We are technically capable of building cities under the ocean, too, but we don't. In Hawaii you could grow sugar cane and pineapples. Not to mention it was a great place to put a Navy base.

Free enterprise doesn't spend money unless it sees a way to profit from it. You know that. Sure, it may spend a little on spec, but sooner or later it won't be able to raise any more capital, no matter how visionary an individual entrepreneur may be. Government may invest some as a form of basic research, or for military advantage or national prestige, but sooner or later it will withold funding too due to other, more pressing priorities.

TB, I love space as much as you do, but you have to be realistic, as a born-again free market booster, you of all people must surely realize that. Until we find the Martian equivalent of Aztec Silver, Inca Gold, beaver pelts, tobacco farming or communications satellites there is no reason for anyone to spend enormous amounts of capital just to see what's there. I'm really proud of the fact we've managed to send a handful of probes up there to do a little preliminary reconnaissance. It's no coincidence every one has been set up to look for life. Martian microbes would be the equivalent of Inca Gold.
They would have immense commercial potential.

I don't want it to be that way, I want to go there too. But what I want doesn't matter. I'm not paying the bills.