity Hawaiʻi.”
Honolulu CC’s Advanced Manufacturing programs continue to evolve in response to industry demand, offering students hands-on experience with advanced tools and technologies while supporting regional and national efforts to strengthen industrial capabilities.
