According to the UH Institute For Astronomy in March of 2016, there are 484 directly employed County of Hawai'i based staff for the Observatories.
Aggregate operating costs were $72.4 million. 
Original unadjusted total cost of the existing facilities was $601 million.
The actual additional investment in the original facilities over the past 40 years approximately doubles or more the original equipment costs.
This is one of a very few things we can do here that is both economically
beneficial and cost effective in the middle of the Pacific. 
Astronomy in Hawai'i is a resource to be developed and leveraged here
for all our and our children's benefit.
We need to fully develop geothermal, solar and other local energy.
And try to produce and process more food locally.
If we don't, then the only alternative I see is to further develop tourism by starting casinos around the state.
Or expand Federal military spending in the state by hoping for increased tensions with China.