{"id":1550,"date":"2026-03-04T15:07:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T22:07:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/?p=1550"},"modified":"2026-03-04T15:07:29","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T22:07:29","slug":"paving-the-way-for-a-stronger-engineering-community-in-hawaii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/2026\/03\/04\/paving-the-way-for-a-stronger-engineering-community-in-hawaii\/","title":{"rendered":"Paving the way for a stronger engineering community in Hawaii"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our investment in Social Finance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hawaii\u2019s future relies heavily on a robust pipeline of talented engineers. Currently, the University of Hawaii College of Engineering graduates approximately 73% of the engineers needed to meet the state\u2019s workforce demands, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cochawaii.org\/honolulu-star-advertiser-program-aims-to-bring-engineers-back-to-hawaii-amid-workforce-shortage\/#:~:text=Despite%20the%20UH%20College%20of,who%20want%20to%20serve%20Hawaii.%E2%80%9D\">leaving a significant 27% gap<\/a>. Each year, around 350 engineering positions remain unfilled, underscoring an urgent need for increased investment in education and workforce support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-20246-19_1920x1080_opt-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Students and professor at the University of Hawaii Manoa's College of Engineering\" class=\"wp-image-1543\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-20246-19_1920x1080_opt-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-20246-19_1920x1080_opt-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-20246-19_1920x1080_opt-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-20246-19_1920x1080_opt-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-20246-19_1920x1080_opt.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image courtesy of Social Finance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This challenge is compounded by retention issues\u2014more than 55% of Hawaii-born residents with a bachelor\u2019s degree\u2014and 60% of those with advanced degrees <a href=\"https:\/\/dhrd.hawaii.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-1126-Email_Brain-Drain-Income-Standards_Dr.-Tian_11-22-24.pdf\">choose to relocate elsewhere<\/a>. While the participation of women in STEM has risen over the past three decades, their representation in engineering remains modest, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visionofhumanity.org\/women-and-girls-in-stem\/#:~:text=Celebrate%20and%20Support%20STEM%20Inclusion,benefits%20society%20as%20a%20whole.\">women representing just 17% of the engineering and architecture industry<\/a>. This environment highlights the pressing need to nurture and retain local talent\u2014especially women and Hawaii-born individuals\u2014in the engineering sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why <strong>Social Finance?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We are proud to welcome Social Finance to Autodesk Foundation\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.org\/impact\/work-and-prosperity\">Work &amp; Prosperity portfolio<\/a>\u2014a partnership rooted in a shared commitment to building skilled engineering communities. Since its inception in 2011, Social Finance has mobilized more than $500 million in investments aimed at improving economic mobility, health, and housing outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Initially focused on social impact bonds and Pay for Success structures, Social Finance has evolved into a leader in impact investing\u2014especially around unlocking access to quality jobs. Its Hawai\u2018i Renewable Learning Fund (Hawai\u2018i RLF) pilot exemplifies this work by offering zero-percent interest, outcomes-based loans to students pursuing in-demand careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-20243-18_1920x1080_opt-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Students at the University of Hawaii Manoa's College of Engineering\" class=\"wp-image-1544\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-20243-18_1920x1080_opt-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-20243-18_1920x1080_opt-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-20243-18_1920x1080_opt-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-20243-18_1920x1080_opt-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-20243-18_1920x1080_opt.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image courtesy of Social Finance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Building a local workforce through impactful investment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Launched in July 2024, the Hawai\u2018i RLF pilot supports students at the University of Hawaii Manoa\u2019s College of Engineering by providing access to vital education funding. The program connects students to participating engineering employers including Bowers and Kubota, Hawaiian Dredging, SSFM International, Inc., and The Limtiaco Consulting Group who commit to repaying loans for graduates they hire. This model creates a sustainable cycle of local talent development and job placement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The impact of Hawai\u2018i RLF extends far beyond funding. The average family income of borrowers stands at $37,000\u2014significantly below the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.careerexplorer.com\/careers\/engineer\/salary\/hawaii\/#:~:text=Avg%20Salary,average%20%E2%97%8F%20Updated%20in%202021\">average annual engineering salary in Hawaii<\/a> of approximately $93,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-center\" style=\"grid-template-columns:28% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Hydie-Kim-Hudson-400x400-1.jpg\" alt=\"Headshot of Hydie Kim Hudson, Vice President Impact Investments, Social Finance\" class=\"wp-image-1542 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Hydie-Kim-Hudson-400x400-1.jpg 400w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Hydie-Kim-Hudson-400x400-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Hydie-Kim-Hudson-400x400-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Hydie-Kim-Hudson-400x400-1-345x345.jpg 345w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-large-font-size\">\u201cThe success of the Hawai\u2018i RLF can serve as a model for other remote regions across the country, where brain drain is a persistent challenge. Developing and retaining local engineering talent is essential for thriving local economies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-medium-font-size\">&#8211; <em>Hydie Kim Hudson, Vice President Impact Investments, <\/em>Social Finance<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our collaboration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The pilot phase aims to support more than 100 learners with more than $2 million in loans. If successfully scaled, the program could benefit over 1,000 students, recycling capital and amplifying impact\u2014delivering nearly 30% more resources than traditional grant-based models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-202410-39_1920x1080_opt-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Students at the University of Hawaii Manoa's College of Engineering\" class=\"wp-image-1546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-202410-39_1920x1080_opt-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-202410-39_1920x1080_opt-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-202410-39_1920x1080_opt-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-202410-39_1920x1080_opt-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-202410-39_1920x1080_opt.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image courtesy of Social Finance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Through this collaboration, Social Finance will leverage Autodesk\u2019s industry expertise, talent, and networks to upskill engineering students with the latest digital technologies\u2014preparing them for high-demand jobs. Goals include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>increasing awareness and application rates for the 0% interest loan program among engineering students in Hawaii, and<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>connecting students with Autodesk\u2019s technology and training resources to enhance their learning experience<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/socialfinance.org\/work\/hawaii-renewable-learning-fund\/\">Learn&nbsp;more<\/a>&nbsp;about Social Finance\u2019s Hawai\u2018i Renewable Learning Fund.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our investment in Social Finance Hawaii\u2019s future relies heavily on a robust pipeline of talented engineers. Currently, the University of Hawaii College of Engineering graduates approximately 73% of the engineers needed to meet the state\u2019s workforce demands, leaving a significant 27% gap. Each year, around 350 engineering positions remain unfilled, underscoring an urgent need for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17728,"featured_media":1545,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,1],"tags":[],"coauthors":[53],"class_list":["post-1550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-funding","category-autodesk-foundation","dhig-theme--light"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Paving the way for a stronger engineering community in Hawaii - Autodesk Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/2026\/03\/04\/paving-the-way-for-a-stronger-engineering-community-in-hawaii\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Paving the way for a stronger engineering community in Hawaii - Autodesk Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Our investment in Social Finance Hawaii\u2019s future relies heavily on a robust pipeline of talented engineers. Currently, the University of Hawaii College of Engineering graduates approximately 73% of the engineers needed to meet the state\u2019s workforce demands, leaving a significant 27% gap. Each year, around 350 engineering positions remain unfilled, underscoring an urgent need for [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/2026\/03\/04\/paving-the-way-for-a-stronger-engineering-community-in-hawaii\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Autodesk Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-04T22:07:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-04T22:07:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-foundation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/Social_Finance_Engineering-202411-30_1920x1080_opt.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kate Buchanan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" 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