Economy

...Higa is a former Hawaii County Councilman and Na Leo exec.  Aipoalani is a former CNHA Board Chair and Ewa Dream House board member....

...DBEDT projects Hawai‘i’s economy to grow 1.3 percent in 2026, decreasing from 2.5 percent growth in 2025....

"...June visitors generally took shorter trips, with all markets – except Japan – reporting shorter average lengths of stay compared to last June, continuing a trend that began in April 2026.... "

... 28,060 net new jobs statewide ....

... How do we honestly measure the American dream? ....

... Sylvia Luke pops up at the end of this CNBC video ....

...Visitors who came in May 2026 also spent more on an average daily basis ($292 per person, +13.1%) compared to a year ago. ...

...In 2025 Hawai‘i’s economy grew at a robust 2.5 percent, exceeding the overall U.S. growth rate of 2.1 percent....

...Hawaii has the second-poorest rich people, and the 10th-poorest poor people -- but the 2nd-richest middle class.  And yet middle class families still can't afford their first home and are fleeing Hawaii by the thousands. ...

... Hawaii Ranks 45th for Annual Median Household Income adjusted for cost of living ....

... Hawaii becomes the 4th blue state this year to raise their highest income tax rate ....

... net employment gain of 1,530 jobs in the private sector during the third quarter of 2025 ....

... UHERO projects visitor arrivals will grow about 2% this year before slowing sharply in 2027 ....

... visitor spending and real estate investment to defense contracting, prefabricated housing, education and captive insurance ....

...the extraordinary losses from the 2023 wildfires in Lahaina and Kula continue to dampen tourist numbers....

...For 23 of the past 25 years, more residents have left Hawaiʻi for the continent than have arrived....

... Japan’s downturn hit Hawaiʻi harder than almost anywhere else ....

...The buildout of 3,500 new homes at Koa Ridge in Central O‘ahu continued in 2025 for homebuilder Castle & Cooke....

... Hawai‘i’s Economy Shows Resilience Despite Global Uncertainty ....

... Tourism has stabilized ....