2025-08-25 PL-INT-2025-011344 Pacific International Center for High Technology Research (PICHTR) - Category PL.3

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Page 3 Highlighted Key Staff: - Ian Y. Kitajima, President—Expertise in design thinking, innovation management, technology commercialization, and workforce development. Extensive track record of collaborations with Hawaii Department of Education, supporting teacher training, student STEM engagement, and school innovation programs. Linkedin - Keith T. Matsumoto, Program Director—Expertise in program and project management, organizational development,government contracting, and community engagement. Long history of STEM and education innovation programs with Hawai'i's public schools, leveraging design thinking to connect classrooms with real-world problem-solving and workforce readiness. Linkedin 4. Representative Project Experience A. Waipahu High School Smart Intersection/Campus Project-Waipahu 2023 Hawai'i Department of Transportation (HDOT), University of Hawaii, NEC, Waipahu High School. PICHTR led the design, planning and implementation of Hawai'i's first Smart Intersection/Campus project in collaboration with Hawaii State Department of Transportation (HDOT), Waipahu High School, and NEC in early 2023. This initiative integrated advanced digital infrastructure, next generation Al- based Video Analytics for traffic safety, and data-driven tools to improve campus pedestrian and vehicle operations and safety, but equally important was to support student learning. The Approach: Students as Innovators:Students (22 juniors, and 2 seniors) at Waipahu High School's IT Academy participated in a real-world innovation project during their 3 period over 10 classes. The project included learning (1) how Al systems are trained, (2) examined real-time traffic data, including counts of vehicles, pedestrians, and "near misses", and (3) used Design Thinking to frame questions, analyze data, and prototype solutions. Human-Centered Design:The students applied Design Thinking to turn data into potential safety interventions, presenting their solutions to industry,government, and community stakeholders. These activities connected public school students directly with State DOT leadership and NEC engineers, building capacity for Hawai'i's future workforce while aligning with County goals of public safety, sustainability, and equitable broadband access. Key Features • Al-Powered Traffic Monitoring: NEC's system enabled continuous observation and prediction of risky interactions at crossings. • Community&Workforce Development: Beyond safety,the project was framed as a workforce development pilot—exploring"how do we create the careers of the future?" by giving students hands-on, real-world innovation challenges. • Public Sharing: Results were shared in a stakeholder briefing (May 10, 2023), and a public- facing project video (YouTube).